NOTE: Before submitting your application, please verify at https://rii.usc.edu/funding/ that you have downloaded the latest version of the Request for Proposals.
The University of Southern California (USC) is committed to enhancing and expanding its support of faculty research activities by stimulating the pursuit of funding from Federal agencies and other external sponsors. Researchers can bolster a grant application with strong preliminary data to demonstrate two key factors: (1) approach — the proposed research is promising; and (2) feasibility — the ability of the researcher and research team to carry it out is credible. The more paradigm-shifting the hypothesis is, the more a researcher must lay a solid foundation for the proposed projects. Similarly, if initial findings are surprising, the inclusion of more data is very useful to convince reviewers that the results are real, replicable, and statistically significant. A sufficient degree of preliminary data is necessary to convince scientific peer reviewers that the project has a high likelihood of success.
The Zumberge Preliminary Studies Research Award will provide researchers with funds to plan and conduct circumscribed research projects that will generate preliminary data that will be valuable in enhancing the competitiveness of future grant proposals submitted to external sponsors. While financial support may be obtained from any external sponsor, proposals that target federal funding agencies are of greatest interest. The Zumberge Preliminary Studies Research Award will consist of four subprograms that are described below: (1) Small Program Award; (2) Large Program Award; (3) STEM Program Award; and (4) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Research Award. All funds will be awarded after the completion of a competitive scientific peer review and a programmatic review. The program is not to support planning and other activities by which research teams and partnerships are developed, or planning activities supported that will enable submission of a competitive research proposal. Also, this program is not meant to support the means by which investigators can share information and ideas; plan the myriad of activities necessary for the development of a research proposal; coordinate ongoing or planned research activities; foster synthesis and new collaborations; develop community standards; or in other ways advance science and education through communication and sharing of ideas. The exclusive focus of the Zumberge Preliminary Studies Research Award is on the generation of preliminary data.
For additional information, and to download the Request for Proposals, please click here.
If you are experiencing technical issues submitting your proposal or have additional question, please contact the Research Initiatives & Infrastructure at rii@usc.edu.
This portal requires information about the PIs and Co-PIs in addition to department and contact information, including the 10-digit USC ID#. Please have this material prepared before beginning this application.
RII - Zumberge Preliminary Studies Research Award
NOTE: Before submitting your application, please verify at https://rii.usc.edu/funding/ that you have downloaded the latest version of the Request for Proposals.
The University of Southern California (USC) is committed to enhancing and expanding its support of faculty research activities by stimulating the pursuit of funding from Federal agencies and other external sponsors. Researchers can bolster a grant application with strong preliminary data to demonstrate two key factors: (1) approach — the proposed research is promising; and (2) feasibility — the ability of the researcher and research team to carry it out is credible. The more paradigm-shifting the hypothesis is, the more a researcher must lay a solid foundation for the proposed projects. Similarly, if initial findings are surprising, the inclusion of more data is very useful to convince reviewers that the results are real, replicable, and statistically significant. A sufficient degree of preliminary data is necessary to convince scientific peer reviewers that the project has a high likelihood of success.
The Zumberge Preliminary Studies Research Award will provide researchers with funds to plan and conduct circumscribed research projects that will generate preliminary data that will be valuable in enhancing the competitiveness of future grant proposals submitted to external sponsors. While financial support may be obtained from any external sponsor, proposals that target federal funding agencies are of greatest interest. The Zumberge Preliminary Studies Research Award will consist of four subprograms that are described below: (1) Small Program Award; (2) Large Program Award; (3) STEM Program Award; and (4) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Research Award. All funds will be awarded after the completion of a competitive scientific peer review and a programmatic review. The program is not to support planning and other activities by which research teams and partnerships are developed, or planning activities supported that will enable submission of a competitive research proposal. Also, this program is not meant to support the means by which investigators can share information and ideas; plan the myriad of activities necessary for the development of a research proposal; coordinate ongoing or planned research activities; foster synthesis and new collaborations; develop community standards; or in other ways advance science and education through communication and sharing of ideas. The exclusive focus of the Zumberge Preliminary Studies Research Award is on the generation of preliminary data.
For additional information, and to download the Request for Proposals, please click here.
If you are experiencing technical issues submitting your proposal or have additional question, please contact the Research Initiatives & Infrastructure at rii@usc.edu.
This portal requires information about the PIs and Co-PIs in addition to department and contact information, including the 10-digit USC ID#. Please have this material prepared before beginning this application.