Program Overview & Applicant Guide
This program funds collaborative research, scholarship, and creative activity that pairs UAH academic-college faculty with researchers based in UAH's centers and institutes, engages a community partner, and – for the most successful groups – may grow into a permanent, multi-faculty program through strategic faculty hiring.
Who Can Apply
Every proposal, at every level, must be led by a team of at least:
- One faculty member with a primary appointment in an academic college, and
- One researcher with a primary appointment, or majority effort, in a UAH research center or institute.
Teams are expected to grow as they advance through the program – a two-person pairing at the entry level is expected to become a multi-investigator group by the time it competes at the top level.
Award Levels
The program has three levels. Levels build on one another: teams seed a partnership, prove they can win external funding, and – for the strongest groups – grow into a permanent hired cluster. Durations below are maximums; teams ready to advance sooner are encouraged to do so.
| Level | Award | # Awarded | Duration | What It's For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seed | $20,000 flat | 10-15 per cycle | Up to 1 year | Start a new college-center partnership, begin engaging a community partner, and generate early work. |
| Prove | ~$150,000 total including cost sharing | 4-6 per cycle | Up to 2 years | Show your group can win external funding, with a committed community partner. |
| Flagship | ~$750K–900K total including cost sharing + new and reallocated faculty lines | 1-2 | Up to 3 years | Grow a proven group into a permanent, multi-faculty program through strategic faculty hires. |
Community Partners
A community partner – industry, a nonprofit, a school system, a government agency, a healthcare provider, or an arts or cultural organization – is part of this program at every level:
- At the Seed level, identifying and beginning to engage a community partner is one of the award's explicit goals.
- At the Prove level, an engaged community partner is required, including some level of financial commitment from that partner to the project.
- At the Flagship level, the community partnership is expected to continue and deepen as part of the cluster's ongoing work.
Seed Award Budget
Seed awards are a flat $20,000 – there is no range, and no cost-match is required. The budget follows a simple, required structure:
| Category | Maximum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Co-Lead 1 salary (summer or equivalent) | $2,000 | College-based lead |
| Co-Lead 2 salary (summer or equivalent) | $2,000 | Center/institute-based lead |
| Fringe benefits on above salary | Actual rate | In addition to the $4,000 combined salary cap |
| Supplies, travel, community-partner support, other direct costs | Remaining balance | As needed for the project |
| Total | $20,000 | Flat award; no match required |
How Seed Awards Are Evaluated
Reviewers score each Seed proposal on the following criteria, each rated 1–5 (1 = not addressed, 3 = adequate, 5 = exceptional):
| Criterion | Weight | What reviewers look for |
|---|---|---|
| Partnership strength | 25% | A new, genuine, complementary pairing between a college-based and a center/institute-based investigator |
| Theme alignment | 20% | Clear theme that aligns UAH with community needs, spanning research, scholarship, and creative activity |
| Community partner engagement | 15% | A specific, appropriate partner identified, with a credible plan to engage them |
| Feasibility & work plan | 20% | A realistic one-year (max) plan; budget follows the required template and restrictions |
| Potential for advancement | 20% | A credible path toward a Prove-level application |
How to Apply
Seed
- Submit a short white paper (2-4 pages): the opportunity, the college and center investigators, your community partner if already identified, a brief work plan, and a budget using the required template above.
- Reviewed by a joint steering committee against the published rubric. No interview or presentation required.
Prove
- Submit a written proposal (5-8 pages) naming the specific external funding or recognition opportunity you are building toward, and documenting your community partner's engagement and financial commitment.
- Present to the steering committee in person, in a format similar to a site visit – be ready to discuss your funding readiness and your community partnership.
Flagship
- Submit a full proposal including a hiring plan: the expertise you're recruiting for, how many faculty lines are involved and which college(s) and center/institute are contributing them, and how the resulting group will be governed.
- Review includes outside reviewers and a presentation to university leadership.
Questions
Contact the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development or the Office of the Provost for questions about eligibility, themes, or the application process.