Funding Opportunities

The Office of Research focus is on making key investments in the UC research enterprise that will impact our local, national and global partners to advance multi- and trans-disciplinary initiatives in existing and emerging communities of research excellence at UC.

Office of Research Funding Opportunities

Due Date: 01/01/2030

Amount: N/A

Office of Research Digital Futures/Space Research Institute for Discovery and Exploration Core Facilities Support Program

As part of UC’s Research2030 investments in infrastructure and growing our research impact, we seek to support and enhance our research community whose activities are aligned with the focus of UC’s Space Research Institute for Discovery and Exploration (SRIDE). UC has unique research facilities and research technology teams located in the new Digital Futures Interdisciplinary Research Building. The goal of this new funding support mechanism is to enable investigators whose research interests are aligned with SRIDE to use these Office of Research – Research Technologies Core facilities to obtain critical data for submission of a competitive extramural proposal, patent application, commercialization agreement, or peer-reviewed manuscript. Applicants may request SRIDE support for projects that require one or more of these Research Technologies Core Facilities.

Participating Research Technologies Core Facilities include: 

The UC Advanced Research Computing Center
Purpose: To assist the researcher performing artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics/science and modeling and simulation research and research data management including storage, transfer, collaboration and sharing of data. 

Contact: Jane Combs, 513-556-0874, combsje@ucmail.uc.edu 

The UC Center for Simulations and Virtual Environments Research

Purpose: To assist the researcher in solving urgent real-world problems in safe virtual spaces by developing novel spatial and immersive technology applications, including augmented and virtual reality applications and computer simulations that utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning, environmental scanning, photogrammetry, biometric data, and biomechanical motion capture.

Contact: Chris Collins, 513-558-3018, collicn@ucmail.uc.edu

Note: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
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Due Date: 01/01/2030

Amount: N/A

UC Research Conference Internal Funding Program

The UC Research Conference Internal Funding Program provides supplemental support to UC researchers who wish to host national research conferences, focused symposia, or other forms of convenings around strategic research areas at UC. The event must be held at UC or in Cincinnati to be eligible for support. This funding program is intended to enhance our faculty’s ability to bring together researchers, community members, practitioners, policymakers, and other important collaborators whose expertise, substantive knowledge and practice, theoretical insight, or methodological expertise can be engaged in ways that help to build upon and advance research at UC. Applications must be submitted at least 4 months before the event date.

A maximum of $1500 may be requested.

Past Opportunities

Due Date: 03/06/2024

Amount: $20,000

University Research Council (URC) Faculty Research Pivot Grants

The Office of Research is pleased to share the AY23-24 FOA for the URC Faculty Research Pivot Awards Program. Building upon the rich legacy of the University Research Council (URC), UC’s oldest and most prestigious internal funding program, the URC Faculty Research Pivot Grants are targeted to mid-career and beyond faculty who are proposing transformative new ideas and directions for their research, scholarship and creative activities. This program is for individual faculty and may be discipline-focused or interdisciplinary in nature. All areas of research, scholarship and creative activities across UC are eligible.

This program will follow a two-stage application/evaluation process. The first stage involves submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI). Up to 10 finalists will then be invited to submit a full proposal and agree to a 15-minute presentation/Q&A to discuss their proposed activities.

Grants: All grants will be for $20,000 and for a period of 24 months. Funds are expected to support the proposed activities and can include one-semester of course relief, as necessary to accomplish the goals of the project. Budgets will only be required from grantees and will be created in collaboration with the Office of Research. Up to five grants will be supported by this program.

Unit Head Support: All applicants must provide a letter of support from their unit head documenting the proposed activities are a departure from the current, the availability of resources to conduct the proposed activities, and any necessary unit-level support for the faculty member should they be selected for a grant.

