How does the program work?
The College of Science Research and Innovation Seed (SciRIS) Program funds projects based on individual & collaborative research involving the College community and beyond. The College's research priorities are outlined in our strategic plan, Extending the Reach and Impact of Science, and Oregon State University's strategic plan, Prosperity Widely Shared: The Oregon State Plan. The funds for the SciRIS program come from Education & General Funds and Foundation funds such as the Robert W. Lundeen Science Faculty Development Award Fund, Ben & Elaine Whiteley Materials Research Fund, Venture Fund and the Disease Mechanism and Prevention Fund.
Stage 1 provides up to $10K for team formation, research planning, and initial experiments.
Examples of Costs Supported in Stage 1
- Planning sessions
- Workshops, training in innovation & commercialization
- Speaker series
- Student and postdoc salary/fringe
- Materials, supplies, and services
Stage 2 provides up to $75K to support research toward a proof of concept.
Examples of Costs Supported in Stage 2
- Team expansion
- Workshops, training in innovation & commercialization
- Student and postdoc salary/ fringe
- Materials, services, and supplies
- Informal Science Education training
- Broadening participation training
Stage 3 provides up to $125K to accelerate work toward or commensurate with an external funding opportunity.
Examples of Costs Supported in Stage 3
- Team expansion
- Workshops, training in innovation & commercialization
- Student and postdoc salary / fringe
- Materials, services and supplies
- Informal Science Education training
- Broadening participation training
- Proposal writing support
- Leveraged funding opportunities, cost share
External Collaborations
The SciRIS program welcomes proposals involving collaborations with faculty external to the College of Science. For SciRIS proposals, the requested funding should primarily benefit faculty, student and staff in our college.
Due Dates and Submission
When to submit?
The College will consider proposals annually. Annual deadlines are:
- Stage 1 proposals must be submitted by November 22, 2024.
- Stage 2 and Stage 3 proposals must be submitted by April 15.
Note: If the 15th falls on a weekend, the proposals will be due on the next business day.
Please note the following options, guidelines and requirements:
- Teams may choose to skip Stage 1, if the collaboration and proposal are sufficiently developed to support a Stage 2 project.
- Only current successful Stage 2 projects are eligible for Stage 3 funding. We allow a one-year gap for currently funded Stage 2 proposals to submit to Stage 3.
- Funds will be awarded for Stage 2 and Stage 3 project start dates approximately 2-3 months past due dates.
- Funds must be expended within 12 months beyond start date.
Eligibility
All COS faculty and research professionals are eligible to submit a proposal. The lead PI should be in COS. At least two departments at OSU must be represented in an application. Applicants may serve as PI or receive major funding for only one funded project (SciRIS-ii, SciRIS Stages 1-3, DMPF, Industry Partnership award, etc.) at any time. Applicants may serve in support roles on one or more funded grants.
No Cost Extensions
The College of Science Internal Funding Program provides seed funds for one year. We anticipate that some projects may experience challenges that could delay outcomes and deliverables. If your funded project meets this criterium and you would like to request a no cost extension (NCE), you’ll need to fill out the following form: https://beav.es/cew (Note this requires ONID login). The NCE request will be reviewed by the College of Science Research Development Unit (RDU) and sent to the Dean of Science by the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies. If approved by the dean, an appropriate NCE will be provided.
Filling out the form does not guarantee that an NCE will be granted. Please contact the COS RDU for questions at [email protected]
How to Submit
Prepare your proposal as described below. Submit your proposal to our portal here: https://beav.es/pP6 by the deadline (requires ONID login). Adhere to the guidelines below.
Forms
Forms can be found here (optional, required and as needed): https://beav.es/scirisforms
Stage 1 Proposal Guidelines
The proposal must adhere to the following guidelines. Incomplete proposals will be returned without review.
Summary: The project description is limited to three pages for the project narrative plus supporting documents listed below. We recommend that you write your narrative for a diverse scientific audience, since the panel may include members outside of your field.
Pagination: Documents must be formatted with 1-inch margins and 11pt font or larger, with the exception of figure legends (as applicable).
Submission: Prepare your proposal as described below. Submit your proposal to our portal here: https://beav.es/pP6 by the deadline. You will be asked to fill in a short public abstract for dissemination in the event of an award and a list of keywords that describe your project in the portal.
Document 1: Combine the following items in this order into one pdf follow pagination guidelines
- Project Summary - 1 page
- Project Title
- Names & affiliations of all participants
- Brief technical abstract or description
- The Project Narrative: Combine the following items in this order into one pdf (see pagination above): The Project Narrative is limited to three pages, follow pagination guidelines. It should include the following sections:
- Vision and Goals addressing originality of idea and transformative potential of research and/or innovation. Please address how your project aligns with and/or advances COS's strategic plan, Extending the Reach and Impact of Science, and/or Oregon State University's strategic plan, Prosperity Widely Shared: The Oregon State Plan.
- Anticipated outcomes, e.g., manuscript, proposal submission, subaward.
