Vertically Integrated Projects Announces 2023 Catalyst Seed Grant Opportunity
Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) is pleased to announce its request for proposals for the 2023 VIP Catalyst Seed Grants. The goal of the grants is to enable the implementation or expansion of long-term, scalable projects that align faculty efforts in research and instruction. Funded projects would follow the VIP model [1] and create new opportunities for undergraduate students to gain hands-on, team-based experience in research, design, service learning and creative inquiry.
The VIP Catalyst Seed Grants provide up to $4,500 in funding to new VIP teams and up to $2,000 in funding to existing VIP teams. Funding is for the Fall 2023 semester, and award amounts are based on project team size, with larger awards going to teams that plan to enroll more students. Funding use is flexible, but application selection will prioritize projects that use other funding sources for student stipends and salaries. Suggested uses for funding include field supplies, software licenses, presentation materials, and other administrative needs.
In VIP, undergraduate and graduate students participate for course credit or Federal Work-Study in faculty-led, team-based investigations. The program uses a model that has been developed and refined at more than 40 U.S. and international institutions. VIP teams provide a cost-effective and equitable approach to advancing undergraduate research by embedding faculty teaching efforts in active research and using multi-semester student participation to create opportunities for internal advancement and peer-to-peer mentoring.
Eligibility
The VIP Catalyst Seed Grant program is open to all faculty, including tenure-eligible / tenured, continuing-eligible / continuing-status, and/or career-track faculty across all disciplines and ranks. University staff are also eligible. All applicants must be qualified to serve as the primary instructor in course listings or have arrangements with a qualified primary instructor to serve in their stead.
Timeline and Selection Process
Applications will be accepted through noon on Wednesday, April 5, and awardees will be notified no later than Wednesday, April 19. Funds will be distributed prior to the Fall 2023 semester and must be spent in the 2023-2024 academic year.
Application selection will prioritize projects that have the potential to contribute to innovative interdisciplinary knowledge creation while promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in undergraduate research experiences.
Additional Information and Application Process
For comprehensive summaries of scoring criteria, as well as to apply, please use the following links:
- VIP New Team Catalyst Overview and Application [2]
- VIP Existing Team Catalyst Overview and Application [3]
For questions, please contact Leah Callovini (lcallovini@arizona.edu [4]) or Martha Bhattacharya (marthab1@arizona.edu [5]).