Funding Opportunity Announcement: Seed Funding

Overview

Research & Innovation offers competitive seed funding to support preliminary research, scholarly, or creative activities that will lead to extramural funding. Seed Funding enables exploratory research, collaborations, or similar activities that enhance the competitiveness of eventual grant proposals to external sponsors. Proposals promoting interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary research, scholarly, and creative work are encouraged.

Award & Matching Funds

• Up to $5,000 per award
• One-to-one matching funds required (matching amount must equal requested amount)

Key Dates

• Proposal deadline: April 3, 2026 by 5 p.m., Pacific Time (submitted via InfoReady Review)
• Notifications of funding made within two weeks after receipt of Review Committee's Recommendation
• Project period: One year from date of award

Eligibility

Applicants must hold at least a 50% academic faculty appointment at the University of Nevada, Reno and have a current role statement that includes research or professional development responsibilities.

Application Requirements

• Cover page and abstract (project title, PI and co-PI names, total requested amount)
• Project description (3-page limit): specific aims, background and significance, approach/methodology, project timeline, collaborative strategies (if applicable), future funding strategy
• Budget and budget justification (2-page limit): itemized budget table in each relevant category, total requested amount, required 1:1 cost share, and budget narrative explaining each component
• Letter indicating source of matching funds, signed by authorized individual
• CV or biosketch in format customary in your field

Unallowable Expenses

• Course buyouts
• Summer salary
• Hosting

Review Criteria

• Intellectual merit
• Clarity and presentation
• Feasibility
• Benefits to the researcher
• Potential for future external funding
• Potential for further interdisciplinary research

Award Conditions & Reporting

Funding covers a 12-month performance period during the Fiscal Year indicated in the award notification. All expenses must comply with University and NSHE policies and relate to the approved application. Awardees must respond to an annual survey on outcomes and, if Research & Innovation holds a showcase poster session, present relevant work. Awardees must submit a grant proposal for external funding to an external review service and then to an external sponsor.

Contacts

• Leadership: Mridul Gautam ([email protected]), Josh Baker ([email protected]), [email protected]
• Administrative: Carrie Busha ([email protected]), [email protected]