Key Dates
FOA released January 11, 2024
LOI Deadline: March 6, 2024, 5:00 pm Eastern
Finalists Notified: Week of March 25, 2024 (anticipated)
Final Proposal Deadline: May 7, 2024, 5:00 pm Eastern (for finalists only)
Finalist Presentations: Week of May 20, 2024 (anticipated)
Grantees Announced: Week of June 17, 2024 (anticipated)
Grant Project Period: August 2024 – July 2026

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Due Date: 02/22/2024

Amount: $30,000

SRIDE Fellowship for Exploration (Graduate students) for the 2024-2025 Academic Year

The process of discovery contributes to our nation’s prowess in space exploration. In the Age of Discovery (circa 15th – 18th century), the leading nations of the day set out to explore what was unknown to them. The exploration of space will lead to greater understanding of the Earth and its place in the vastness of space. Humans living in space or on other celestial bodies will encounter new challenges in building societies. This includes not only sustainable physical structures but other critical aspects such as the formulation of exploration policies and new forms of civil society and governance in space. 

A prime directive of the Space Research Institute for Discovery and Exploration (SRIDE) at the University of Cincinnati (UC) is to foster growth in career paths that are aligned with our regional and national interests to discover and explore our universe with an emphasis on space travel and habitation. The Institute has established a Graduate Fellowship program – the SRIDE Fellowship for Exploration – to support students who show potential in advancing new ideas related to space discovery and exploration. The SRIDE Fellowship for Exploration is for graduate students pursuing their Masters or Ph.D. degrees. There are no limitations to the discipline or background of graduate students – applications from all areas are strongly encouraged. 

Key Dates
RFA released: January 11, 2024
Application Deadline: February 22, 2024, 5:00 pm Eastern
Fellows Announced: Week of April 8, 2024 (anticipated)
Fellowship Project Period: August 26, 2024 – August 24, 2025
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Due Date: 02/22/2024

Amount: $5,000

SRIDE Fellowship for Discovery (Undergraduates) for Fall Semester 2024

The process of discovery contributes to our nation’s prowess in space exploration. In the Age of Discovery (circa 15th – 18th century), the leading nations of the day set out to explore what was unknown to them. The exploration of space will lead to greater understanding of the Earth and its place in the vastness of space. Humans living in space or on other celestial bodies will encounter new challenges in building societies. This includes not only sustainable physical structures but other critical aspects such as the formulation of exploration policies and new forms of civil society and governance in space. 

A prime directive of the Space Research Institute for Discovery and Exploration (SRIDE) at the University of Cincinnati (UC) is to foster growth in career paths that are aligned with our regional and national interests to discover and explore our universe with an emphasis on space travel and habitation. The Institute has established an Undergraduate Fellowship program – the SRIDE Fellowship for Discovery – to support students who show potential in advancing new ideas related to space discovery and exploration. The $5,000 SRIDE Fellowship for Discovery is for undergraduates with 2-3 years remaining in their academic degree program. Undergraduates of all majors are eligible and encouraged to apply for this Fellowship. 

Key Dates Fall 2024 Semester Application
RFA released: January 11, 2024
Application Deadline: February 22, 2024, 5:00 pm Eastern
Fellows Announced: Week of April 8, 2024 (anticipated)
Fellowship Project Period: 2024 Fall Semester (August 26, 2024 – December 14, 2024)

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Due Date: 02/02/2024

Amount: $25,000

Society & Culture Research Advancement Program (Formerly Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS) Research Advancement Program)

Building upon previous investments in arts, humanities, and social sciences (AHSS), the Office of Research seeks to incentivize novel research, exceptional scholarship, and the production of creative and performing art works that creatively address issues of increasing societal significance. The newly named and amended AHSS program will now follow a two-stage, LOI and finalist round process. This program is open to UC faculty whose proposed activities fall within the areas of the arts, humanities and social sciences. The application budget limit for the Society & Culture Research Advancement program is up from $10,000 to $25,000 per award.

The first stage of the new process involves the submission of a 2-page letter of interest (LOI). Up to ten finalists will then be invited to submit a full proposal and pitch at a pitch event that will be held between 10am-3pm the week of April 3, 2023 (anticipated).

KEY DATES

FOA Release: Thursday, January 11, 2024
LOI Deadline: Friday, February 2, 2024, 5:00 pm EST
Finalists Notified: Week of February 26, 2024 (anticipated)
Final Proposal Deadline: Friday, March 29, 2024, 5:00 pm EST (for finalists only)   
Finalist Pitch Presentations: Week of April 29, 2024 (anticipated)
Grantees Announced: Week of May 6, 2024 (anticipated)
Grant Project Period: May 2024 – May 2026

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Due Date: 02/02/2024

Amount: $10,000

UC Coalition for Change (C3) Fund

Building on previous and current internal investments as part of Research2030, the Office of Research seeks to incentivize novel research, exceptional scholarship, and the production of creative and performing art that addresses issues of increasing significance to our community - Fostering research with community impact. 

