College of Science Internal Research Funding Program

The College of Science Internal Research Funding Program comprises of several internal funding opportunities to support the research and infrastructure needs of college of science faculty. The overarching aim of this program is to increase the number of proposals submitted to external funding agencies (state, federal, foundations and other) to increase extramural funding awarded to, and the research stature of  the College of Science. We aim to do this in ways that are equitable, inclusive and provide access to diverse members of our community. 

We give a summary of our seed-funding and Foundation awards below. Please click on the title of each program, fund or award for additional information.  

SciRIS

The College of Science Research and Innovation Seed (SciRIS) Program funds projects based on individual & collaborative research involving the College community and beyond. The funds for this 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. 

SciRIS accelerates the pace of research, discovery, and innovation by enabling scientists to collaborate with diverse scientists across an array of disciplines. SciRIS has a unique purpose focused on profound rewards.There are two pathways through this program, the SciRIS (Stages 1-3) and the ScRIS individual investigator award (SciRIS-ii).

See what has been funded in this program in the past. 

The SciRIS (Stages 1-3) Program 

The SciRIS (Stages 1-3) program awards seed funding for high impact collaborative proposals that build teams, pursue fundamental discoveries, and create societal impact

Deadlines: April & December

This program specifically seeks to 

  • Identify transformative research and innovation opportunities
  • Inspire research collaborations
  • Encourage team assembly
  • Develop track record of collaboration
  • Enable data collection
  • Promote training in innovation, commercialization, and informal science education

Investment: SciRIS funds teams in three stages to foster team development, build capacity, and accelerate projects. An advisory team accompanies each award to help guide success.

Rewards: SciRIS investments make faculty much more competitive for grants by providing College researchers with the seed funding necessary to demonstrate the feasibility of their ideas and quicken the pace of scientific discovery and innovation. 

Outcomes

  • Dynamic and Impactful Teams
  • Broad Engagement
  • Transformative Discoveries
  • Groundbreaking Publications
  • Team and Center Proposals and Grants
  • Policy Guidance
  • Innovation and Commercialization Efforts
  • Industry Collaborations

The SciRIS-ii Program

The SciRIS-ii program awards seed funding to establish partnerships, accelerate project development, generate data and manuscripts, and foster proposal submissions. 

 Deadline: December

This program provides funds to establish partnerships, accelerate project development, generate data and manuscripts, and foster proposal submissions. 

Disease Mechanism and Prevention Fund

Provided by a generous gift from David and Donna Gould to establish the College of Science, the Disease Mechanism and Prevention Fund (DMPF) is to be used for the support of research into the mechanism, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of (human) disease by faculty within the College of Science.

Deadline: December

College of Science Industry Partnership Award

The College of Science Industry Partnership 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/augmenting research partnerships with external industrial partners. The Innovation award is made possible by funds from the College of Science Venture Fund.

Deadline: December

Research Equipment Reserve Fund

The College of Science provides cost matches for RERF proposal submissions. The COS internal deadline for 2023 is tbd. Please contact research.development@science.oregonstate.edu to submit an internal cost match request. 

See what has been funded in this program in the past. 

External Research Funding Programs (Reseach Office)

OSU Research Bridge Funding

The bridge funding pool seeks to assist faculty who are between externally funded research grants. A principal investigator is responsible for applying to the Research Office if they are seeking financial support from this pool. PIs will need to demonstrate a record of sponsored research awards and expenditures, define the critical bridging needed, describe the plan and timeline for securing new external funding, and secure the approval of their department and college leadership. Awards from the pool will be made through a review process managed by the Research Office.

Apply at this site.

Newsletters & Additional Information

 Learn more about internal other external grant & funding opportunities in our ECOS and GP-ECOS newsletters

  • ECOS: for faculty
  • GP-ECOS: for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars