Apply for a 2025/26 Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy Incentive Seed Grant!
This Incentive Seed Grant Program is intended to provide initial support for impactful research exploring the fundamental processes surrounding climate change, as well as the policy impacts and opportunities.
About the Funds:
Research that is already supported by other sources will not be approved for funding. Gap funding to bridge support between external grants or contracts will not be considered.
Proposals must exhibit high potential for leveraging extramural funding and PIs must commit to submitting at least one external proposal based on the pilot project. If funded, all applicants will be required to present proof of extramural submission in the Final Report one year after the grant end date. In addition, the applicant must clearly and convincingly demonstrate that the proposed project represents a new research direction in an area likely to generate extramural funding. Thus, the proposal must not overlap with any existing grants.
Seed funding under this program is to be used to successfully compete for extramural funds to support the project in the long term. Since reviewers may not be subject area experts, applicants are encouraged to write their proposal for a broad audience. Awards will be up to $20,000 for single PI projects or up to $50,000 for multi-PI projects for one year only. Applications may include a maximum of 3 Co-PIs. Interdisciplinary projects are encouraged.
Deadline:
Submissions for Spring 2025 funding will be due by 5:00 pm on January 17, 2025.
Requirements
Tenure-line and career-line faculty are eligible to apply. Faculty must be in-residence at the University of Utah to be considered for Seed funding.
Proposals that have already been submitted to an extramural agency should include the panel or review executive summary and an explanation for how this proposal will address the concerns of the extramural agency.
Please visit the following page for detailed application instructions.
Applicants can apply for up to $20,000 for a single PI project and $50,000 for collaborative projects.
Seed grant funds cannot be used for:
- Travel that is not directly related to project research (e.g., conferences cannot be supported by this grant)
- Consultants
- Tuition
- Office equipment (including computers), unless specifically justified
All Seed Grant awards are expected to begin May 1, 2025, and will expire 12 months after activation of the award on April 30, 2026.
A Final Report will be due to the Wilkes Center for Climate Science and policy within 12 months of the project end-date. Investigators will submit their Final Report via their InfoReady application portal. Reports will be reviewed and approved by the Wilkes Center.
Final reports must include proof of proposal submission to an extramural funding agency. If the investigator has not submitted to an extramural funding agency at the close of the seed grant, their final report will not be approved.
Investigators with outstanding final reports are not eligible for additional funding.
We're Here to Help
If you have questions about the process please contact Max Seawright at max.seawright@utah.edu.
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