The Pilot Grant Program (PGP), facilitated by Research & Innovation (R&I), is designed to support UTEP faculty in advancing early-stage research projects that have the potential to lead to external funding. The program aims to stimulate innovative ideas, foster collaboration, and enhance research productivity, increasing the university’s competitiveness for major grants and awards.
Program Goals
- Encourage innovative, interdisciplinary research projects.
- Support early-stage research initiatives that demonstrate potential for external funding.
- Foster collaborations across departments, colleges, and with external partners.
- Enhance the competitiveness of faculty for external research awards.
Eligibility Criteria
- Full-time faculty members at UTEP, including clinical, tenure-track, and tenured faculty, are eligible to apply.
- Faculty must propose a new research project or significantly expand an existing one.
- Preference will be given to projects that involve interdisciplinary collaboration or align with institutional research priorities.
- Faculty must demonstrate intent to submit a proposal to an external funding agency within 12-18 months of receiving the award.
Funding Details
- Typical awards will range between $5,000 to $20,000, depending on the scope and justification of the project.
- Eligible Expenses:
- Compensation for research personnel, including students and faculty (e.g., summer salaries).
- Costs for materials, equipment, animal care (per diem), and other essential supplies.
- Compensation or incentives for participants involved in data collection.
- Travel expenses associated with research activities (e.g., fieldwork, collaborative meetings), reimbursable up to the applicable per diem rate.
- Ineligible Expenses: indirect costs, administrative overhead, instructional expenses, conference travel unrelated to the project, refreshments, international travel, and association membership fees.
- Cost-sharing from departments, colleges, or external sources is encouraged but not required.
- All awarded funds must be used within the designated award period, which runs from April 2025 to August 31, 2026.
Application Process & Timeline
- Letter of Interest & Abstract Submission: Sunday, January 12
- Applicants must submit a 1-page letter of interest and abstract describing the project’s objectives, relevance to UTEP’s priorities, and intended outcomes.
- Pre-Proposal Workshop Invitations: Sent by January 20
- Invitations will be sent to eligible applicants to attend a mandatory pre-application workshop.
- Pre-Proposal Workshop: Workshop Dates, Week of February 3–February 5 (TBD)
- This workshop will guide applicants through proposal development, budgeting, and alignment with UTEP’s goals.
- Application Submission: Sunday, March 2
- Only applicants who attend the pre-proposal workshop may submit a full proposal.
- Notice of Award (NOA) Issued: Tuesday, April 1
- Funding Start Date: Monday, April 14
- Awarded projects will officially begin with funds available to initiate research activities.
Application Requirements
- A completed application through InfoReady, including:
- Project Summary: A brief description of the research project, its objectives, and potential impact (maximum 500 words).
- Budget Justification: A detailed budget and justification for the requested funds.
- Timeline: A proposed timeline with critical milestones for the research project.
- Outcome Plan: Description of expected outcomes and how they align with future external funding opportunities.
- Collaborative Commitments: Letters of support from partners or collaborators (if applicable).
- External Review: External reviewers will review applications to ensure objectivity and rigor.
- Decision Process: The Associate Vice President for Interdisciplinary Research and the Associate Vice President for Research will make recommendations, but the Vice President for Research will make the final decision.
Selection Criteria
- Innovation and originality of the proposed research.
- Potential to secure future external funding.
- Alignment with UTEP’s strategic research goals.
- Quality, clarity, and feasibility of the project plan.
- Strength of interdisciplinary collaboration (if applicable).
Award Reporting Requirements
- Progress Report: Submitted mid-year, detailing milestones achieved, and challenges encountered.
- Final Report: Due within 30 days of project completion, including:
- Research outcomes and progress toward external funding goals.
- New collaborations, partnerships, or publications resulting from the project.
- Next steps, including future proposal submissions.
- Presentation Requirement: Awardees must present project outcomes at a Research Council meeting. R&I may also ask them to present their project outcomes at a UTEP research symposium or event.
Additional Program Guidelines
- One Proposal Limit: Each faculty member may submit only one proposal per year as PI. Faculty may serve as co-PI on up to 3 proposals.
- Outcome Requirement: All funded projects must have tangible outcomes, such as a publication, event, or preliminary data for future grant applications.
- Participation in Institutional Reporting: Awardees must participate in UTEP’s research tracking initiatives and submit reports as requested.
Contact Information
For more information or questions about the Pilot Grant Program, please contact ResearchDev@utep.edu.
