C-ShaRP Academy Award Program FY26
C-ShaRP Academy Overview
The Community of Shared Research Platforms (C-ShaRP) at Stanford University is re-imagining shared facilities spanning science, engineering, medicine, and sustainability with new research platforms that are simultaneously accessible and advanced -- allowing for frontier research in collaborative, interconnected, state-of-the art facilities that bridge traditional Departmental and School boundaries and amplify the University mission of research, education, and translation. Stanford has invested close to $50M to update and retool shared facilities through the C-ShaRP initiative.
We are excited to launch the C-ShaRP Academy, a pioneering professional development initiative designed to equip shared facility teams with the expertise required to excel in an evolving research landscape. By addressing modern technical, operational, and strategic challenges, the Academy cultivates excellence through (1) Scientific Leadership to guide cutting-edge independent research, technical advancement, and cross-disciplinary collaboration; and (2) Business skills to optimize operations in shared facilities with a goal to align facilities with emerging priorities, best practices, and amplify institutional impact.
To cultivate next-generation expertise across Stanford’s shared platform ecosystem, the C-ShaRP Academy launches the first two targeted programs designed to address professional development needs for shared facility staff to keep abreast of master emerging research technologies and foster management skills. Learn more from the Funding Opportunities of the C-ShaRP website.
Shared Facility Staff Cross-Training Voucher Program
Shared Facilities staff are multifaceted, driven scientists who require constant intellectual stimulation. As technology advances and disciplines converge, there's a growing need for new methodologies and even entirely new fields of study. These developments have the potential to revolutionize shared facilities, meeting the evolving demands of faculty and researchers. However, shared facility staff often lack the resources to pursue these innovative projects, limiting their ability to publish and collaborate effectively. Many of the technologies they need are available in other shared facilities. The C-ShaRP Staff Cross-Training Voucher program is designed to address such issues.
This initiative provides professional development opportunities for shared facilities staff, enabling them to:
- Master advanced techniques on specialized instruments.
- Develop innovative methodologies to enhance research workflows.
- Foster interdisciplinary collaboration through hands-on training.
- Accelerates innovation and empowers career growth
The maximum award amount per request is $10,000. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis depending on availability of funds.
- Access instrument time in other shared facilities
- Method development
- Learn new techniques
- Foster interdisciplinary collaboration
- Enhance professional growth
Full-time shared facility staff members are eligible to apply. Supervisors of the applicant's home shared facility and the cross-training facility must each provide a letter of support.
Visit the C-ShaRP website for a list of eligible shared facilities. Other shared facilities not listed here or perhaps in various stages of being established, are also eligible. All eligible facilities must have an instrument and service user fee based on university approved rates.
Proposals should be submitted on this website, following this format. The application should be concise, within one page.
C-ShaRP funding should not be used to replace existing funding from other sources for existing activities pre-dating C-ShaRP. Requests to support subsequent iterations of a C-ShaRP-developed activity are allowable. The total budget of any submitted proposal should not exceed $10K.
The number of awards are limited to the available funds. Funds can only be used in Shared Facilities to support the usage of equipment, infrastructure, and/or staffing time detailed in the proposal budget. Funds can NOT be used to directly pay salaries. Annual reports will be used to track spending.
