Our team drives interdisciplinary collaboration through initiatives like Innovation Labs and Ideas Labs, uniting researchers across subjects. In addition, we spearhead internal funding programs, igniting research excellence within our campus, local communities, and beyond. Discover a wealth of resources to identify funding prospects, enhance grantsmanship prowess, and forge pivotal connections that bolster successful research proposals.

Growing Campus Connections

Sign up to be added to the RDO mailing list to receive the RDO Monthly Newsletter and other timely information.

Funding Opportunities

Ongoing Programs and Opportunities

Limited Submission Opportunities

The RDO manages the Limited Submission Opportunities process for grant applications to funding agencies that restrict the number of submissions allowed from an institution. An internal selection process has been established to make sure that multiple applications to the limited program do not render each other ineligible by the sponsor.

Arts and Humanities Initiative

The RDO coordinates the Arts & Humanities Initiative (AHI), an internal funding program within the Office of the Vice President for Research that encourages leading edge scholarship, creative activities, and interdisciplinary research. 

The deadline for Fall 2025 applications is Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

Past Programs and Opportunities

Seeding Excellence Initiative

The RDO's Seeding Excellence Initiative (SEI) aimed to sustain the continued growth of the campus research enterprise by providing competitive seed funding in four strategic areas. SEI was made possible through funding to RDO from the public-private partnership (P3) Year 1 funding cycle.

Jumpstarting Tomorrow

The RDO sought applications to seed interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research communities that advanced research, creative activities, and scholarship. Jumpstarting Tomorrow was a hybrid pilot grant/community-building program supporting innovative and collaborative teams that could become the vanguard for future strategic research investments by the university.

Upcoming Events

W.M. Keck Foundation Information Session promotional image

W.M. Keck Foundation Information Session

Thursday, September 11, 2025 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Virtual
The W. M. Keck Foundation is inviting proposal applications for its Research Program, supporting projects in medical research and science and engineering research.Event InformationJoin us on Thursday, September 11 from 1pm-2pm for this information session. The UI Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) will introduce this limited submission program, Keck’s funding priorities, the internal application process, the concept call and review process, and have your questions answered.Registra...
Maximizing Pivot to Find Funding and Collaborators (September 2025) promotional image

Maximizing Pivot to Find Funding and Collaborators (September 2025)

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Hardin Library for Health Sciences
Do you want to maximize your time spent searching for funding opportunities or potential project collaborators? Join us to learn how Pivot can save you time and effort in identifying the right funding opportunities for your research lines as well as identifying collaborators with the relevant expertise.Register here. The RDO will send a calendar invitation and room location upon registration.
AHI Unveiled: AHI Insights and Opportunities (Fall 2025) promotional image

AHI Unveiled: AHI Insights and Opportunities (Fall 2025)

Tuesday, September 23, 2025 10:00am to 11:00am
Virtual
Event InformationThe Research Development Office is hosting a virtual information session on Tuesday, September 23, from 10am-11am. Join us virtually to learn about the Arts and Humanities Initiative (AHI) program, hear from past reviewers, and have your questions answered. The deadline to apply to the AHI fall 2025 cycle is Tuesday, October 14, 2025.This event is an introduction to this cycle's AHI program. Click here to learn more about this information session, and click here to learn more...
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