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Call For Proposals

Collaborative Research Grant
2025 Summer Call for Proposals

Due to the unexpected termination of the IMLS project, this CFP is currently on hold until further notice. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Purpose
This program supports collaborative research projects between University Libraries researchers and Virginia Tech academic departments, institutes, and centers. These projects will leverage the Library's resources and expertise to explore research questions of significant interest to Virginia Tech researchers. Similar to the Mcubed model, the selection of this program will be through a weighted lottery instead of the formal merit review.

Funding
University Libraries will provide $5,000 and $10,000 for each funded project to be completed by the end of the 2026 spring semester. Funds can be used for items such as library collections, student wages, materials, and travel expenses critical to research activities. Salary and indirect cost to Virginia Tech employees cannot be charged, and the funding is not intended to supplement a university employee's income. We will no longer accommodate project extensions. By the end of the performance period, all unspent funds will be returned. Please note that the funds cannot be transferred to other departments and that all student wage workers must be hired through University Libraries.

Guidelines

  • Each proposal will be submitted by at least two co-PIs; one is a full-time employee at University Libraries, and the other is a full-time employee at a Virginia Tech academic department, institute, or center. Postdocs are also eligible. A co-PI on a fixed-term contract must be able to complete the project within the corresponding VT employment contract period.
  • Proposals should clearly state what the team is proposing and how it leads to the intended next steps.
  • Proposals should describe how library resources and/or expertise will be leveraged to explore research questions of significant interest to your research area.
  • Project deliverables should be specific, measurable, and achievable within the project period. We encourage deliverables and subsequent research outputs to be made available through open access methods (e.g., VTechWorks, Virginia Tech Data Repository, etc). When applicable, we also encourage proposals to consider how including a community partner may benefit the project.
  • By the end of the project, co-PIs will submit 1) a final spending report and 2) a recorded presentation video and associated slides to showcase project deliverables. Additionally, co-PIs may also receive solicitations for surveys and interview requests related to data collection, management, and continuous improvements of this grant program.
  • Unless specifically requested and reasonably justified, proposals of funded projects will be openly shared via this website when the funding is accepted. Final project presentations will also be openly shared via this website.
  • Each eligible co-PI may submit at most two proposals in each funding cycle. In addition, no co-PI should expect to work on more than two funded projects in this program in parallel.
  • All eligible proposals will be entered into a random drawing. Proposals not selected for the current funding cycle are encouraged to participate in the next round.
  • Proposals submitted by the same co-PI teams of previously funded projects or related to previously funded research projects will be put in a low-priority pool for drawing. These projects will have opportunities to receive funding after all new research collaborations are funded.
  • Program co-directors reserve the right to request additional clarifications on the proposals and decline proposals deemed out of the stated scope of this program.
  • Failure to fulfill the proposed deliverables within the project performance period may result in co-PIs being temporarily excluded from applying for funding in the next two funding cycles.
  • Researchers interested in collaborating in this program are encouraged to submit a collaborator profile and reach out to potential collaborators or reach out to program co-directors ceska@vt.edu, ylchen@vt.edu

Important dates
April 28, 2025: Proposals are due. Submit your proposal here.
May 5, 2025: Awards Announced (Expected: The number of awarded projects is subject to change depending on the funds available.)
May 10, 2025: Project starts.
May 9, 2026: End of project, funding must be fully spent. Deadline to submit the spending report, presentation video, and associated slides.

Proposal requirements (three pages)

  • Title Page (1 page): Title of project, names, and affiliations of co-PIs as well as all other participants.
  • Proposal Narrative (2 pages):
    • Problem Statement: What research question does your project address? Describe your overall vision for your project and incorporate a summary of your goals. Why does your proposed project address a research question of significant interest to your research area? How does your project leverage the library’s resources and expertise?
    • Description of the Proposed Project: Describe 1) needs in the area you’ve chosen, 2) deliverables and timeline of the project, and 3) future publication and funding opportunities and next steps resulting from the project.
    • A brief Budget Breakdown
    • Bio sketches or CVs of co-PIs (these do not count towards the proposal page limit)

Additional information
Program co-directors Charlene Eska and Yinlin Chen will pre-screen submissions to ensure proposals are within the scope of this program.

For questions, contact Eska at ceska@vt.edu and Chen at ylchen@vt.edu