VPDoR International Research Exploration Seed Grant - 2022
The Steven and Roberta Denning International Research Fund was created to help faculty expand their international network of researchers through early-stage research projects and is administered by the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research (VPDoR).
The 2022/23 cycle deadline is 11:59 pm on Thursday, March 24, 2022. This program will be run on an annual basis.
Overview
This call for proposals is intended to provide funds for faculty to stimulate international exploratory research. Investigators may propose new partnerships to gather preliminary data and develop a research idea (e.g., feasibility, pilot, and proof-of-concept studies) that may result in joint publications and enable subsequent applications for extramural funding. Investigators may expand an existing partnership if the research project explores new directions and requires further development to attract future funding. For the 2022/23 cycle, requests to support a previous project not completed due to the pandemic may be considered if part of a larger application that also explores new directions.
Collaboration with OCE: The Office of Community Engagement (OCE) works across campus to advance and deepen more purposeful engagement with the communities Stanford touches – locally, nationally, and globally. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to OCE, if desired.
Program Priorities
- This program is designed to seed new activities and to explore novel research collaborations.
- Projects are expected to promote international research that addresses a critical need that requires international collaboration. Proposals tackling any critical issue, as defined by the field or discipline, are welcome.
In addition, preference will be given to projects that:
- Establish relationships with new international partner(s) that have long-term potential.
- Involve undergraduate, graduate student or post-doc researchers.
- Develop international experiences for early-and mid-career faculty.
- Articulate how the funds will help build towards future external funding.
- Demonstrate diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Applicants with existing resources that could be used to fund the proposed project are discouraged.
Eligibility
All Stanford Faculty with principal investigator (PI) eligibility may apply (i.e., members of the University's Academic Council or MCL faculty). This call is open to all faculty from all the Stanford schools.
VPDoR is committed to creating an environment that values and embraces diversity. Applications from those typically underrepresented in their field of expertise are particularly encouraged.
Requirements
- The applicant must be a PI from Stanford. Other personnel (grad students, postdocs, research staff, etc.) may be listed as team members on the proposal.
- To ensure an equal and impactful collaboration, each proposal must identify at least one international collaborator with a leadership role on the project.
- Applicants may submit only one proposal as the lead PI per cycle.
Funding and Award Period
Proposals will be funded for a maximum of 12 months. Budget requests must be in the range of $10,000 to $25,000. Depending on the number of applications received, projects may be partially funded. Funds may be used for:
- travel and living expenses (lodging, food, incidentals), both for Stanford faculty, postdoc and graduate student researcher travel and for bringing international collaborator(s) to Stanford
- research, meeting, and communications costs
- consumable costs for proof-of-concept studies
The funding may NOT be used for faculty salary, course buyouts, administrative staff, tuition, capital equipment, or health/welfare benefits. Seed funds cannot be used for subawards or expenses on behalf of other organizations.
Please see the Stanford Purchasing Policies and Guidelines if you have questions regarding allowable expenses.
Please remember that any travel related costs, including transport and lodging, should follow Stanford travel guidelines and be booked through Stanford Travel Booking Channels. Additional details are described in the February Research Update for Chairs and Directors.
PIs are advised to contact Global Business Services if international payments are intended. Questions may be submitted through Global Activities here.
Proposal Instructions
The proposal should be single spaced with a minimum 11-point font and 1-inch margins on all sides. The proposal must be written in clear, concise language accessible to a general audience and must contain the following sections:
- Project Narrative (3 pages maximum, excluding references)
- Describe the research idea that you are seeking to develop or the issue your project will address. Include the key research question(s) to be tested, and a brief overview of your approach, milestones, and expected outcomes.
- Describe the team and partnership you will build. Explain the need for collaboration and its value to the project.
- Explain how this proposal meets the “exploratory” goal of this program, as well as how the collaboration may enable future funding, as applicable.
- Budget and Justification (1-2 pages)
- Explain the need for this seed grant and provide a detailed table of estimated costs.
- Proposed budgets do not need to include indirect costs as this program is internally funded.
- 2-4 page biosketch or resume for each investigator with a leadership role (typical sponsor formats encouraged).
- PI’s current and pending research support (include sponsor name, term, and amount of funding).
Timeline
- March 24, 2022 - Application deadline
- March 25 - April 14, 2022 - Application review period
- Mid-April - Applicants are notified of their application status
- May 1, 2022 - Award starts
- May 1, 2023 – Award closes
- June 1, 2023 - Project report deadline
- June 3, 2024 - Impact survey deadline
Review Process and Criteria
These proposals will be competitively reviewed by Stanford faculty peers and program staff. The panel’s expertise may not be within your discipline, so it is advised that the proposal avoid jargon and unexplained abbreviations and that the narrative be accessible to a broad audience. We aim to have each proposal reviewed by at least three faculty peers who will evaluate proposals and recommend projects for funding based on:
- Collaboration value: Is the value of the international partnership to the project impactful and clear?
- Team Composition: Does the project team form a diverse, balanced, and collaborative partnership?
- Significance & Impact: Does the proposal describe a critical problem worth solving and does it describe the anticipated benefits if successful?
- Feasibility: Does the proposal convey a well-reasoned research design, appropriate methodologies, and specific outcomes?
- Alignment: Does the proposal align with the program priorities (outlined above)?
In addition, we will aim for a portfolio of awards that is balanced in terms of topic areas and distribution across the university.
Award Terms and Conditions
- Awards will be between $10,000 and $25,000 for 12 months.
- Funds are made available through the financial office in the recipients’ respective departments/divisions/schools.
- By accepting this award, the PI agrees to (1) submit a brief final report at the end of the award period describing what you have accomplished and/or lessons learned, and (2) complete a brief survey one year after the award period describing the impact and outcomes of the project in the longer term.
- Recipients may be asked to serve on future IRE review panels.