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Seed Funding Program

The School of Public Health (SPH) provides funding to support pilot research by eligible SPH faculty. The program aims to fund projects that will lead to extramural funding. Activities such as conducting preliminary research to inform study design, demonstrating feasibility of research protocols, pilot testing novel methodologies, exploring translational research methods in public health (all fields), or initiating new interdisciplinary research are encouraged. The annual call for proposals includes details on available funds, eligibility, and funding priorities.

In addition, the SPH dean's office makes available small discretionary grant awards (mini-grants) to provide support for the research activities of SPH faculty for which other sources of funding are not available. See below for more information.

Seed Funding Status Heading link

AY24 Call for Proposals Awarded
AY24 Special Call for Small Research Grants Awarded
AY24 Mini-grants Accepting applications (see below)
AY25 Call for Proposals Accepting applications (see below)

Recent Awards: AY 2024 Special Call for Small Research Grants Heading link

Demirtas, Hakan
Software development of a sorting-based mixed data generation routine for applied researchers and practitioners

Kim, Honghyok
Addressing uncertainties due to data-linkage misalignment and exposure prediction models: a Bayesian framework

Waterman, Fanta
A study examining policy frameworks for women’s health in St. Kitts and Nevis (SKN) and patient perceptions and experience with care

See previously funded projects below.

Mini-grants Heading link

A limited amount of discretionary funds are available each year to provide support for the research activities of SPH faculty for which other sources of support (e.g., Professional Development funds, grant) are not available. The two-fold aim in making these funds available is: a) to increase the competitiveness of faculty in obtaining external funding for their research and b) to support meaningful involvement of both undergraduate and graduate SPH students in faculty research. Types of expenses that may be supported include (but are not limited) to human subject payments, compensation for community partners, personnel and other costs incurred for data collection or analysis, publication expenses, software, laboratory equipment, and support for the development of proposals for external research funding.

Deadline

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until funds are expended.

Eligibility and Restrictions
  • The maximum amount of funds that can be requested, in general, is $500. For collaborative proposals involving eligible faculty from two or more SPH Divisions and those that will support greater involvement of one or more SPH undergraduate and/or graduate students in the faculty member’s research, the maximum award amount is $750.
  • Requests will be considered only in cases in which funds to support the activities involved are not available through the faculty member’s Professional Development funds or (in the case of new faculty) start-up funds, an existing grant/contract, or other relevant mechanisms (for example, the ROAPP fund in the case of publication costs).
  • Applicants must be a faculty member with 40% or more effort in the current academic year (teaching, clinical, and research) dedicated to the School of Public Health.
  • Applicants must have a primary university appointment in the School of Public Health.
  • A faculty member can have only one request granted in a given year, inclusive of any awards received together with other faculty.
  • All proposals must include a clear indication of how the support requested will increase the faculty member’s prospects for receiving external funding for research.
  • The faculty member’s Division Director must approve the submission. Division Directors should enter Dr. David DuBois (dldubois@uic.edu) as their unit head for approval purposes.

Mini-grants Apply Now

AY2024-25 SPH Seed Funding Call Heading link

Seed grants will be awarded for a project period up to 12-months. The goal of the program is to fund as many projects as possible. Activities such as conducting preliminary research to inform study design, demonstrating feasibility of research protocols, pilot testing novel methodologies, exploring translational research methods in public health (all fields), or initiating new interdisciplinary research are encouraged. Please be mindful that the scope of the proposed research should be reasonable (i.e., not overly ambitious) in relation to the requested budget and available time frame. Examples of funding uses include: new software; hourly RA salary/fringe; subject payments and recruitment costs; fees for development of intervention materials; lab assay fees; staff transportation costs for the research project; data acquisition costs.

Application Due Date

Applications must be submitted no later than October 21, 2024

Eligibility and Restrictions
  • Applicants must be a faculty member with 40% or more effort in the current academic year (teaching, clinical, and research) dedicated to the School of Public Health.
  • Applicants must have a primary university appointment in the School of Public Health.
  • All proposals must include a clear and compelling case for how the support requested will increase the faculty member’s prospects for receiving external funding for research.
  • The faculty member’s Division Director must approve the submission. Division Directors should enter Dr. David DuBois (dldubois@uic.edu) as their unit head for approval purposes.

AY2024-25 Seed Grants Apply Now

Seed Grant Documents Heading link

Funded Projects Heading link