Transdisciplinary Research Seed Fund Program

The purpose of the 2026-27 Transdisciplinary Research Seed Fund (TRSF) Program is to support OSU faculty to develop their collaborative research efforts that advance Prosperity Widely Shared: The Oregon State Plan (PWS). Faculty teams are expected to use the seed funds to advance new research and partnerships and submit competitive proposals to grow their research through extramurally funded projects. Meet the 2025-26 TRSF Awardees.

Timeline

• Applications Due: March 6, 2026
• Award Period: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027

Alignment with PWS and Seed Fund Priorities

Competitive proposals should clearly demonstrate alignment with the specific priorities outlined below: 

PWS Research Focus Areas of Investment and Growth (review PWS goals and actions) 

• 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. 

Transdisciplinary Research. Transdisciplinary research 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.

Partnerships and Collaboration. Projects should bring together or strengthen a diverse team that represents multiple colleges, centers and institutes at OSU and include some combination of scientists, practitioners, engagement specialists, artists, engineers, humanists and/or social scientists. Project should develop thoughtful, positive, equitable and enduring partnerships with external partners from industry, community organizations, government, other research institutions, etc. Projects that embody OSU’s foundational values and our status as a Carnegie Engaged University are encouraged. 

Research Development. Seed funds are intended to enable teams to more competitively access extramural funds. Activities should support teams to: better understand the problem for which a research-based solution is needed; assess the physical, natural, social, policy and cultural contexts in which they are working; identify the unique contributions that each disciplinary and partner can contribute to solving the problem at hand; and develop a shared vision and action plan for garnering additional financial support to grown research in the given domain.

Eligibility

Individuals and transdisciplinary teams with an identified project lead, who is an OSU faculty member (academic or professional) from any OSU campus or facility, with a record of extramurally funded research, previous collaboration, and academic success are eligible. Each eligible faculty member may lead only one TRSF proposal per cycle. Individuals may, however, collaborate on multiple proposals. 

Seed Fund Tracks

This 2026-27 cycle includes two tracks:

1. International Transdisciplinary Research Development

OSU seeks to advance internationally engaged transdisciplinary research. Five awards of up to $20,000 are available to support projects that meet one or more of the following criteria:   

• Advance international projects previously funded through OSU. 
• Involve activity in priority geographical and thematic areas, such as India (especially with IIT Hyderabad or IIT Roorkee) or Vietnam (especially semiconductors or AI in forestry & agriculture), or with universities in our sister state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. 
• Advance international industry partnerships, international R&D, tech transfer collaborations, workforce development with international applications, expanding collaborations with non-profits, NGOs or governments. 

Funding for the international transdisciplinary research development projects is provided by the Office of the Provost with support from the INTO OSU Joint Venture Internationalization Fund.

2. Developing Innovative Solutions for the Oregon Wine Industry

The Oregon Wine Industry faces challenges in its efforts to remain a global leader in the production of ultra-premium, cool climate wines. In alignment with Oregon State University’s strategic vision (Prosperity Widely Shared), OSU is committed to partnering with the Oregon industry to advance our capacity and ability to address these challenges for sustainable long-term success. 

Three awards of up to $25,000 are available to support projects that advance innovative solutions to address long-term industry challenges, particularly:  

• The continued production of premium cool climate wines in a changing climate 
• Improving efficiencies and reducing costs in vineyard and winery operations to ensure economic viability 
• Developing sustainable practices that minimize inputs and reduce environmental impact

Project outcomes should enable teams to improve competitiveness for external funds and promote collaborative work across disciplines.

Application Process

Applications will be submitted through a platform called InfoReady. Applicants who do not already have an account will need to create one using their ONID details. The application process requires applicants to complete an online application form in InfoReady that includes the following: 

• A project title 

• Identification of PWS area the project is most aligned with (see Priority A above) 

• Planned Seed Fund Track (International Transdisciplinary Research Development or Developing Innovative Solutions for the Oregon Wine Industry) 

• Name, title, and unit of project lead 

• Name, title, and affiliation of other known team members including external team members 

• Demographic information 

• A brief abstract (up to 100 words) 

• All required attachments (see below) 

Along with the application form, applicants are also required to upload the following supplemental documents as part of the completed application package on InfoReady.

• Required: A complete narrative proposal (see below for format) 

• Required: Budget (Only use the budget template. See below for more information) 

• Required: Budget Justification (Only use the budget justification template. See below for more information) 

• Required: One-page logic model covering the award period describing the resources and assets that will be leveraged to support proposed activities and the outputs and outcomes that are expected because of those activities (additional instruction on logic models). Applicants may develop their own logic model format or use any existing template. A logic model template for optional use. 

• Required: Updated CV for each committed academic team member. 

• Encouraged: CV, resume, web page or other documentation that captures non-academic team members’ relevant expertise. 

Proposal Format

The proposal should include the following sections with a limit of 4000 words. Applicants may include up to two figures (concise tables, timelines, photos, graphics, etc.). Figures should have minimal text and should not be used to work around the word limit. In-text citations are included in the word count but references at the end of the document do not count against the overall word count. 

1. Title:  

• Please be short and crisp and stay true to your proposal idea 

2. Rationale: 

• Identify the proposal track and provide a relevant summary of the area of inquiry including a rationale for why progress in the domain is important and how success will advance transdisciplinary science and societal outcomes in the selected track.    
• A statement of how the proposed work will support advancement toward PWS and the priorities above (A-C)  
• A description of the populations, stakeholders, rights holders, communities, industries and/or partners who stand to benefit from the solutions you are working toward and how representatives from those communities/organizations will be included in your work. 

3. Action Plan: 

• A timeline that clearly describes the specific activities for which you are requesting support and why those activities are critical to the outcomes proposed within the scope of one year.  
• A project management plan including planned collaborative processes the team will use to ensure equity, inclusion and relevance across social groups, disciplines and interest groups involved in the project. 
• Characterize previous key research projects/programs and partnerships to indicate readiness for success with your proposed scope of work. Describe how your plan will leverage previous work of the team and make progress toward submission of successful proposals for transdisciplinary research. 

4. Partnerships: 

• Description of the team and roles and relevant expertise of committed and anticipated team members. (individuals and/or organizations). 

5. Outcomes: 

• Describe key tangible outcomes relevant to the disciplines and external partners/stakeholders involved and describe key metrics and a general timeline for deliverables of short-term success (within the award year). 
• Describe how completing the scope of work will ensure increased competitiveness for external funds (see priority D above). 

6. Long-term sustainability plan (both programmatically and financially): 

• Situate the scope of work within a longer-term trajectory. Describe your vision beyond the one-year scope of work on a time scale that makes sense for your specific project. 
• Identify specific external funding opportunities to which your team anticipate submitting proposals because of the award (during the award year or after). Describe how completing the scope of work will ensure increased competitiveness for external funds. 

Budget

Budgets will vary among projects and should reflect realistic costs that might be incurred by implementing the scope of work described in the proposal within the maximums provided for the type of fund. 

Pre-submission consultation with your home college(s) and unit is required. Pre-award support personnel in your college are valuable partners in developing the budget and justification. College-based staff can support budget development and completion of the budget template. Please reach out to pre-award support in your college as soon as possible. If you do not know who in your college can provide this support reach out to your Associate Dean for Research. The completed budget must be uploaded to the InfoReady platform for your application to be reviewed. Please use this Budget Template and Sample Budget by logging in with your ONID. 

NOTE: applications without a complete budget will not be considered for funding. 

• Allowable Costs: Allowable costs include, but are not necessarily limited to: PI summer effort; academic-year effort if newly allocated for the purpose of this award; honoraria to external collaborators or advisors; travel; incentives and other costs that  support external partner engagement; research support including effort for professionals, students and postdoctoral scholars who are directly contributing to the scope of work; materials, subscriptions, equipment use associated with producing preliminary results; and facilitation, travel, workshop costs, hosting, facilitation, etc. Costs must represent new investments or allocations of effort and time to research development and cannot offset ongoing college or unit costs. 
• Not Allowable Costs: Costs for capital equipment, subawards, and indirect costs are not allowed in the project budget. The Budget Justification must clearly state how each cost will advance new efforts to develop a transdisciplinary team, generate viable products and early results, and produce submission-ready transdisciplinary proposals. Funds may not be used as bridge support.

Budget Justification

The amounts for each budget line item requested must be documented and justified in the required Budget Justification document. You can download the budget justification template document by logging in with your ONID. 

Review and Approval Process

The package includes a completed application form on InfoReady along with the required documents (e.g., proposal, budget, budget justification, logic model, CV, etc.). Proposals will be reviewed by ORA (Office of Research Advancement) to ensure completeness and adherence to these guidelines. Proposals that are complete and compliant with the guidelines will be reviewed by at least two members of an ad-hoc review panel. Reviewers will be selected to minimize conflicts of interest and optimize capacity to provide actionable feedback to applicants. Reviewers will complete a rubric providing both quantitative scores and qualitative feedback in the following areas: 

• Alignment with the stated priorities for investment (see priorities A-D above) 
• Rationale and potential scientific and societal impacts in the selected track 
• Applicant has assembled, or provides a feasible plan to assemble, a diverse and broad representative team appropriately inclusive for the area of research 
• Preparedness of the team to complete the proposed work 
• Quality and feasibility of proposed plan for inclusive engagement of external partners 
• Quality and feasibility of proposed project management plan to achieve inclusivity and project outcomes 
• Planned expenditures are well-justified and resources are equitably shared among contributing partners 

Your submitted application package will be discussed with your home college/campus Associate Dean for Research (or appropriate Director for non-academic units). It is encouraged that you inform relevant college leadership of your intent to apply.

Important Dates

• Information Session:
  • Online: January 7, 2026, 1:00-1:45 pm (Pacific), Register here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
• March 6, 2026 – Full applications due on InfoReady
• April 10, 2026 – Panel reviews complete
• May 15, 2026 – Award notifications
• July 1, 2026 – One year award period begins
• December 16, 2026 – Mid-way report due
• June 1, 2027 – Requests for extensions due
• June 30, 2027 – Final report due, award ends

Important Contacts 

• General questions from college leaderships or unit directors should be directed to Julie Risien, Director of Transdisciplinary Research, Office for Research Advancement at [email protected].  

• Questions about industry or corporate partners or should be directed to Rebecca Robinson, Associate Vice President for Economic Development and Industry Relations [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 Government Affairs at [email protected]. 

• Questions related to International Transdisciplinary Research Development should be directed to [email protected]

• Questions related to Developing Innovative Solutions for the Oregon Wine Industry should be directed to [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]. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does my application have to address all four of the priorities listed in the guidelines? 

Not exactly. Your project does not have to address all four of the listed priorities for your application to be reviewed. However, meeting all the priorities along with a sound rationale, an excellent team, and well-constructed plan is likely to make your proposal more competitive.  

Do I have to be an OSU Employee to apply? 

Yes. Seed fund projects need to be led by OSU employees.  

Can I apply for seed funds to develop a new academic program?  

No. 

Can I include other institutions or organizations in my proposal?

Yes. This is encouraged. Although we are not able to provide subawards outside of OSU, you can support these partnerships by offering things like honoraria for expertise, paying for travel that supports the goals of your program, or small personal services contracts for specific scopes of work.  

Can I apply for seed funds to update my lab? 

No. Some small investments in consumable laboratory supplies, or use of equipment or software needed to collect or process preliminary data directly related to your project may be appropriate as part of a seed fund budget. However, investment in infrastructure or new equipment is not the purpose of these seed funds. The Research Equipment Reserve Fund may be a good option for these needs.  

I am a professional faculty member. Can I apply? 

Yes. Any OSU employee with a record of extramurally funded research, collaboration, and academic success may apply. Your Associate Dean for Research, or Center or Institute Director will need to approve your application; you will need to work with them to ensure your time can be allocated to the project.  

Can I submit more than one proposal? 

Yes. You can be a team member on multiple proposals; you can only lead one proposal.  

I have previously worked with the Indigenous community partner in my plan; do I still need to notify Government Affairs? 

Yes. Please check in with Chance White-Eyes to notify the Office of Government Affairs of the partnership. This will help to support sustainability of your partnership.     

My Co-PI is a county-based Extension agent, do I still need to contact Marina Denny? 

No.  If you are actively working with Extension agents, you do not need to notify the Division of Extension and Engagement.  If you are seeking a new partnership with Extension or the communities they serve, please do reach out to Marina Denny.  

Can I use seed funds to pay students or research assistants?  

Yes. Funds can be used to cover labor for undergraduate students, professional faculty, postdocs, lab technicians, etc. if their work directly contributes to the scope of your proposal. Graduate Research Assistants can be covered to the extent they directly support your scope of work. Graduate students’ summer hourly pay may be a good option for efficient use of funds.