VPDoR Small Propel Grant - 2022 Autumn Cycle
On behalf of the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research (VPDoR), the Stanford Research Development Office (RDO) is pleased to invite applications from Stanford Researchers for Small Propel Grants. The objectives of the program are to support collaborative research efforts in their pursuit of external funding and maximize competitiveness of external funding applications.
RDO anticipates awarding up to thirty-two Large Propel grants per year (eight per cycle*), with awards of $5,000 per team.
*Award cycles are detailed in the timeline below.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION IS 11:59 PM ON OCTOBER 6, 2022
Purpose
Propel grants are designed to help research teams clear those final hurdles to submitting a competitive proposal for external funding.
Funded activities should support the development of key characteristics for grant success, including:
- vetted vision, concept, and/or approach that fairs well in review
- demonstrated strong collaboration and cohesive team
- necessary preliminary data, proof of concept, and/or other elements to convince reviewers of feasibility
- aligned with and responsive to all sponsor and program goals
- well-written and beautifully illustrated proposal
Who should apply?
This is not a traditional seed grant. The program is intended to support projects which are:
- Already defined, with teams preparing to apply for external sponsored research funding.
- Collaborative in nature and “beyond the usual” in scale for their disciplines in terms of research scope, award budget, and team size.
RDO will award a portfolio of projects that represent the diversity and breadth of scholarly areas. Preference will be given to disciplines or fields that have limited internal grant program support. Applications from biomedical fields will only be considered when they include a meaningful faculty partnership with other Stanford school(s).
We are committed to creating an environment that values and embraces diversity: Applications from those persons who are typically underrepresented in their field are particularly encouraged.
$5,000 Grant Supported Activities
Funding from the Small Propel Grants may be used for activities that will elevate your external funding application and drive it forward. Examples can include a writing day, hiring a graphic designer or scientific illustrator, conducting an expert review of your proposal draft, or another activity to make the external application more competitive. These small grants are meant to help you finalize your external grant application and to position your proposal for success.
Small Propel Grants are not intended to fund research or feasibility studies; such proposers are encouraged to apply to our Large Propel grant, or other programs that may be better suited to serve such needs.
Priorities
Applications are particularly encouraged for, but not limited to, projects that have one or more of the following:
- involve collaborative research across two or more departments.
- include team members from backgrounds underrepresented in the academy (e.g., ethnic, cultural or socioeconomic backgrounds, research expertise, career stage, institution/sector, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, etc.).
- strengthen collaboration between Stanford and SLAC.
Eligibility
The target audience for a Small Propel Grant are collaborative teams “beyond the usual” in scale who are positioned to submit an extramural funding application in the next six months. Biomedical applications need to include a meaningful faculty partnership with other Stanford school(s).
All Stanford faculty with principal investigator (PI) eligibility may apply (i.e., members of the University's Academic Council or UML faculty) are eligible to apply.
The applicant in Stanford Seed Funding must be the lead PI. Applications submitted by other personnel (grad students, postdocs, etc.) will not be reviewed.
Timeline
|
Application Deadline |
Grant Starts |
Six Month Impact Survey Due |
Autumn Cycle |
October 6, 2022 |
November 1, 2022 |
May 31, 2023 |
Winter Cycle |
January 9, 2023 |
February 1, 2023 |
August 31, 2023 |
Spring Cycle |
April 6, 2023 |
May 1, 2023 |
November 30, 2023 |
Summer Cycle |
July 6, 2023 |
August 1, 2023 |
February 28, 2024 |
Award Amount and Term
Grants provide $5,000 per team to support efforts over the next 1-6 month(s).
Application Instructions
Applications are accepted through the Stanford Seed Funding website. The application must be written in clear, concise language accessible to a non-specialist audience.
- Research idea (maximum 300 words). Introduce the overarching research idea to be funded by an external award. This should be a high-level overview of the larger project with an explanation of how this is “beyond the usual” for your discipline in scope, team and award size.
- Team composition. List the key team members and partner institutions (if applicable) with name, title, institution, and department or division, specifying which are confirmed and which are proposed. If applicable, describe the diversity within the team. We especially encourage applications from those who are underrepresented in their field.
- External funding plan (maximum 200 words). Describe the plan to pursue external funding. A minimum of one potential external grant must be identified. Include information on the potential funding source and the project submission date.
- Proposed activities (maximum 200 words). Specify the anticipated use of the funds or the activities the funds will enable, and how this will enhance the competitiveness of your external application.
Review Process and Criteria
Applications are initially checked against the eligibility criteria then competitively reviewed by Research Development Office Staff against the Propel Grants purpose and priorities.
RDO will award a portfolio of projects that represent the diversity and breadth of scholarly areas. Preference will be given to disciplines or fields that have limited internal grant program support.
Award Reporting
Grant recipients will be expected to complete a brief impact survey at six (6) months after the initial award.
In addition, teams should notify rdo_seedgrants@stanford.edu if the Propel Grants contributed to a noteworthy outcome or if any external funds were received, for up to two years after award.