- Time line of the project plan
- Description of broad impacts including student research
- Anticipated
- Statement on Inclusive Excellence goals (examples: broadening participation, fostering equity, access & inclusion)
- Prior COS internal funding support (if applicable, 1 page or less). Include a brief summary of your proposal(s), outcomes and deliverables. Include headings for:
- Intellectual Merit
- Broader Impacts
- References (optional and encouraged but limited to 1 page).
- Supporting documents
- Letter of collaborations on letterhead. (Required only for external to COS collaboration. Faculty with adjunct status are considered internal to COS). NSF style, see the forms page.
- Mentoring plan if your budget includes postdocs or graduate students.
- A 3-page (max) NSF-style biographical sketch of each PI. You may use ScienCV. Some researchers have had issues combining pdfs because of the certification, but you can print to PDF so it will combine easily (i.e. flatten the pdf). Alternatively, you can use a template found on the forms page.
- Current & Pending for each faculty co-applicant (no page limit, do not list expired awards)
Name this file Program_PI lastname_year.pdf (e.g SciRIS-S1_Jones_2024.pdf, etc)
Document 2: Upload the Signed Department Head letter form (see forms page)
Document 3: Budget & budget justification. Please use our template. If you are budgeting for a graduate student researcher, you must include the student's name.
Document 4 (if applicable)
If you include cost share, you must upload the signed cost share approval form.
Stage 2 Proposal Guidelines
The proposal must adhere to the following guidelines. Incomplete proposals will be returned without review.
Summary: The project description is limited to five pages for Project Narrative plus supporting documents listed below. We recommend that you write your narrative for a diverse scientific audience, since the panel may include members outside of your field.
Pagination: Documents must be formatted with 1-inch margins and 11pt font or larger, with the exception of figure legends (as applicable).
Submission
Prepare your proposal as described below. Submit your proposal to our portal: https://beav.es/pP6 by the deadline. You will be asked to fill in a short public abstract for dissemination in the event of an award and a list of keywords that describe your project in the portal. Adhere to the guidelines below.
Document 1 to upload: Combine the following items in this order into one pdf:
- Project Summary - 1 page limit
- Project Title
- Names & affiliations of each co-applicant
- Short Abstract
- Project Narrative - 5 pages limit
- Vision and Goals addressing originality of idea and transformative potential of research and/or innovation. Please address how your project aligns with and/or advances COS's strategic plan, Extending the Reach and Impact of Science, and/or Oregon State University's strategic plan, Prosperity Widely Shared: The Oregon State Plan.
- Anticipated outcomes e.g., manuscript, proposal submission, subaward.
- Timeline matched to the project plan
- Description of broader impacts including student research
- Statement on Inclusive Excellence goals (examples: broadening participation, fostering equity, access & inclusion)
- References (optional and encouraged, but limited to one page (not included in the page count)
- Prior COS support (if applicable, 1 page or less). Include a brief summary of your proposals(s) outcomes and deliverables. Include Intellectual Merits and Broader Impacts headings.
- Supporting documents
- Letter of collaborations on letterhead (Required only for external to COS collaboration. Faculty with adjunct status are considered internal to COS).
- Mentoring plan if your budget includes postdocs or graduate students.
- A 3-page NSF-style biographical sketch of each PI and student to the project description. You may use ScienCV. Alternatively, you can use a template that we prepared if you have trouble combining it into one document.
- Current & Pending for each faculty co-applicant (no page limit, do not list expired awards)
Name this file Program_PI lastname_year.pdf (e.g SciRIS-S2_Jones_2024.pdf, etc)
Document 2: Upload the signed Department Head letter form (see forms page)
Document 3: Budget & budget justification. Please use our template. If you are budgeting for a graduate student researcher, you must include the student's name.
Document 4 (if applicable)
If you include cost share, you must upload the signed cost share approval form.
Stage 3 Proposal Guidelines
The proposal must adhere to the following guidelines. Incomplete proposals will be returned without review.
Submission
Prepare your proposal as described below. Submit your proposal to our portal here: https://beav.es/pP6 by the deadline. You will be asked to fill in a short public abstract for dissemination in the event of an award, a list of keywords that describe your project and upload your documents as described below.
Summary: The project description is limited to seven pages for Project Narrative plus supporting documents listed below. We recommend that you write your narrative for a diverse scientific audience, since the panel may include members outside of your field.
Pagination: Documents must be formatted with 1-inch margins and 11pt font or larger, with the exception of figure legends (as applicable).
Document 1: Upload one combined pdf with the following items in this order:
- Project Summary - 1 page limit
- Project Title
- Names & affiliations of each co-applicant
- Short technical abstract or description
- Project Narrative - 7 page limit
- Vision and Goals addressing originality of idea and transformative potential of research and/or innovation. Please address how your project aligns with and/or advances COS's strategic plan, Extending the Reach and Impact of Science, and/or Oregon State University's strategic plan, Prosperity Widely Shared: The Oregon State Plan.
- Anticipated outcomes e.g., manuscript, proposal submission, subaward.
