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

Mini-grants Applications accepted on a rolling basis
AY27 Seed Call Expected Fall 2026

SPH Seed Funding Call

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

Next cycle expected Fall 2026.

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. Jamie Chriqui (jchriqui@uic.edu) as their unit head for approval purposes.

Mini-grants (rolling applications)

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 to:

  • Increase the competitiveness of faculty in obtaining external funding for their research
  • Support meaningful involvement of both undergraduate and graduate SPH students in faculty research.
Deadline

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

Eligibility and Restrictions
  • The maximum amount of funds that can be requested for a standard mini-grant is $500.
  • For collaborative proposals involving eligible faculty from multiple SPH Divisions or those that support involvement of one or more SPH undergraduate and/or graduate students, 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.
  • 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 only request one mini-grant in a given year, inclusive of 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. Jamie Chriqui (jchriqui@uic.edu) as their unit head for approval purposes.

Types of expenses that may be supported include (but are not limited to):

  • human subject payments
  • compensation for community partners
  • data storage costs to secure data in anticipation of a future grant
  • personnel and other costs incurred for data collection or analysis
  • software or computing fees
  • laboratory equipment
  • support for the development of proposals for external research funding
  • publication expenses (in the absence of other funding sources)

Mini-grants (rolling applications)

Seed Grant Documents

See Previous Projects Here