This funding opportunity follows a two-step, LOI and finalist round process open to UC faculty whose proposed activities can be defined or characterized as research with community impact. The C3 Fund is $50k. The application budget limit per proposal is $10k.

The first stage of this process involves the submission of a 2-page letter of interest (LOI). Up to fifteen finalists will then be invited to submit a full proposal and pitch at a pitch event that will be held in the spring.

Key Dates
FOA Release: Thursday, January 11, 2024
LOI Deadline: Friday, February 2, 2024, 5:00 pm EST 
Finalists Notified: Week of February 26, 2024 (anticipated) 
Final Proposal Deadline: Friday, March 29, 2024, 5:00 pm EST (for finalists only)   
Finalist Pitch Presentations: Week of April 29, 2024 (anticipated)
Grantees Announced: Week of May 13, 2024 (anticipated)
Grant Project Period: May 2024 – May 2026

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Due Date: 01/25/2024

Amount: N/A

Office of Research Michelman Green, Clean and Sustainable Technology Research Innovation Program

Courtesy of the generous contributions of the Dr. John S. Michelman Fund for the Advancement of Sustainable Technology, the Office of Research is pleased to share the AY23-24 FOA for the Michelman Green, Clean and Sustainable Technology Research Innovation Program. This program supports applied R&D and use-inspired research with the potential to meaningfully contribute to improvements in environmental health, environmental stewardship, and sustainability by demonstrating new and marketable scientific and technical (S&T) innovations intended to address real-world problems in the Green-tech and Clean-tech fields. 
 
This program will follow a one-stage, full proposal/application process. This program is open to UC faculty. Research teams may include additional researchers from beyond UC but funds cannot support personnel at any outside organizations or partners. Multi-disciplinary teams with expertise in chemistry, chemical engineering or materials science are strongly encouraged to consider this funding opportunity.  
 
Grants: Single Investigator applicants may receive up to $35,000, and multi-investigator* teams may receive up to $80,000 for these projects. The project period will be for 24 months. Budgets will only be required from grantees and will be created in collaboration with the Office of Research. Final budget award amounts will be consistent with the scope of the proposed activities. These funds are intended to accelerate applied research and development activities that can be externally sponsored. The Office of Research is dedicating up to $200,000 for this offering. 
 
Key Dates
FOA released August 23, 2023 
Proposal Deadline: January 25, 2024, 5:00 pm EST 
Grantees Announced: Week of March 18, 2024 (anticipated) 
Project Period: May 2024– April 2026 

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Due Date: 11/08/2023

Amount: $25,000

Office of Research Collaborative Research Advancement Program: Pilot Grants

Consistent with Office of Research goals to spur interdisciplinary  research and establish new partnerships within and beyond the institution, this program is designed to seed collaborative research endeavors to help develop research to the point where external funding can be obtained. The expected outcomes for this program: 1) Support interdisciplinary teams for achievement of greater success and prominence; 2) Advance high-potential, team research and creative activities in emergent areas; and 3) Increase teams’ competitiveness and capacity for major extramural awards and funding. 

This program follows a two-stage application/evaluation process. The first stage involves submission of a 2-page letter of interest (LOI). Up to twenty finalists will then be invited to submit a full proposal and present at a pitch event that will be held between the hours of 9am-5pm the week of January 29, 2024 (anticipated).
Tracks 
Track 1: General Pilot Project (up to eight awards) 
Track 2: Space Research Pilot Project (up to two awards) 
Track 3: International Collaborative Research Pilot Project (up to two awards) 

Key Dates
FOA Release: Wednesday, August 23, 2023
LOI Due: Wednesday, November 8, 2023 by 5:00 pm EST
Finalist Notification: December 8, 2023 (anticipated) 
Final Proposal Deadline: January 17, 2024 by 5:00 pm EST (finalists only) 
Finalist Presentations: Week of January 29, 2024 (anticipated) 
Grantees Announced: Week of March 4, 2024 (anticipated) 
Grant Project Period: May 2024 – May 2026
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Due Date: 11/07/2023

Amount: $7,500

University Research Council (URC) Graduate Student Stipend and Research Cost Program for Faculty—Student Collaboration: Life Sciences

The Graduate College and the Office of the Vice President for Research are pleased to announce the 2023-2024 RFP for the University Research Council (URC) Graduate Student Stipend and Research Cost Program for Faculty—Student Collaboration.

