The purpose of the Research Advancement Seed (RAS) Funds is to support early to mid-career faculty to accelerate their research by thoughtfully building partnerships and pursuing extramural funding for transdisciplinary research. The infusion of RAS funds is intended to support OSU faculty as they build a transdisciplinary research team or seek to sustain momentum of an existing team that directly support Prosperity Widely Shared: The Oregon State Plan (PWS). Faculty teams are expected to use the seed funds to advance new research and partnerships and develop submission-ready proposals by the end of the award period.
Priorities for Investment
Because the RAA program supports OSU faculty to advance PWS goals, competitive proposals should demonstrate alignment with the priorities below:
A. Transdisciplinary Research. Transdisciplinary Research is a complex form of use-inspired research that seeks to generate integrated interdisciplinary knowledge and discovery through participatory and engaged practices that span sectors and disciplines in a way that transcends traditional boundaries and directly contributes to resolving critical societal challenges.
B. Research focus in one of the PWS research focus areas of investment and growth (review PWS goals and actions for more information).
- Climate Science and related solutions
- Clean Energy and related solutions
- Robotics
- Integrated Health and Biotechnology
- Including a significant intersection with and/or building foundational research strength in artificial intelligence, data science, research computing, and/or the social sciences, arts and humanities.
C. Projects that bring together or strengthens a diverse team of scientists, artists, engineers, humanists and/or social scientists representing multiple colleges, campuses, centers and institutes at OSU, along with external partners from industry, community organizations, government, other research institutions, etc. Faculty who identify as belonging to social identity groups minoritized in academia are encouraged to apply (review OSU’s foundational values for more information).
D. Projects that invest in developing thoughtful, positive, equitable and enduring partnerships with community groups or organizations that represent, directly serve or engage, minoritized and/or underserved populations, minority serving institutions of higher education, or tribal governments (as OSU is a Carnegie Engaged University, you can review information about engagement purpose and practice.
Applications will be submitted via InfoReady This portal is open and applications are due on April 10th, 2025, 5 p.m. PST.
Applications for the RAA cohort 2024-25 seed funds are open now. Click here to apply!
How Academy Seed Funds Differ from TRSF
Eligibility
Current Year Research Advancement Academy (RAA) Fellows are eligible for 2025 RAS funds. Fellows must be in good standing with the RAA program, which includes demonstration of progress toward RAA goals and engaged participation in academy sessions and processes. All Fellows must have communicated with and negotiated the terms of matching funds with college leadership, including the Associate Dean for Research in the college(s) of one’s faculty appointment and the unit head to which the applicant reports.
Seed Fund Amounts
Applicants are encouraged to ask for the amount they need (up to $50,000) to make significant progress toward their research leadership goals in one year in the following categories:
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Team Building – up to $25K including matching funds
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Proposal Development – up to $50K including matching funds
Please refer here for details regarding the Seed Fund Amount categories.
Pitch Structure
Oral Presentation: Applicants will provide a 3-minute timed oral presentation to an audience of their faculty peers, graduate students and postgraduate trainees, program advisors, and university leadership. This presentation should focus on why the applicant wants to lead in the domain and provide a compelling narrative that describes the impacts possible with success over the next 5-10 years. It should answer the question how will the world (and specific populations/stakeholders) benefit. It should inform the audience about the partners and stakeholders who are, or will be, involved and why they are motivated to engage. Presentations should avoid all technical language or jargon.
Optional additions: Applicants may include a maximum of two power point slides (submitted as both .ppt and .pdf documents no later than April 14, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.). Slides are encouraged only if they add value and enhance understanding of the planned presentation. One slide is preferable to two. The most effective visuals include imagery of the place and/or people/animals/things connected to the impact your work can have. Visuals shall not be used to provide text, technical or graphical supplements to the information provided orally. Visuals should not use jargon and should not require disciplinary or technical context to interpret. Audio, video, or props may be used; however, applicants are required to provide all equipment and technical support needed to effectively use these. Additional presentation time is not available to accommodate the use of additional technology. Committed collaborates may have a role in the oral presentation. Please consider possible and distracting logistical implications of including these options in a 3-minute presentation.
The panel of reviewers will be seated in the front row, special guests from university leadership will also be invited to attend. Fellows will present in clusters of 4-5 with a few minutes for questions provided after each group. Additional time will be reserved for questions at the end of all the presentations. A hosted reception will immediately follow the session (after 5:00 p.m.) to celebrate the Fellows as they complete the academy. Applicants are encouraged invite collaborators, students, friends, and family to attend this event.
Application Process
The RAS program will use the OSU submission platform called InfoReady. Fellows will receive a link to the application after submissions open on March 1, 2025. Fellows should already have an account linked to their ONID details (if those details have recently changed you may need to open a new account).
Please refer here for details regarding the application process for Academy Seed Funds.
Please refer here for details regarding Narrative Plan, Budget Guidance & Budget Justification
Review Process
Reviewers will consider the full application package which includes the oral pitch presentation (see next section), a written narrative plan for seed funds (see following section), budget, and budget justification. Please refer here for details regarding the review process
Important Dates
- March 1, 2025 – InfoReady application portal open for submissions
- April 3, 2025 and April 4, 2025 - Pitch Development Time Office Hours (by appointment)
- April 10, 2025, 5:00 p.m. – Written narrative plan, budget and budget justification, logic model due in InfoReady
- April 14, 2025, 5:00 p.m. – Pitch slides due. Must be submitted in .ppt and .pdf form to [email protected] and copy [email protected]
- April 16, 2025, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., MU Horizon Room - Public Pitch Session, (applicants must be present to deliver a pitch presentation, plan to arrive 20 minutes early to prepare. Illness related accommodations will be made if necessary)
- May 15, 2025 – Awards announced
- July 1, 2025 – Seed fund project start date
Important Contacts
- General questions should be directed to Julie Risien, Director of Transdisciplinary Research, Office for Research Advancement at [email protected].
- For questions interpreting budget guidelines prior to submission or assistance with the InfoReady system, contact [email protected].
- Projects planning to include Indigenous communities and/or Tribal governments should contact Chance White-Eyes, Director of Tribal Relations, Office of Institutional Diversity at [email protected].
- Projects including non-U.S. partners should notify Julianna Betjemann, Global Affairs Associate, Office of Global Engagement at [email protected].
- Projects including Oregon place-based communities or organizations should contact Marina Denny, Associate Vice Provost for Engagement to be connected with the relevant County Extension office(s), at [email protected].