Internal Awards FAQs

Seeding and Scaling Success have entirely different program purposes and are not interchangeable programs.

Seeding Success Grants support projects in their early stages or projects on a new research topic or shift in direction. Proposed Seeding projects should possess the potential for significant impact and lay the groundwork for future external funding through competitive proposal development.  While we always encourage faculty to begin considering sponsor programs that could support their work early on, applicants for Seeding Success Grants are not required to have documented external sponsor interest in their project.

Scaling Success Grants support projects that represent a significant scale-up from the applicant's prior work, such as growth from previous projects under a single PI to a project led by multiple PIs or across multiple institutions.  In addition, Scaling projects must have documented external sponsor interest. Before applying, applicants must have identified a funding opportunity and received the sponsor's encouragement to submit an application. The proposed Scaling project should allow the applicant to be responsive to sponsor feedback, facilitating a proposal with a stronger chance for success. (For example, if the sponsor suggests that more data would make a stronger proposal, the Scaling Success proposal should concentrate on acquiring said data.)

For both types of grants:  Project goals can include, but are not limited to, achieving research and creative work deliverables (e.g., peer-reviewed articles, patents, monographs, art works, exhibitions).

All internal research funds-and any allocations-must be disclosed in the application process; how your funds are currently allocated will be considered when reviewing the application. While having money available to you will not necessarily hurt your chances of receiving the award, reviewers may choose to ensure that funds are distributed based on demonstrated need.

You may apply for both programs, but it is unlikely that both applications will be funded in one fiscal year. It is strongly encouraged that you concentrate on putting forth the best application possible and concentrate upon your most immediate need.

You can only receive one award per year, per program.

Capital equipment that falls within the funding allowance for both Success programs is allowable. For larger infrastructure or capital equipment purchases, given the complexity of managing, housing and operating, faculty should work with their department chairs and dean, who will then work directly with the Provost on these high-dollar purchases.

No, you do not need IRB approval before applying. However, funds are awarded for specific time periods, so consideration should be given to what is feasible to complete when requesting money from an OVPRI Internal Award program.

IRB approval

Our goal is to ensure a fair review for all applications. However, faculty reviewers will not necessarily be experts in your specific research area. IARC reviewers will be selected to fit the disciplinary subfield that you choose in your application. Thus, describe your project for a general, academic audience within that subfield.

 No. It's to your best advantage to fully answer the questions asked in the application.

Wages, stipends, and fees can be covered. Funds cannot be used to cover tuition or financial aid.

Yes-you should apply again! Necessarily we cannot fund every deserving project that applies for internal award programs. Reviewers provide every applicant with feedback so that applicants can improve future applications. We encourage you to take reviewer feedback into consideration when you're writing your subsequent application.

Student compensation is a school-based standard and varies by student status (undergraduate, professional, or graduate). We recommend consulting with your department administrator or Dean's office.

Department administrators should be engaged during the student hiring process to ensure all university and department policies are followed. Funds may not be used for the following:

• graduate student recruiting
• graduate students' professional development cost or programs
• student tuition

No. Scaling and Seeding Success can cover research staff and postdoc salary up to $60,000, but cannot cover PI/faculty salary.

Course buyout may only be requested in Scaling Success proposals in the amount of $35,000. Course buyout must be approved by your dean before applying. Seeding Success does not have the option for course buyout.

Applicants may apply for up to $60,000 in salary and fringe support from OVPRI awards. Any amount over the $60,000 must be covered by the PI. Additionally, the application should cover:

• The necessity of a postdoc to the project
• The work the postdoc will be doing on the project
• Detail plan to sustainably support the postdoc after their internal award period ends

Each program's application portal has a downloadable template for proposal budgets. Please be as specific as possible in your estimates.

Yes, Faculty may use funds for scientific and technical staff salaries, and for compensation for term-limited consultants, web-programmers, survey developers, etc. However, be sure to explain fully the necessity, role, and duties of the staff to the project.

For Seeding and Scaling Success Programs, after award decisions are made, a unique, centrally-housed Oracle project will be created. We will share the project information and all relevant purchasing details once available. Faculty are required to submit an annual report to OVPRI. For projects with multi-year funding, additional year funding will be released following a review of your report.