Purpose
Research seed grants are intended as a mechanism to jumpstart research activity to collect preliminary data or conduct pilot studies to help with larger external funding after.
Research Seed Grants (RSGs), awarded for amounts up to $10,000 from the Division of Research and Innovation, are intended to enable research that seeds funding of extramural sponsored programs. The VPRI encourages the use of RSG's to support collaborative and interdisciplinary research.
RSG applications for this academic year have not yet been opened.
Funding Restrictions
Funds from RSG may not be used for travel in pursuit of extramural funding or to workshops and conferences. In addition, certain items may not be paid for using these funds, for example, alcohol, tips and gratuities. The RSGs may not request faculty summer salary or teaching release via buy-out. Only one RSG may be awarded to a faculty member each year.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the RSG, the PI must be a faculty member that holds the academic rank of tenure-track Assistant Professor or tenured Associate/Full Professor and be employed on a full-time basis in a permanent position. Permanent and temporary faculty appointees who hold the doctorate (or equivalent) may serve as Co-PI.
Review Criteria
Proposal requirements/specifications are included in the InfoReady application. The following criteria will be used to review proposals:
- Well-articulated and strong research project description. Project description is written with sufficient clarity and detail that an educated researcher can assess the application.
- Clear plan to collect preliminary data/results needed for a future sponsored project application.
- Project description states PI/Co-PI expertise; when relevant describes the interdisciplinary component.
- A convincing plan to apply for external funding sources to further the research.
- A reasonable and itemized budget.
- Broader impacts/significance of the research included in the project description.
Expectations and Outcomes
All proposals should contain a specific research plan and a specific plan for obtaining external funding.
It is expected that external support will be submitted within one year of completion of the RSG.
Deadline
Research Seed Grants applications are due by December 2, 2022. A review panel will make recommendations for funding and a representative from the Division of Research and Innovation will contact you after the review process is complete.
Submission
Applications are now completed through the InfoReady Portal.