The Office of the Vice Provost for Research announces that the fall 2024 cycle of the University Research Foundation (URF) opened on August 19 and that applications will be accepted until the October 10, 2024 deadline. The URF is an intramural funding program that provides up to $75,000 of support for research projects and up to $5,000 for conference support.  The URF provides seed funding for research activities that are expected to lead to external sponsorship and/or peer-reviewed research publications.  The URF has two awards types, research support grants and conference support grants. Each program has its own guidelines and budget requirements. Details are below, and more information is available online at https://research.upenn.edu/funding/ovpr-funded-opportunities/  

Research Support Grants

This program provides up to $75,000 for research support. The objectives of this program are to: (a) help junior faculty undertake pilot projects that will enable them to successfully apply for extramural sources of funding and aid in establishing their careers as independent investigators; (b) help established faculty perform novel, pioneering research to determine project feasibility and develop preliminary data to support extramural grant applications; (c) provide support in disciplines where extramural support is difficult to obtain and where significant research can be facilitated with internal funding; and (d) provide limited institutional matching funds that are required as part of a successful external peer-reviewed application.

Conference Support Grants

This program is designed to provide funding up to $5,000 for meetings and conferences to be held at Penn to enhance existing research and scholarly programs, particularly in disciplines where external funding is difficult to obtain. Conferences that promote interdisciplinary and multi-school participation are given priority. Evidence of additional financial support is required in the application.

Disciplinary Areas

Faculty members are invited to submit their applications to one of four disciplinary areas: biomedical sciences, humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and social science and management.

Eligibility

Eligibility is limited to Penn assistant, associate and full professors in any track. Note: the biomedical sciences panel limits applications for research grants to assistant and early stage associate professors (faculty members in their first three years). Instructors and research associates must provide a letter from their department chair establishing that the applicant will receive an appointment as an assistant professor by the time of the award (on or before March 2025). Adjunct and emeritus faculty are not eligible to apply. Only one application is permitted per PI per cycle. Awards must be expended on University of Pennsylvania facilities, equipment and/or associated University technical staff and undergraduate students.

—Office of the Vice Provost for Research