Catalyst Application Process

The application period has closed for the 2026-2027 Catalyst Program.

Catalyst Application (Qualtrics)
Catalyst Application (PDF)

The Office of Engaged Research would like to share an exciting opportunity with EOSA Faculty Alumni! We would like to invite ECU faculty who participated in past EOSA programs to apply for a new program, Catalyst, with support from ECU in leading and preparing a community-engaged, multi-partner grant proposal to an external sponsor.

To be selected for this opportunity, EOSA Alumni faculty scholars should plan to develop and lead a project with at least one external (outside ECU) community partner and at least one other external partner, with the goal of conducting community-engaged, multi-partner, collaborative research. External partners could include, but are not limited to additional community partners, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and businesses.

During the program (Spring 2026 through Spring 2027) faculty will work on activities that support the development of the grant proposal and that involve engagement with community partners and other external team members. Activities can include collection of pilot data or information, participating in planning sessions, workshops and meetings with community partners, and development of products that can be leveraged in the proposal submission. Similar to EOSA, Catalyst is in partnership with the Honors College to provide research learning opportunities for the undergraduate students (Brinkley-Lane Scholars) enrolled in HNRS 3100. Funding by the Office of Engaged Research for a graduate assistant and for research expenses to support development and submission of the external grant proposal is contingent on university budget allocations.

Catalyst faculty scholars are required to present their projects at a public showcase in April 2027 and submit a multi-institutional grant proposal to an appropriate external funding agency or organization by May 2027.

A successful applicant to this opportunity will:

  • Have successfully completed the ECU EOSA program;
  • Have an active community-engaged research agenda that contributes to their discipline and has an impact on the community;
  • Express a clear commitment to submit multi-institutional grant proposal to an external sponsor by May 2027 that incorporates engaged scholarship;
  • Demonstrate the capacity to communicate with current community partners effectively and disseminate information to the community;
  • Demonstrate a commitment to actively participate in the program; and,
  • Be a 1) Tenure Track or 2) Permanently Tenured faculty member or 3) Fixed Term faculty member with at least 5 years of ECU employment.

Applications will be reviewed by the Catalyst Selection Committee composed of EOSA alumni and current engaged scholars.