- Timeline matched to the project plan
- Description of broader impacts including student research
- Statement on Inclusive Excellence goals (examples: broadening participation, fostering equity, access & inclusion)
- References (optional and encouraged, but limited to one page - this is not included in the narrative page count)
- Prior COS support (if applicable, 1 page or less). Include a brief summary of your proposals(s) outcomes and deliverables. Include Intellectual Merits and Broader Impacts headings
- Letter of collaborations on letterhead (Required only for external to COS collaboration. Faculty with adjunct status are considered internal to COS).
- Mentoring plan if your budget includes postdocs or graduate students.
- A 3-page NSF-style biographical sketch of each PI and student to the project description. You may use ScienCV. Alternatively, you can use a template that we prepared if you have trouble combining it into one document.
- Current & Pending for each faculty co-applicant (no page limit, do not list expired awards)
Document 2: upload the Signed Department Head letter form (see forms page)
Document 3: Upload the Budget & budget justification. Please use our template. You can include a separate budget narrative if you like or use the section at the bottom of the template. If you are budgeting for a graduate student researcher, you must include the student's name, if known.
Document 4: Cost share template (if including cost share). If you include cost share, you must upload the signed cost share approval form.
Reporting Requirements
Awardee must submit a report describing how the award contributed to advancing a partnership toward concrete outcomes.
For all funded SciRIS projects, the following reporting requirements are in effect
Fill out this online form: http://beav.es/SciRIS_reporting
- An interim financial report may be due six months into the project. The ADR will reach out to you.
- Final reports for each award are due within 45 days after the end of the grant.
- See above to request a no cost extension
Acknowledgments
Please acknowledge the SciRIS program on any documents about the project, including but not limited to video productions, press releases, brochures, publications, posters, etc. The acknowledgement should include the web address https://internal.science.oregonstate.edu/rdu/internal-research-funding-program or https://beav.es/ihi on any documents about the project, including but not limited to video productions, press releases, brochures, publications, posters, etc. and include the phrase:
This project has been made possible with support of the College of Science Research & Innovation Seed (SciRIS) program, https://beav.es/ihi
Proposal Review Criteria
The SciRIS program supports transformative research that will lead to extramural funding. Such research involves ideas, discoveries, or tools that radically change our understanding of an important existing scientific or educational practice or leads to the creation of a new paradigm or field of science or education.
Proposals to any stage will be judged on scientific merit, significance of the proposed research, development of new or existing partnerships with industry, potential impact on future funding, creativity in the use of emerging technology and the potential to broaden participation, equity and access. Proposals must demonstrate
- Originality & Transformative Potential: How original is the proposed idea? Does the research challenge current understanding? What is the transformative potential of the proposed work? Does the research open pathways to new frontiers of science?
- Inclusive Excellence: How well does the project promote equity, inclusivity, and access? Does It provide opportunities for broadening participation of under-represented groups?
- Intellectual Merit: What is the potential of the work to advance knowledge both within a discipline and across disciplines? What are the tangible outcomes?
- Broader Impacts: What are the benefits to society? Does the plan incorporate training of graduate students, mentoring postdoctoral researchers and junior faculty or involves undergraduates in research experiences.
- Effective Teamwork: Are resources aligned with proposed work and outcomes? Is the team integrated and poised to succeed? Are there plans in place for extramural funding (Stages 2 and 3)?
Cost Sharing
Cost sharing is not required, but it is encouraged, especially as projects move to later stages. Please note that we do not track cost share; thus it is incumbent on awardees to negotiate cost share with the units or colleges providing cost share.
Examples of potential cost sharing include the following:
- Department support for travel and students
- Uncommitted 201 and start-up funds
- University venture development funds
- Seed grant from Oregon Signature Research Center
- Seed grant from other colleges or Research Office
- NSF EAGER grant or similar award from federal agency or foundation
- Aligned OSU Foundation gift
- New, aligned grant or contract from industry
What has been funded?
- March 3, 2023 - New Grants to support breakthrough discoveries
- July 29, 2022 - Grants to address climate change impacts and biomedical challenges
- September 30, 2021 - Innovation grants to build model reef at OSU, catalyze biological and materials research
- January 8, 2021 -Grants to boost advances in mental health and cancer research
- February 24, 2020 Scientists garner innovation awards for cancer and materials research
Learn more about the Full Program
- SciRIS (Stages 1-3) - awards seed funding for high impact collaborative proposals that build teams, pursue fundamental discoveries, and create societal impact. For past awards made in this program, see Click Here.
- SciRIS-ii (individual investigator) - funds individual faculty who seek to establish or augment research relationships with external partners. For past awards made in this program, see Click Here.
- The Disease Mechanism and Prevention Fund - supports research into the mechanism, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of (human) disease
- The College of Science Industry Partnership Award - This award provides critical resources for projects that take a new direction, utilize a new technology or are in the “proof-of-concept” phase. Undergraduate & graduate students and faculty researchers can participate in the research, with a preference given to graduate students and faculty who are developing new areas of research AND establishing or augmenting research partnerships with external industrial partners.