Program Description:

In response to unprecedented changes within federal research sponsorship, the University of Delaware Research Office and the Office of the Provost are making resources available to enable the continuity of faculty research programs. This program consists of two award types: Research Continuity Awards and Graduate Bridge Fund Awards, providing support to UD researchers who have experienced terminated awards or significantly delayed funding decisions. The Research Office will provide eligible faculty up to $25,000 in direct research support thorough a Research Continuity Award. The Office of the Provost and UD Graduate College will provide outstanding Ph.D. students up to one year of graduate stipend and tuition support through a Graduate Bridge Fund Award ($36,000 stipend, up to 9 credit hours of tuition for one student). If a delayed funding notification is lifted or a terminated award is reinstated within six months of receiving an award from either of these programs research expenses and graduate support should immediately transfer to the new federal award ending support from these programs. Review of the two award programs (Research Continuity and Graduate Bridge) will be separate but will inform one another in the decision-making process. Faculty may apply for one or both programs within the same application.

In the case of significantly delayed awards, the selection committee will be seeking instances where otherwise competitive and beneficial research is not being considered for reasons unrelated to the merits of the work proposed. The University submits nearly 2,000 proposals each year and only a fraction (~ 20%) are eventually awarded. The committee is seeking instances where a proposal would have been awarded, but for some reason, unrelated to the research merits, the award has been delayed. Applicants need to make a compelling case for why the award has been delayed, and how further delay threatens the viability of the proposed research.

Timeline:

• RFA announcement: Monday, June 23^rd, 2025
• Required "Intent to Submit" form deadline: Thursday, July 3^rd, 2025, 11:59 pm
• Required proposal form deadline Monday, July 14^th, 2025, 11:59 pm
• Awards announced: Friday, August 1^st, 2025

How to Apply:

UD faculty interested in applying for either and/or both award types must:

1. First, complete an "Intent to Submit" form here: https://research.udel.edu/research-continuityawards-loi/.

2. Once the "Intent to Submit" form has been submitted, the PI will be directed to the "Proposal Form" page. Completion of the Proposal Form will generate a PDF which will be emailed to the PI.

3. Click the green "Apply Now" button above right. Complete the form and upload:
      a. The PDF of the Proposal Form that was emailed to the PI
      b. The PI's biosketch
      c. The biosketch for the graduate student (if applicable)