The URC funding program is UC’s oldest and most prestigious internal funding mechanism. Since 1971, the URC has worked in partnership with the Vice President for Research to advance high-potential research, scholarship and creative work, including that conducted by our graduate students. Following in the Teacher-Scholar model of graduate education, this URC program provides summer stipend support to outstanding graduate students plus funds to support related research costs working in collaboration with a UC faculty member. A total award of $7,500 is available to each applicant. Stipend support of $6,500 will be provided to the graduate student plus up to $1,000 for research costs payable to the department.

Funding is available to support up to 6 awards in the Life Sciences.

Key Dates
RFP released August 23, 2023
Proposal Deadline: November 07, 2023, 5:00 pm Eastern
Awardees Announced: Week of January 29th, 2024 (anticipated)
Fellowship Project Period: Summer 2024 semester (May 6, 2024 – August 3, 2024)

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Due Date: 11/07/2023

Amount: $7,500

University Research Council (URC) Graduate Student Stipend and Research Cost Program for Faculty—Student Collaboration: Arts & Humanities

The Graduate College and the Office of the Vice President for Research are pleased to announce the 2023-2024 RFP for the University Research Council (URC) Graduate Student Stipend and Research Cost Program for Faculty—Student Collaboration.

The URC funding program is UC’s oldest and most prestigious internal funding mechanism. Since 1971, the URC has worked in partnership with the Vice President for Research to advance high-potential research, scholarship and creative work, including that conducted by our graduate students. Following in the Teacher-Scholar model of graduate education, this URC program provides summer stipend support to outstanding graduate students plus funds to support related research costs working in collaboration with a UC faculty member. A total award of $7,500 is available to each applicant. Stipend support of $6,500 will be provided to the graduate student plus up to $1,000 for research costs payable to the department.

Funding is available to support up to 6 awards in the Arts & Humanities.

 KEY DATES
RFP released August 23, 2023
Proposal Deadline: November 07, 2023, 5:00 pm Eastern
Awardees Announced: Week of January 29th, 2024 (anticipated)
Fellowship Project Period: Summer 2024 semester (May 6, 2024 – August 3, 2024)

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Due Date: 11/07/2023

Amount: $7,500

University Research Council (URC) Graduate Student Stipend and Research Cost Program for Faculty—Student Collaboration: Physical Sciences and Engineering

The Graduate School and the Office of the Vice President for Research are pleased to announce the 2023-2024 RFP for the University Research Council (URC) Graduate Student Stipend and Research Cost Program for Faculty—Student Collaboration.

The URC funding program is UC’s oldest and most prestigious internal funding mechanism. Since 1971, the URC has worked in partnership with the Vice President for Research to advance high-potential research, scholarship and creative work, including that conducted by our graduate students. Following in the Teacher-Scholar model of graduate education, this URC program provides summer stipend support to outstanding graduate students plus funds to support related research costs working in collaboration with a UC faculty member. A total award of $7,500 is available to each applicant. Stipend support of $6,500 will be provided to the graduate student plus up to $1,000 for research costs payable to the department.


Funding is available to support up to 7 awards in the Physical Sciences and Engineering.

Key Dates
RFP released August 23, 2023
Proposal Deadline: November 07, 2023, 5:00 pm Eastern
Awardees Announced: Week of January 29th, 2024 (anticipated)
Fellowship Project Period: Summer 2024 semester (May 6, 2024 – August 3, 2024)
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Due Date: 11/07/2023

Amount: $7,500

University Research Council (URC) Graduate Student Stipend and Research Cost Program for Faculty—Student Collaboration: Behavioral and Social Sciences

The Graduate College and the Office of the Vice President for Research are pleased to announce the 2023-2024 RFP for the University Research Council (URC) Graduate Student Stipend and Research Cost Program for Faculty—Student Collaboration.

