PumpPrimer I and II are internal funding programs for researchers in Arts, Science & Engineering (AS&E). These funds are intended to launch pilot project for initiatives otherwise difficult to execute. Projects that are advanced through Pump Primer funding are expected to be submitted for external funding within 18 months of the conclusion of Pump Primer projects.

PumpPrimer I

To remain consistent with federal agency award mechanisms that bring together experts with complementary skills to address grand challenges, we encourage large-scale initiatives that are multi-and inter-disciplinary. These projects impact AS&E faculty, increase the quality and stability of our research infrastructure, and increase our national and international visibility.

PumpPrimer II (PPII)

The increasingly competitive environment for extramural funding increases the need for proof of concept and/or pilot data. To help faculty secure funding for bold new research directions, the Dean’s Office will provide a maximum of $50,000 for up to one year. Cost-sharing with departmental resources is encouraged.

Applicants for both mechanisms are expected to submit a proposal for external funding within 18 months of the allocation of intramural PumpPrimer support. Both mechanisms will require a brief final survey to help us evaluate the effectiveness of this program.

Faculty in Arts and Sciences

Refer questions to Lindsey Harrington, lindsey.harrington@rochester.edu or Hilary Mosher, hilary.mosher@rochester.edu.

Faculty in Engineering

Refer questions to Cindy Gary, cindy.gary@rochester.edu

Deadline: Typically spring/fall

Funding: Equipment purchased is considered the property of the CoE. F&A on the awarded funds is restricted to 15% on payroll expenses (salary and benefits) only. CoE awards are capped at $60,000 per proposal.

Synopsis: CoE program is open to Principal Investigators (PIs) from the faculties of New York State Universities. Persons eligible to be PI’s must be full-time faculty or hold a similar position in their university. Note that the CoE does not award funds directly to companies. The projects should be data science driven. The Center’s goal is to stimulate economic growth in NY State by promoting technology transfer from our universities to companies operating in NY. Accordingly, proposed projects must involve a NY industry partner that is actively engaged with the project, providing assessment of economic impact of the project, and possibly financially co-sponsoring the research (although this is not a requirement).

Proposal submission: All proposals must be submitted by email as attachments using the forms on the CoE website. Contact Margaret Urzetta by email at margaret.urzetta@rochester.edu for more information.

Deadline: Please check this website in June for updates

Funding: Maximum budget for 2022-23 GIDS seed grants is $20,000

Synopsis: The PI or at least one of the co-PIs (may have up to 3) must be a GIDS affiliated faculty member. There are no limits on the number of proposals per faculty member.

GIDS seed funding program aims to support collaborative research efforts toward attracting major external funding, with a particular focus on work aligned with at least one of the following research priorities in data science:

• Foundations of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI)
• Imaging, optics, and computer/human vision
• Life sciences and biomedical data science
• Health analytics and digital health
• Human-data-system interfaces (including human-computer interaction, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), robotics)
• AI-augmented learning and work

Details and forms can on the GIDS research funding page.

Deadline: Mid-May annually

CEIS is one of 15 Centers for Advanced Technology funded by NYSTAR.

Funding: CEIS awards are capped at $30,000 per proposal, $45,000 per faculty researcher, and $80,000 per company partner. Awards will be granted for one year only. F&A on the CEIS awarded funds is restricted to 15% on payroll expenses (salary and benefits) only and may be allowed at a reduced rate of 25% of payroll expenses only on the company matching funds with Dean’s Office approval.

Synopsis: The CIR program provides matching funds to a principal investigator (PI) for company-sponsored research on campus. The size of the award can be up to $30,000 (subject to availability of funds) and requires at least a 2:1 match by the company. A typical project runs one year with the opportunity for renewed extension and is intended to support a research project on campus with a dedicated graduate student. Proposals will be reviewed in June 2022, for projects to commence on July 1, 2022 subject to the availability of funds. The goal of the CEIS CIR program is to stimulate economic growth in NY State by promoting technology transfer from our universities to New York companies. Proposed projects must involve a NY industry partner that is actively engaged with the research, financially sponsoring the research, and willing to provide ongoing economic impact reporting for the project.

Who may apply: The CIR program is open to Principal Investigators (PIs) from the faculties of the University of Rochester. Persons eligible to be PI’s must be full-time faculty or hold a similar position in their university. Note that only university PIs are eligible for CIR funding. CEIS does not award funds directly to companies.

Types of projects considered: Types of projects considered: CEIS support traditionally spans a broad range of optics, photonics and imaging interests, including ophthalmic and vision science, fiber optic communications, biomedical imaging, geospatial imaging, precision optics, consumer imaging and displays. Proposals in other technical areas will be considered as well.

See the CIR program page for more information. Questions about the proposals or the CIR RFP process may be addressed to Cathy Adams at cathy.adams@rochester.edu.

World Universities Network research development fund 2022 is now open. The annual competitive fund is aimed at bringing together researchers to undertake innovative, high-quality, sustainable research that addresses global challenges. Each member institution is permitted to lead two proposals per year but can collaborate on as many as desired. If you are interested in leading a proposal effort or would like more information, contact Megan Bennett-Spears. View the guidelines and more information on the Global website. Internal applications are due fall.

The Discover Grant program is open to proposals from individual and groups of current University of Rochester students and faculty, including research faculty. Successful proposals may fund things that enhance and/or increase undergraduate research opportunities for UR undergraduates. This includes but is not necessarily limited to: pay for work; equipment; research-oriented travel; and supplies. The program is funded initially at the level of $50,000 per year. Large and small requests may be funded, though there will be some bias toward funding many small awards, as opposed to a few large ones. Proposals will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Successful proposals will create an undergraduate research opportunity that might not otherwise exist.

University Research Award applications are sought from faculty across the University, and funding is awarded to recipients who demonstrate their projects favor new research with a high probability of being leveraged by future external funding.

The University's Technology Development Fund promotes the transfer and translation of research into commercial applications. Awards can range from $40,000 to $100,000 to support projects of approximately one year in duration.

The Drug Discovery Pilot Award Program, jointly funded by the University of Rochester Medical Center and the Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research at Temple University enables Rochester scientists to combine their knowledge of the underlying biology of disease with the ability of the medicinal chemists and pharmacologists at the Moulder Center to identify and create compounds suitable for medical research and eventual use in humans.

The Environmental Health Sciences Center (EHSC) supports a limited number of meritorious Pilot Projects that are relevant to the theme of the EHSC: "Environmental Agents as Modulators of Human Disease and Dysfunction." The center is especially interested in proposals addressing how the environment modifies stem cell function, affects early life origins of adult diseases, and disrupts host/pathogen interactions. Applicants may request a maximum of $30,000 for the duration of one year. Applications from new investigators collaborating with existing EHSC faculty are encouraged. In most cases, funds are restricted to research expenses and cannot be used to support travel, faculty salary, or equipment purchases. To learn more, contact Deborah Cory-Slechta, deborah_cory-slechta@urmc.rochester.edu

URMC's Internal Pilot Funding is relevant to any AS&E faculty who collaborate with Medical Center faculty.

The Internal Humanities Fellowships are available to tenure-track assistant professors in any field of humanistic study, including anthropology, art and art history, English, history, modern languages and cultures, music, philosophy, or religion and classics. In addition to presenting their own research, the in-residence fellows participate in the bi-weekly Humanities Center seminar and other workshops, conferences, and programs.