Program Description
The Research Incentive Seed Grant Program supports investigators in collecting preliminary data in new, innovative research areas that will be leveraged for extramural grant applications. In brief:
- The VPR approves a set amount of funds for each college based on the extramural award performance of the college.
- Each college will run a competitive seed grant program that aligns with their specific needs.
- Colleges will submit a list of research projects they recommend for seed funding to the VPR Office.
- After final VPR approval, the awarded PIs will work with the Office of Sponsored Projects to setup a DSS account to access the seed funds.
Eligibility Criteria
- Tenure-line faculty and career-line faculty who hold at least a .75 FTE appointment.
- Applicants must be in-residence at the University of Utah.
- Faculty in Institutes/Centers/Programs, the Honors College, and the libraries must apply via their home colleges.
- Proposals must exhibit high potential for leveraging extramural funding.
- Awarded applicants must commit to submitting at least one external proposal based on the pilot project. If funded, all applicants must present proof of extramural submission in the Final Report.
- All applicants must clearly and convincingly demonstrate a new research direction in an area that is likely to generate extramural funding.
- Research that is already supported by other sources is not eligible for Seed funding. (For example, applicants cannot receive funding from another VPR internal funding program and the Research Incentive Seed Grant Program for the same or similar projects.)
- Proposals already submitted to an extramural agency, or those already reviewed and found noncompetitive by an extramural agency, will not be considered for funding.
- An Applicant may only apply (as lead PI) to one college’s internal seed grant competition at a time. Applicants should only apply to their home college competition. An applicant may act as co-PI on up to 5 additional VPR seed grant submissions.
Budget Guidelines
Grant funds cannot be used for:
- Travel that is not directly related to project research (including curriculum or career development, taking courses, or attending professional meetings and conferences).
- Society/group memberships, consultants, large research instrumentation, or office equipment (including computers) unless clearly and convincingly justified.
- Computers and computer hardware that does not have a specific and justifiable relevance to the project (i.e., personal computers and supplies, etc.)
Application Procedure
The table below outlines the expected timeline and application process for the FY24 Research Incentive Seed Grant Program.
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Assistant/Associate Deans for Research (or their equivalents) will create a college-specific and competitive internal competition that includes the college's:
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- Goal for utilization of seed funds
- Specific requirements for the program
- Methods for soliciting seed grant applications from faculty.
- Intended plan for reviewing applications, including a description of the review committee.
This competition and confirmation of participation in the program is due by EOD on October 2, 2023.
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Colleges may begin to collect proposals once the internal competition process is reviewed and approved by the VPR Office. All colleges will adhere to the same internal competition deadline of 11:59pm (MST) December 4th, 2023.
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After internal competitions close on December 4, 2023, all colleges will need to conduct a fair and equitable internal review of proposals. Following the internal review process, colleges must submit seed grant funding recommendations to vprgrants@utah.edu. Colleges will be provided with instructions for submitting recommendations. Funding recommendations are due to the VPR Office no later than 11:59pm (MST) on February 5th, 2024.
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The VPR Office will review all funding recommendations and notify awardees (and their colleges) of their seed grant award status by February 28th, 2024.
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Awarded applicants are required to submit a DSS in eProposal within 30 days of the date listed on the top right hand corner of your award letter. This procedure from OSP provides step-by-step instructions for submitting a DSS via eProposal.
Important Note: Failure to create and fully approve a DSS within 30 days may result in a potential reduction of budget or dismissal of a seed grant project.
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All Seed Grants must begin between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025. No-cost extensions will not be considered unless there are exceptional circumstances. Delay in project setup caused by the PI is not justification for receiving a no-cost extension.
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A Final Report will be due to the VPR Office and the awardees’ colleges after the project end-date. The Assistant/Associate Dean for Research must approve the report at the college level to ensure that the college’s goals and requirements have been met. Approved reports will then be reviewed by the VPR Office. The VPR Office will not consider new applications from an investigator until any delinquent final reports are received for any previous VPR grants awarded to that investigator. Full information for final report structure and submission will be provided on the award letter for selected applicants.
Important Note about Final Reports on Seed Grants: Final Reports on Research Incentive Seed Grant projects must include proof of proposal submission to an extramural funding agency. If the awarded applicant has not submitted to an extramural funding agency at the close of their seed grant, their final report will not be approved by the VPR Office.
Submit an Application
Information on accessing your College's internal competition will be published as soon as it becomes available.
College |
Application Process |
| Architecture + Planning | FY24 competition will be conducted using InfoReady. Please CLICK HERE to access the internal competition portal. |
| Business | FY24 competition will be conducted using InfoReady. Please CLICK HERE to access the internal competition portal. |
| Cultural & Social Transformation | FY24 competition will be conducted using InfoReady. Please CLICK HERE to access the internal competition portal. |
| Dentistry | Internal submissions for School of Dentistry should be emailed to School of Dentistry leadership. |
| Education | Internal submissions for College of Education should be emailed directly to Doug Ringle in the Office of Faculty Research & Support. |
| Engineering | FY24 competition will be conducted using InfoReady. Please CLICK HERE to access the internal competition portal. |
| Fine Arts | FY24 competition will be conducted using InfoReady. Please CLICK HERE to access the internal competition portal. |
| Health | FY24 competition will be conducted using InfoReady. Please CLICK HERE to access the internal competition portal. |
| Humanities | FY24 competition will be conducted using InfoReady. Please CLICK HERE to access the internal competition portal. |
| Law | FY24 competition will be conducted using InfoReady. Please CLICK HERE to access the internal competition portal. |
| Medicine | FY24 competition will be conducted using InfoReady. Please CLICK HERE to access the internal competition portal. |
| Nursing | FY24 competition will be conducted using InfoReady. Please CLICK HERE to access the internal competition portal. |
| Pharmacy | FY24 competition will be conducted using InfoReady. Please CLICK HERE to access the internal competition portal. |
| Science/Mines | FY24 competition will be conducted using InfoReady. Please CLICK HERE to access the internal competition portal. |
| Social Work | FY24 competition will be conducted using InfoReady. Please CLICK HERE to access the internal competition portal. |
| Social & Behavioral Science | FY24 competition will be conducted using InfoReady. Please CLICK HERE to access the internal competition portal. |
Contact Information
Questions about the above program guidelines, eligibility criteria, application materials, etc. should be directed to Whitney MacKay in the VPR Office.