The URC funding program is UC’s oldest and most prestigious internal funding mechanism. Since 1971, the URC has worked in partnership with the Vice President for Research to advance high-potential research, scholarship and creative work, including that conducted by our graduate students. Following in the Teacher-Scholar model of graduate education, this URC program provides summer stipend support to outstanding graduate students plus funds to support related research costs working in collaboration with a UC faculty member. A total award of $7,500 is available to each applicant. Stipend support of $6,500 will be provided to the graduate student plus up to $1,000 for research costs payable to the department.

 

Funding is available to support up to 6 awards in the Behavioral & Social Sciences.

Key Dates
RFP released August 23, 2023
Proposal Deadline: November 07, 2023, 5:00 pm Eastern
Awardees Announced: Week of January 29th, 2024 (anticipated)
Fellowship Project Period: Summer 2024 semester (May 6, 2024 – August 3, 2024)

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Due Date: 11/02/2023

Amount: $25,000

University Research Council (URC) Faculty Scholars Research Awards

The Office of Research is pleased to share the 2023-2024 FOA for the URC Faculty Scholars Research Awards Program. Building upon the rich legacy of the University Research Council (URC), UC’s oldest and most prestigious internal funding program, the URC Faculty Scholars Research Awards are meant to recognize promising UC early career faculty who are proposing transformative ideas that will shape our future. This program is for individual faculty and may be discipline-focused or interdisciplinary in nature.

This program will follow a two-stage application/evaluation process. The first stage involves submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI). Up to fifteen finalists will then be invited to submit a full proposal and share a 15-minute presentation/Q&A to discuss their proposed activities.

A total of eight URC Faculty Scholars Research Awardees will be designated annually. Faculty across of all UC, whose research, scholarship and creative activities fall within the areas of Arts & Humanities, Behavioral & Social Sciences, Physical Science & Engineering, and the Life Sciences are encouraged to apply

Awards: All awards will be for $25,000 and for a period of 24 months. Budgets will only be required from awardees and will be created in collaboration with the Office of Research.

 

KEY DATES
FOA Released: August 23, 2023
LOI Due: November 2, 2023 by 5:00 pm Eastern
Finalists Notified: Week of December 4, 2023 (anticipated)
Final Proposal Deadline: January 18, 2024 by 5:00 pm EST (for finalists only)
Finalist Presentations: Week of January 29, 2024 (anticipated)
Awardees Announced: Week of March 4, 2024 (anticipated)
Award Project Period: May 2024 – April 2026

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Due Date: 09/28/2023

Amount: $5,000

SRIDE Fellowship for Discovery (Undergraduates) for Spring Semester 2024

The process of discovery contributes to our nation’s prowess in space exploration. In the Age of Discovery (circa 15th – 18th century), the leading nations of the day set out to explore what was unknown to them. The exploration of space will lead to greater understanding of the Earth and its place in the vastness of space. Humans living in space or on other celestial bodies will encounter new challenges in building societies. This includes not only sustainable physical structures but other critical aspects such as the formulation of exploration policies and new forms of civil society and governance in space.

A prime directive of the Space Research Institute for Discovery and Exploration (SRIDE) at the University of Cincinnati (UC) is to foster growth in career paths that are aligned with our regional and national interests to discover and explore our universe with an emphasis on space travel and habitation. The Institute has established an Undergraduate Fellowship program – the SRIDE Fellowship for Discovery – to support students who show potential in advancing new ideas related to space discovery and exploration. The $5,000 SRIDE Fellowship for Discovery is for undergraduates with 2-3 years remaining in their academic degree program. Undergraduates of all majors are eligible and encouraged to apply for this Fellowship.

Key Dates Spring Semester 2024
RFA released August 23, 2023
Application Deadline: September 28, 2023 5:00 pm Eastern
Fellows Announced: Week of October 30, 2023 (anticipated)
Fellowship Project Period: 2024 Spring Semester (January 8, 2024 – April 25, 2024)

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