Spark Funding Grants
Spark Funding proposals are smaller dollar grants designed to assist with shorter-term needs, such as proposal and team development. Unless well and explicitly justified, Spark Funding grants are not meant to support research project costs. There are two tracks of Spark Grant funding: the Proposal Development Track and the Convening Track.
Award Cap: Up to $20,000
Award Period: 9 months from award
Deadlines: Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis for AY 2024-25 as long as funds are available.
Proposal Development Track
The Proposal Development Track supports cross-school research teams in the preparation and submission of complex, large-scale proposals. Successful external grant proposals require significant advance planning, a compelling research vision, strong preliminary data, buy-in from research partners, and a track record of robust teamwork among collaborating investigators across multiple disciplines. Teams are expected to submit a proposal within 9 months after the proposal development support program ends.
Convening Track
The Convening Track program allows for dedicated resources, time, and space for researchers across the University to convene their unique perspectives and skill sets in pursuit of a common goal. Each Convening grant is expected to produce a research product based on its in-depth preparation for a larger future research initiative. These funds are not intended to provide project support, but rather to allow for teams to lay the foundations for subsequent collaborative work.
If you have any questions about these program, please email researchseedfunding@wustl.edu.