Opportunity: Jacobs Foundation LEVANTE – Call for Research Proposals (Second Cohort) 2025
The Jacobs Foundation is inviting researchers from around the world to apply for the second cohort of its LEVANTE (Learning Variability Network Exchange) initiative. With up to USD 5 million available in funding, this call supports innovative research focused on understanding the variability in children’s learning and development across diverse contexts, cultures, and environments.
The LEVANTE framework serves as a global, cross-cultural, and multidisciplinary research mechanism aligned with the Jacobs Foundation Research Agenda. Its central goal is to identify how individual, group, and contextual variability affect children’s development, particularly during the critical years of primary education (ages 5–12).
Vision of LEVANTE
LEVANTE was designed to help scientists address key transformative questions in child development by building the first open, international dataset that captures the complexity of children’s experiences. It emphasizes not just outcomes but processes — how children learn, adapt, and develop in different social, environmental, and educational contexts.
The initiative encourages scientific rigor, international collaboration, and the inclusion of underrepresented regions, especially in the Global South. It seeks to empower researchers to engage in long-term, collaborative efforts that contribute not only to the academic community but also to educational practice and policy worldwide.
Proposal Categories and Funding
Researchers can apply for one of two project types:
- Small Projects (New Data Collection)
- Budget: Up to USD 600,000
- Duration: Minimum 4 years
- Focus: Collection of LEVANTE measures in new or existing cohorts; integration with other datasets or interventions.
- Large Projects (Expanded Scope)
- Budget: Up to USD 1,000,000
- Duration: Minimum 4 years
- Focus: Larger or more resource-intensive studies; dense or multimodal data collection; extension of LEVANTE to new languages or regions.
Projects selected may be eligible for renewal funding in future calls based on performance and contribution to LEVANTE goals.
Who Should Apply?
Eligible applicants must:
- Hold a PhD (or equivalent) obtained at least 5 years prior to the application deadline.
- Be affiliated with a recognized research institution or university.
- Conduct research aligned with the variability in learning and development.
- Demonstrate capacity and infrastructure to carry out a four-year study.
- Commit to full engagement with the Jacobs Foundation and LEVANTE network.
Applications are especially encouraged from researchers working in low-resource settings, emerging research centers, or on cross-cultural or multidisciplinary teams.
Research Focus and Methodology
The second LEVANTE cohort will prioritize research on typically developing children aged 5–12. Although measures for ages 2–5 are being developed, they will not be available in this cycle.
LEVANTE-supported projects must:
- Administer the full Core Assessment Measures to children, caregivers, and educators using approved protocols.
- Collect data using the LEVANTE infrastructure and tools.
- Comply with ethical, privacy, and data-sharing standards as defined by the LEVANTE Data Coordinating Center.
- Submit proposals in English only.
Researchers are encouraged to supplement LEVANTE core measures with additional data, including behavioral, neurological, genetic, environmental, or contextual measures — provided data-sharing compatibility is ensured.
Application Timeline
- Stage 1: Initial Application
Opens: June 27, 2025
Deadline: August 19, 2025
Submit general information, project outline, CV, and publication list. - Stage 2: Extended Proposal
Invitation-based, runs September 19 – November 19, 2025
Includes detailed methodology, timeline, and budget. - Stage 3: Interview
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed between January 7–16, 2026.
Final approvals are made by the Jacobs Foundation Board.
Review Criteria
Applications will be evaluated on:
- Scientific quality and methodological rigor
- Innovation and contribution to the field
- Feasibility of the study within the proposed timeline and resources
- Diversity and representativeness of the sample
- Geographic and cultural breadth, especially in underserved regions
- Integration of young scholars and multidisciplinary teams
- Degree of alignment with LEVANTE’s scientific and ethical standards
Additional Notes
Currently, LEVANTE measures are available in English, Spanish, and German, with French and Dutch versions under development. Translation or adaptation into other languages must be coordinated with the Data Coordinating Center and budgeted accordingly.
To ensure broader impact and data usability, open data sharing is a core requirement. All collected data must be submitted according to LEVANTE’s standards and policies.
For more information or to begin the application process, visit the official LEVANTE Call for Proposals 2025 or contact the team at [email protected].
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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the awarding organization. For any inquiries, please contact the awarding organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
