The UW Research Excellence Fund is designed to provide current faculty with financial
support to conduct research and scholarly activities in line with areas of strategic
importance to UW, as determined by multiple factors including input by UW faculty,
the UW Board of Trustees, and emerging topics of national importance.
An official Request for Applications will be sent by the Office of Research & Economic
Development in early 2023. Below is an abbreviated description of the opportunities
and application process.
Eligibility
All UW faculty members and research scientists who are eligible to submit applications
to external funding agencies.
Available Funds and Funding Mechanism
Depending on the yield from the endowment, approximately $160-200,000 is expected
to be available every year. The funds will be able to support at least 4 seed grants
of up to $40,000 each.
Areas of strategic importance
Applications for funding will center around areas of strategic importance based on
faculty input, advice from the Board of Trustees, emerging topics of national importance,
relevance to UW’s goal to become R1 institution, and synergy with the UW investments
in research infrastructure.
For the fiscal year 2023 cycle, the areas of strategic importance are identified as
follows
-
Research at the UW AMK research station- All types of research projects including biodiversity, geosciences, forest ecology,
humanities and social sciences are included. This topic is synergistic with the investments
in the infrastructure at the UW-AMK ranch research station and UW’s vision for the
UW Research Institute at the AMK Ranch. These grants will be awarded through the UW
Research Institute at the AMK Ranch.
-
Research and related activities on controlled environment agriculture. To leverage infrastructure investments in SI building, instrumentation purchased through
the Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP), and Wyoming connections to Plenty, research
on controlled environment agriculture provides a unique opportunity for fostering
industrial relations, for enhancing student experiences, and for catalyzing interdisciplinary
research frontiers. This topic will help UW enhance the research outputs from Science
Initiative investments.
-
Research and related activities in collaboration with Cardiff University. Targets research & activities particularly in the areas of agriculture and sustainability,
energy innovation, computing and engineering applications to the economic sectors
relevant to Wyoming and Wales, and humanities as they relate to the quality of life
in rural communities and mining towns. This topic will help UW enhance its research
outputs and international reputation.
Criteria
UW Research Excellence Fund applications will be evaluated by a peer review panel
using the following criteria.
-
Relevance to the areas of strategic importance as described in the RFA. Fiscal year 2023 areas of strategic importance are listed
above.
-
Interdisciplinary and data-driven approaches, as needed by the problems being addressed.
-
Relevance to Wyoming- its economic development or several unique research opportunities in Wyoming.
-
Extramural funding record or potential of the investigator: Demonstrated excellence in research or creative activities with a track record of
funding from Federal agencies or private organizations. For new investigators, their
potential for obtaining extramural funding will be considered.
-
Extramural funding potential of the project based on the results from the seed grant. The application must contain plans to apply
for extramural funding within one year from the start date of the grant.
Process
-
In the beginning of Fall semester, the Research and Economic Development Division
will solicit input from faculty and colleges for the topics for that year. This step
will be included from FY2024.
-
The Research and Economic Development Division will publish the RFA each December.
-
Applicants will submit applications through InfoReady Review. More information on
this process will be provided in the official call for applications.
-
A peer review panel will evaluate applications and submit written constructive reviews
along with ratings. It is anticipated that the award list is finalized by March 1
of each year.
-
Research and Economic Development will provide the list of selected applications to
the President and the Research and Economic Development Committee of the Board of
Trustees.
-
The funds will be made available for one year for the applicant. Any unused funds
at the end of the year will be returned to the pool for supporting additional applications.
-
A final report, including evidence of efforts to obtain extramural funds for the project
will be required.
For more information, please contact the Research & Economic Development Division
at (307) 766-5353 or research@uwyo.edu.
