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2026-27 W&M Seed Funding Application
Summary
The W&M Seed Funding Research Grant program promotes an increase in total external research funding at W&M. The program is also designed to help W&M faculty and staff members from all disciplines to establish self-sustaining, independent funding for research. A requirement for awardees in this program is that the proposed work must lead to submission of one or more proposals for follow-on external funding to maintain sustained future efforts. Questions about this application should be directed to the Chair of the Faculty Research Committee, Nathan Kidwell (nmkidwell@wm.edu).
Full Description
About W&M Seed Funding
Seed funding may supplement start-up funds or other funding streams already established by proposers. The seed funds can be used for many purposes that will lead to future external funding, including to gather additional data, acquire necessary equipment, master a needed skill, or access special materials. To maintain continuing eligibility for this program, awardees must submit at least one proposal to an outside agency, foundation, or corporation within 18 months of award of seed funding. This follow-on external proposal submission may be a new proposal for lasting 1-5 years at $150k/yr. Alternatively, the proposal may be for a multi-year renewal of a current, existing award where the new yearly funding level exceeds the existing yearly funding level by at least $100k/year. Meeting these objectives may require expanding the number of co-investigators or students engaged in the work. We encourage applications that combine the efforts of faculty from two or more departments or schools.
Program Scale
We expect to award 1-2 grants totaling $50K. Notification of award and funds availability in early April 2026. The funding should be used between May 15, 2026 and August 31, 2027.
Who May Apply
Any research-active W&M faculty or staff member who is in good standing and authorized by their unit manager (Chair, Director, Dean, VPR or their delegates) to conduct independent research.
Eligibility will be confirmed by the Vice Provost for Research’s office in consultation with school/college deans prior to proposal review. Questions regarding eligibility should be directed to the Vice Provost for Research’s office. This opportunity is not available to graduate students, postdocs, visiting faculty, or short-term appointees. Each applicant can participate in only one submission.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated by the Faculty Research Committee and must address the following items:
- The proposal should clearly state its objectives. Because the application will be read by colleagues who are not experts in the applicant's field, the application should describe the project and its methodology in a way understandable to non-experts in the discipline.
- The proposal should describe how the objectives will be achieved, pointing out what has been done in the field or what is usually done, specify what is new in the proposed approach, and explain why that increases the chances for success and the impact on the proposed fields of work.
- The proposal should discuss its potential impact. Impact is interpreted broadly, and could include the participation of students, community engagement, academic or disciplinary impact, or other impacts as appropriate to the work.
- The proposal should identify one or more potential external funders for at least one subsequent proposal that builds upon the work of the seed proposal and describe why, if the work succeeds, those external funders will be more likely to fund the subsequent proposal.
Conditions and Expectations for Seed Funding Grants Program:
- Applications must be complete to be considered.
- Grants are made with the expectation that the recipient will remain employed by W&M. A recipient who resigns from W&M (or is not retained for other reasons) will be required to relinquish the grant and any unexpended portion thereof.
- Grants are made with the expectation that the recipient will perform the work within the proposed period. Other supported research, or paid or unpaid teaching, may also be done by the recipient during the period in which this grant is received, so long as other work is adjusted to meet the obligations of the research grant.
- Recipients of W&M Seed Grant should acknowledge the support of W&M in all subsequent publications arising from funded research.
- By September 30, 2027, W&M Seed Grant recipients must provide a 1–2-page summary report presenting the funded research results. The report should include the status of the proposed work and note any significant changes from the initial proposal. The PI shall submit copies of this final report by email to the Vice Provost of Research, with their unit lead/department chair copied. Failure to submit this report promptly may cause the recipient to be ineligible for future internal grants.
Application Instructions
The applicant should read the W&M Seed Funding Research Grant Call for Proposals, above, before completing the application.
How to submit
Please complete application and upload required documentation by clicking the button below.
You will be redirected to the InfoReady platform that manages grant competitions.
The applicant should carefully read the W&M Seed Grant Call for Proposals before completing the application.