Internal Funding Opportunities
The following funding opportunities are available through the Office of Research.
Startup Program
Sponsored and administered by REDE, in partnership with individual departments and schools/colleges, startup program funds are available to assist new faculty in developing a self-sustaining research program upon arrival at ECU. The Office of Research Development takes the lead for evaluation, administration, and assessment of startup requests and awards. The goal of this program is to develop cohorts of researchers who work collaboratively with mentors, faculty from across ECU’s campus, and/or community and industry partners toward externally-funded initiatives that align with ECU’s mission to serve as a national model for student success, public service, and regional transformation.
Startup Forms
- Strategic Role and Requirements
- Startup Budget Form – 3 Years (Excel)
- Startup Funds Request Form – 0 to 3 Years (PDF)
- Startup Funds Request Form – 0 to 3 Years with UNC Faculty Recruitment & Retention Fund (PDF)
Internal Awards
Trendsetter Awards
Since 2022, the Trendsetter Award has honored faculty at ECU’s Research and Creative Achievement Week awards ceremony. This award recognizes faculty who are highly successful in research and creative activity across three categories:
- Early career, with six or fewer years of service
- Mid-career, with 5-9 years of service
- Eminent, with 10 or more years of service
All faculty with at least two years of service at ECU, regardless of tenure status, department, school and/or college and field of study are eligible for nomination. Nominations must be submitted by the faculty member’s unit Chair or Director and include the faculty member’s CV and a nomination letter from the Chair or Director
- Trendsetter instructions
- Contact Dr. Angela Lamson with any questions.
View Trendsetter Award winners.
Sponsored Activities and Research Catalyst (SPARC) Program
Since 2022, the Office of Research Development has supported the Sponsored Activities and Research Catalyst Program (SPARC) for faculty who (a) previously secured grant funding but are interested in pivoting their scholarship in a new direction, (b) expressed an interest in initiating a new industry partnership toward external funding, (c) are engaging in a pathway toward external funding for the first time, (d) are interested in growing a new team science initiative.
This program will provide seed funding for projects to build the capacity to enhance and support proposal development and submission. SPARC participants will be encouraged to participate in a variety of curated professional development experiences.
The program will provide funding of up to $20,000 for up to 2 years; one year projects and budgets also welcome. The funds can be used for scholarly activities including supplies, travel for data collection, small equipment, participant incentives, student assistantships or expenditures required to support the project. The budget may include no more than $10,000 total in reassigned time across the two year time frame.
- SPARC Instructions
- Contact Dr. Angela Lamson with any questions.
Faculty Support and Reassignment Awards for Research and Creative Activity
This program provides funds to allow faculty dedicated time in the academic year for creative and scholarly activity and to prepare and submit a competitive application for extramural support. We encourage applications in all fields, including but not limited to the arts and humanities. Activities may include preparing grants for research, scholarship, creative and artistic activities, fellowships and residencies, art, and music commissions, exhibits and performances, book publishing contracts, museum and library fellowships, artist-in-residence, and scholar-in-residence programs.
This support may be accomplished through a course buyout of the faculty in either the fall or spring semester. Alternatively, funds may be used for undergraduate or graduate student support (to conduct research or assist with teaching) to provide the faculty member with additional time to work on projects. Funds will be paid directly to the department to hire replacement faculty to cover teaching assignments or for student compensation. Faculty will not receive any direct compensation and summer stipends will not be provided.
Applicants must present a well-defined creative or scholarly product (such as a book or a written opera) OR a project that will form the basis of a subsequent proposal to an extramural sponsor. Products or projects that clearly identify and address an ECU Mission or Vision as stated in the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan will receive higher priority. If your product or project does not directly address ECU mission or vision, you may still find ways of connecting it with it by adding relevant activities.
We encourage all applicants to identify an internal mentor/advisory group (1-3 individuals) to advise the faculty member on development of the project and critique the proposal prior to extramural submission.
The number of awards will be determined by the quality of the proposals, number of requests, and the budget for the fiscal year.
