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PumpPrimer I and II are internal funding programs for researchers in Arts, Science & Engineering (AS&E). These funds are intended to launch pilot project for initiatives otherwise difficult to execute. Projects that are advanced through Pump Primer funding are expected to be submitted for external funding within 18 months of the conclusion of Pump Primer projects.

To remain consistent with federal agency award mechanisms that bring together experts with complementary skills to address grand challenges, we encourage large-scale initiatives that are multi-and inter-disciplinary. These projects impact AS&E faculty, increase the quality and stability of our research infrastructure, and increase our national and international visibility.

The increasingly competitive environment for extramural funding increases the need for proof of concept and/or pilot data. To help faculty secure funding for bold new research directions, the Dean’s Office will provide a maximum of $50,000 for up to one year. Cost-sharing with departmental resources is encouraged.

Applicants for both mechanisms are expected to submit a proposal for external funding within 18 months of the allocation of intramural PumpPrimer support. Both mechanisms will require a brief final survey to help us evaluate the effectiveness of this program.

Faculty in Arts and Sciences

Refer questions to Lindsey Harrington, lindsey.harrington@rochester.edu or Hilary Mosher, hilary.mosher@rochester.edu, or Charles Bush, charles.bush@rochester.edu. 

Faculty in Engineering

Refer questions to Cindy Gary, cindy.gary@rochester.edu.

Deadline: Typically spring/fall

Funding: Equipment purchased is considered the property of the CoE. F&A on the awarded funds is restricted to 15% on payroll expenses (salary and benefits) only. CoE awards are capped at $60,000 per proposal.

Synopsis: CoE program is open to Principal Investigators (PIs) from the faculties of New York State Universities. Persons eligible to be PI’s must be full-time faculty or hold a similar position in their university. Note that the CoE does not award funds directly to companies. The projects should be data science driven. The Center’s goal is to stimulate economic growth in NY State by promoting technology transfer from our universities to companies operating in NY. Accordingly, proposed projects must involve a NY industry partner that is actively engaged with the project, providing assessment of economic impact of the project, and possibly financially co-sponsoring the research (although this is not a requirement).

Proposal submission: All proposals must be submitted by email as attachments using the forms on the CoE website. Contact Margaret Urzetta by email at margaret.urzetta@rochester.edu for more information.

Deadline: Typically June each year

Funding: Maximum budget for the GIDS seed grants is $30,000

Synopsis: The PI or at least one of the co-PIs (may have up to 3) must be a . There are no limits on the number of proposals per faculty member.

GIDS seed funding program aims to support collaborative research efforts toward attracting major external funding, with a particular focus on work aligned with at least one of the following research priorities in data science:

• Foundations of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI)
• Imaging, optics, and computer/human vision
• Life sciences and biomedical data science
• Health analytics and digital health
• Human-data-system interfaces (including human-computer interaction, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), robotics)
• AI-augmented learning and work

Details and forms can on the .

Deadline: Mid-May annually

CEIS is one of 15 Centers for Advanced Technology funded by NYSTAR.

Funding: CEIS awards are capped at $30,000 per proposal, $45,000 per faculty researcher, and $80,000 per company partner. Awards will be granted for one year only. F&A on the CEIS awarded funds is restricted to 15% on payroll expenses (salary and benefits) only and may be allowed at a reduced rate of 25% of payroll expenses only on the company matching funds with Dean’s Office approval.

Synopsis: The CIR program provides matching funds to a principal investigator (PI) for company-sponsored research on campus. The size of the award can be up to $30,000 (subject to availability of funds) and requires at least a 2:1 match by the company. A typical project runs one year with the opportunity for renewed extension and is intended to support a research project on campus with a dedicated graduate student. Proposals will be reviewed in June, for projects to commence on July 1, subject to the availability of funds. The goal of the CEIS CIR program is to stimulate economic growth in NY State by promoting technology transfer from our universities to New York companies. Proposed projects must involve a NY industry partner that is actively engaged with the research, financially sponsoring the research, and willing to provide ongoing economic impact reporting for the project.

Who may apply: The CIR program is open to Principal Investigators (PIs) from the faculties of the ÂÒÂ×Ç¿¼é. Persons eligible to be PI’s must be full-time faculty or hold a similar position in their university. Note that only university PIs are eligible for CIR funding. CEIS does not award funds directly to companies.

Types of projects considered: Types of projects considered: CEIS support traditionally spans a broad range of optics, photonics and imaging interests, including ophthalmic and vision science, fiber optic communications, biomedical imaging, geospatial imaging, precision optics, consumer imaging and displays. Proposals in other technical areas will be considered as well.

See the for more information. Questions about the proposals or the CIR RFP process may be addressed to Cathy Adams at cathy.adams@rochester.edu.

Offered twice annually.

Funding: Awards can range from $40,000 to $100,000

Synopsis: Technology Development Fund (TDF) is now accepting Pre-Proposal Applications for its 22nd round of funding. The fund supports University researchers who wish to further the process of translating their research into commercial opportunities. Awards can range from $40,000 to $100,000 to support projects of approximately one year in duration. Faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, students, and employees of the University who have submitted (or who will submit by July 31) an invention disclosure to the UR Ventures Office are encouraged to apply.
Several pre-proposals will be selected for full application submission and funding consideration. URVentures anticipates sending invitations for full proposals the 2 weeks after submission. See the URVentures website for Pre-Proposal Application form and Frequently Asked Questions.

