The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology announces an open competition for research seed grants. These grants are intended to seed new interdisciplinary research projects happening at the Beckman Institute. Proposals may request up to $150,000 for two years. Continuation of funding for the second year will be contingent on sufficient progress toward the stated goals at the end of the first year.
The expectation is that the selected projects will lead to externally funded research proposals within two years and will form the building blocks of novel programs of research at the Beckman Institute. Submissions are due early in the spring semester each year and will be evaluated in accordance with Beckman’s Values (“EXCITED”): EXcellence, Collaboration, Integrity, Transdisciplinarity, Exploration, Diversity by the Beckman Institute Program Advisory Committee.
The complete call for applications can be found on the Beckman website. Any questions should be directed to Beckman Associate Director for Research Cristina Alvarez-Mingote at alvarez9@illinois.edu.
Eligibility
- A team of two or three Illinois faculty members may submit a proposal. At least one of these faculty members (either as PI or co-PI) must be a full-time or part-time member of the Beckman Institute. Note that the research team can include other collaborators, but the proposal should be limited to one PI with one or two co-PIs. Other collaborators should be mentioned in the proposal’s section of team members as well as in the collaboration and management plan.
- The same faculty member can be on no more than two funded proposals at the same time.
- The plan of work must be performed at the Beckman Institute.
PI Requirements
Principal investigators are responsible for
- Submitting short annual reports at the end of years 1 and 2 describing:
- Progress towards accomplishing the objectives of the seed grant
- Grants they have applied for and/or will apply for related to this seed grant
- Publications related to the seed grant
- Ensuring the vast majority of the research takes place in the Beckman Institute
- Ensuring the seed funds are spent appropriately within two years
- Submitting grant proposals related to the seed topic through the Beckman Institute
- Enhancing the Beckman Institute’s seminar series through participation and speaker invitations
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation