The Spark Grant program is designed to provide seed funding for the creation of interdisciplinary teams that will go on to conduct solutions-focused research on specific sustainability related issues. Individual researchers at UVA seeking to create such teams are eligible for Spark Grants.
Harnessing the energy of ‘champion’ researchers
Interdisciplinary research teams often form organically from informal interactions between researchers, yet financial support is needed for activities to help focus in on specific projects. The Spark Grant program provides funding to individual researchers who are ready to lead such efforts and build new research teams.
The grants support multi-departmental projects (two or more) harnessing and amplifying the unique strengths found across Grounds. Spark Grants will jumpstart team formation in new projects that have the potential lead to longer-term collaborations and sustainable funding.
The Environmental Institute funds transformative interdisciplinary research projects within the sustainability and resilience space at UVA. Priority is given to projects are that align with the University’s 2030 Strategic Plan for environmental resilience and sustainability research.
Submission Deadline
Spark Grants are solicited twice yearly. Submissions are due by midnight of March 17, 2023 and October 20, 2023.
Funding Available
Awardees are eligible for up to $30,000 over one year. In addition to direct funding support, awardees will receive EI staff support upon request to assist with team formation, definition of research agenda or project, and external funding proposal development.