This annual competitive fund is aimed at bringing together researchers to undertake innovative, high-quality, sustainable research that addresses global challenges. Each member institution is permitted to lead two proposals per year but can collaborate on as many as desired. If you are interested in leading a proposal effort or would like more information, contact Megan Bennett-Spears. View the guidelines and more information on the Global website. are due in summer.

The is open to proposals from individual and groups of current ÂÒÂ×Ç¿¼é students and faculty, including research faculty. Successful proposals may fund things that enhance and/or increase undergraduate research opportunities for UR undergraduates. This includes but is not necessarily limited to: pay for work; equipment; research-oriented travel; and supplies. The program is funded initially at the level of $50,000 per year. Large and small requests may be funded, though there will be some bias toward funding many small awards, as opposed to a few large ones. Proposals will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Successful proposals will create an undergraduate research opportunity that might not otherwise exist. The deadline is typically in spring.

The principal aim of the University Research Award (URA) program is to provide seed money to enable the development of new, innovative research projects with a high probability of attracting external support in the short term. Proposals that seek to establish or further develop new collaborations and multidisciplinary research teams will be favorably received. Recipients of a URA are expected to show that they have applied for external funding within 18 months of the end of their URA project period.

The URA program is primarily meant to further stimulate the research of faculty who have moved beyond research support provided by the University as part of their initial start-up period. Faculty who still hold such funds are eligible to apply, but an explanation as to the unique necessity for additional funds (e.g., why their existing funds are insufficient for the new project) should be provided.

The Furth Fund provides early career scientists with approximately $13,590 in research funds. These funds are to be used to promote the research activities of recipients, which may include the purchase of new equipment or the support of graduate students or postdocs. The Furth Fund may not be used as a source of salary support for the faculty member.

Nominees should be junior, tenure-track faculty appointed in natural or biological science departments or engineering within ASE, SON, SMD, or EIOH who have been hired within the past three academic years.  Preference will be given to nominees who wish to use the award to support the active engagement of graduate students or postdocs in their research. Candidates being actively recruited for tenure-track positions, but not yet hired, will also be accepted. Departments must have made an offer to the candidate before the nomination will be considered.  The nomination materials should note the status of recruitment efforts and the anticipated date for the candidate’s decision. Nominations must include the nominee’s CV and a short (1-2 page) letter describing the nominee’s research activities and proposed use of the funds. There is no limit to the number of nominations per School, but only the top 3 candidates for each school will be considered.

Furth nominees should be sente to Faculty affairs at ASEFacultyAffairs@ur.rochester.edu.

Pilot funds are offered by the ÂÒÂ×Ç¿¼é Aging Research (RoAR) Center.  will support innovative projects in basic, applied, and clinical aging research. Request for proposals are typically announced in fall.

The (EHSC) supports a limited number of meritorious Pilot Projects to advance new translational environmental health sciences research. These funds are intended to provide a means for investigators to obtain preliminary data for extramural grant applications, develop new innovative research initiatives, access novel technologies, and address community concerns or needs. The Pilot Project Program works in conjunction with EHSC Integrated Health Sciences Facility, Biostatistics, and Community Engagement Cores and Career Development Program.

Available Pilot Projects

1) Research Catalyst Funds are intended to provide seed funding to obtain preliminary data for extramural grant submissions and/or to help develop new research directions. Research Catalyst Funds are solicited twice a year (Fall and Spring) and up to $50,000 can be requested. Application required a one-page preliminary application.

2) Mini Pilot Projects are intended for two purposes:

1. Rapid response
2. Pipeline-to-Pilot projects

Rapid response refers to a time-sensitive, short-term need for funds to obtain or analyze data (e.g., to address reviewer comments for grant application, to respond to an unexpected or unique environmental event). Pipeline-to-Pilot refers to funding for a new line of investigation that has a very solid rationale but no or very limited preliminary data.

Applications for Mini Pilot Projects are accepted on a rolling basis to meet time-sensitive, small-scale needs. Up to $8,000 can be requested.

See to aid in preparing the application.

The are available to tenure-track assistant professors in any field of humanistic study, including anthropology, art and art history, English, history, modern languages and cultures, music, philosophy, or religion and classics. In addition to presenting their own research, the in-residence fellows participate in the bi-weekly Humanities Center seminar and other workshops, conferences, and programs.

Deadline: winter

Deadline: Spring and fall each year

Funding: Multiple awards for use in and academic year ranging from $2,500 to $30,000.

Synopsis: To fund faculty member projects in the Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences for the development of an innovative curricular course or program for engineering students, with particular emphasis on the first and second year student programs. Proposal should describe the educational outcomes for the proposed program and include an assessment plan for these educational objectives. Note, the assessment plan should include factors other than student grades. If the program replaces an existing course or program, the educational outcomes should be compared. The proposal must address program sustainability. A short summary report is due upon completion of the award. Proposals should be written in 11 pt. font and are not to exceed three pages in length. Please include a one paragraph summary abstract of your proposal. Program budgets will not fund overhead charges, faculty effort or summer compensation.

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Submit a proposal to the Hajim Dean’s Office with details on program content, budget and budget justifications, and the benefit for Hajim School students via email to Tim Woodward, Director Finance and Administration at tim.woodward@rochester.edu. Contact Tim or Paul Funkenbusch at paul.funkenbusch@rochester.edu with questions.