McDonnell Academy Launches Global Incubator Seed Grants Fund

The McDonnell International Scholars Academy is pleased to launch a new Global Incubator Seed Grants Fund. Our goal is to stimulate high-impact research projects in any discipline linking WashU faculty and international collaborators.  Proposals should include at least one international collaborator, with preference given to projects involving faculty from McDonnell Academy partner institutions (other institutions beyond that are welcome).  Projects that involve collaborations in Africa and Latin America will be given additional preference. 

Funding

Two types of seed grants are available to support faculty research initiatives responsive to this call. We anticipate funding up to 10 proposals at $10,000 each and up to 6 proposals at up to $25,000 each. Funding is for 1 year only.

Eligibility 

• The principal investigator must have a full-time faculty appointment at Washington University in St. Louis.

• Research projects must include at least one international faculty collaborator.

Project Requirements

• Collaborative research, involving at least one highly engaged international partner. Preference will be given to projects that are likely to cultivate meaningful, long-term ties among our institutions.

• Innovative, with potential for high impact, publications and ability to secure future funding from external sources.

• Must include a credible plan to make substantial progress toward the project’s aims within 1 year of funding.

• Collaborations that leverage McDonnell Academy partner institutions or could help establish new strategic partnerships will be given preference.

• Collaborations in Africa or Latin America will be given additional preference. 

• Projects can be either early-stage or next-phase research that builds on an existing collaboration. 

Deadline & Submission Requirements

Proposals must be a single PDF or word file including the following:

• WashU applicant information: principal investigator’s name, title/position, school, terminal degree and field of study, and email.

• International collaborator’s information: name, title/position, institution, terminal degree and field of study, and email.

• Title and abstract: synopsis for a lay audience, limited to 150 words.

• Description: maximum 1,000 words including the following:

• Specific aims: State concisely the goals and expected outcomes of the proposed project.
  • Significance & impact: Explain the project’s significance, novelty and potential impact.
  • Collaborative approach: Describe the overall approach and methods, and explain the collaborative aspects of the proposed project. Provide evidence and details of the collaborator’s role in the agreed upon collaboration.
  • Plans for next-stage funding: Explain how this grant might help support future grant applications.
  • Protection of human subjects (if applicable): For any research that involves human subjects, describe the plan to obtain appropriate Institutional Review Board approval.  

• Budget: specify the dollar amount for which you are applying and a breakdown of how the funds will be spent over a one-year period.