Funding Resources

Internal Awards Program

Research Council Internal Awards Program

Mission of the Internal Awards Program

The Internal Awards Program is dedicated to advancing research and scholarship among USF faculty by providing strategic support for initiatives that enhance the pursuit of extramural funding. Funding allocation prioritizes activities with a strong potential to secure additional external funding and scholarly endeavors where extramural funding opportunities are highly limited.

Selection Process for Research and Scholarship Grants

The Internal Awards Program is managed by USF Research & Innovation. Each competitive cycle begins with a Call for Proposals, outlining the available grant types and corresponding timelines. Grant cycles are posted concurrently on the IAP website. To ensure a rigorous peer-review process, faculty members from diverse disciplines across USF serve as proposal reviewers, fostering a fair and comprehensive evaluation of submissions.

Guidelines and Applications

Recent assessments of USF’s research enterprise have highlighted the need for enhanced support, modernized infrastructure, and improved operational efficiency. In response, the USF Research Council has restructured the USFRI Internal Awards Program to foster growth and increase research productivity across the USF community. If you have any questions, contact Tina Lucas at rsch-internal-awards-program@usf.edu. 

Award Submission and Announcement Timeline

All award applications must be submitted through InfoReady by the deadlines specified in the guidelines, with receipt required by 5:00 p.m. Announcements of award recipients will be made and posted within one month following the submission deadline.

  • Conference Planning Grant (CONF) – Submission Guidelines
    Submission Application and Deadline: To be announced

    Conferences play a vital role in the research and creative process by facilitating the dissemination of new information and fostering the exchange of ideas. The Conference Planning Grant provides supplemental funding to faculty engaged in planning and executing national and international conferences that enhance USF’s research environment while elevating its prestige and recognition within Florida and beyond.

    Preference is given to conferences held locally; however, those planned at national or international venues are also eligible. Applicants must demonstrate a significant role in the conference planning process to qualify for funding.

  • Submissions for the Interdisciplinary Center Preparation Grant (ICPG)
    Guidelines (PDF)
    Submission Application and Deadline: To be announced
    The Interdisciplinary Center Preparation Grants (ICPGs) are designed to incentivize and accelerate nucleation and success of large-scale program-project or center types of grants, as defined in the stated disciplinary area (typically corresponding to grants involving multiple PIs and involving funding amounts that considerably exceed that of a typical single-investigator grant). These grants are designed to incentivize faculty to lead large-scale innovative interdisciplinary efforts that help enhance the excellence of USF research and include faculty from distinct programs/departments. Consequently, ICPGs must target a specific program project or center type funding type opportunity (as defined in relevant research field) and should have quantifiable returns on investment in new grant dollars, increase research productivity, enhance degree programs, and promote attainment of other AAU/state metrics.

  • USF Multi-User Research Capital Investment Award (MuRCIA)
    Guidelines (PDF)
    Submission Application and Deadline: To be announced
    Multi-User Research Capital Investment Awards (MuRCIA) are intended to enhance research activities and increase competitiveness for external grants. Enhancement can be in the form of small equipment or purchase of software or other items that can be utilized to enhance research productivity. Applicants should demonstrate that there will be multiple users from different colleges and/or regional campuses. The intent of this opportunity is to support equipment purchases that enable collaborative groups of faculty, rather than to provide general core facilities support, for which other funding opportunities are available. These awards are designed to help faculty obtain new external funding. Consequently, RCIAs should have quantifiable returns on investment in new grant dollars, increase research productivity, enhance degree programs, and promote attainment of other AAU/state metrics.

  • New Researcher Grant (NRG)
    Guidelines (PDF)
    Submission Application and Deadline: To be announced
    The New Researcher Grants are designed for faculty to develop new research projects who do not have established funding sources (external or college/departmental) – this program is for early career faculty who are new to USF. The program’s goal is to enable faculty to launch productive research, scholarship, or artistic expression/performance activities that will ultimately result in grant funding from external agencies or foundations. This grant will fund pilot, draft, or preliminary studies/projects. It is expected that these results will provide the basis for external grant proposals, as well as publication or exhibition of the results. Prior recipients who fail to obtain funding for an earlier New Researcher Grant will no longer be eligible to apply for this internal award.

  • Proposal Enhancement Grant (PEG)
    Guidelines (PDF)
    Submission Application and Deadline: To be announced
    The Proposal Enhancement Grant (PEG) program is designed to help faculty develop competitive proposals for resubmission and increase the probability of securing external funding; to strengthen the resubmission proposal to aid an applicant who has received a positive review of their grant application but is not in a fundable range. Applicants are encouraged to show how the funds will enable or address reviewer's concerns. Applicants are also encouraged to describe how the new data or activities are linked to reviewer comments.

  • Faculty International Travel Grant (FITG)
    Guidelines (PDF)
    Submission Application and Deadline: To be announced
    This program is designed to provide financial support for scholarly and creative presentations by the University of South Florida faculty at major professional meetings and conferences outside the USA. These grants are available for faculty pursuing a career at USF. The goals of the program are to enhance the international visibility and prestige of research activities and creative presentations conducted at USF and to encourage interaction with international colleagues. Consequently, the highest priority will be given to faculty who are personally invited to give keynote speeches, plenary presentations or other major addresses, presentations, or performances. In addition, to the type of presentation the prestige and scope of the conference will also be considered.

See InfoReady for more details.

Proposal Writing Resources


Contacts

  • Tina Lucas, Research Council Coordinator

  • Chair, Research Council: Ganash Halade, PhD, Associate Professor, College of Medicine, Internal Medicine
    Vice-Chair, Research Council: Marilyn Stern, PhD,     Professor, College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, Child and Family Studies
  • Members - Research Council (PDF)
  • Research Council

Prior Internal Award Recipients

Related USF Policies & Procedures

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Internal Award Manuals & Forms

Conference Planning Grant

USF Research & Innovation Awards