MSU offers several programs for research development across disciplines including the arts and humanities. The Grant Proposal System is used for submitting proposals for research funding programs administered by the Office for Research and Innovation. These programs are funded through the generosity of the Michigan State University Research Foundation.
Visit the FAQ page for commonly asked questions on the Grant Proposal System.
The DFI program provides bridge funds for tenure-stream faculty for additional studies needed for resubmission of a grant application to the same funding agency. This program is funded through the generosity of the Michigan State University Research Foundation.
To request funding from this program, faculty should submit a proposal via the grant proposal system. Applicants will be expected to provide copies of their previous external reviews, if applicable, and describe the work that will be completed to address the comments provided in those documents. The research associate dean of the applicant's college (lead college if appointed in multiple colleges) will review applications and submit a prioritized list to the Office of Research and Innovation (OR&I). Requests for support approved by the research associate deans will be reviewed by the OR&I.
DFI requires college approval and/or cost share. Each college has their own process and timeline for acquiring required matching funds. Please speak with your Associate Dean for Research for more details at least one month in advance of the submission deadline.
For details about the DFI program, please visit the Grant Proposal System (GPS) site.
Provides funds to support faculty who are conducting important research leading to creative and performance projects or activities in the arts and humanities. This limited funding is designed to support faculty in the development of projects that seem likely to enhance the reputation of the faculty member and the university. This program is funded through the generosity of the Michigan State University Research Foundation.
Provides funds, when research is complete, to help subsidize the costs of book publication, permissions to use copyrighted materials, CD recording and production, the creation and mounting of exhibits, and other expenses associated with producing the results of a complete creative or research project. This program is funded through the generosity of the Michigan State University Research Foundation.
The HARP Large-Scale Project program will fund one award up to $100,000 each academic year to support a faculty or a team of faculty engaged in an exceptional large-scale creative and performance projects or activities in the arts and humanities. This limited funding is designed to support faculty in the final stages of the development of projects that seem likely to enhance the reputation of the faculty member and the university, and lead to international distribution of a performance or product. This program is funded through the generosity of the Michigan State University Research Foundation.
For details about all of the HARP programs, please visit the Grant Proposal System (GPS) site.
The SPG program provides funding for major projects in key areas of research, scholarship and creative activities. This program is funded through the generosity of the Michigan State University Research Foundation.
Michigan State University recognizes the value of supporting and nurturing faculty engaging in leading-edge research and scholarship initiatives. These initiatives must be of a caliber that positions the faculty to compete for significant external funding, including the development of research ideas with significant commercial potential, and to raise the stature of the university. Some of these initiatives may have strong potential to develop into a center or institute-level research program.
For 2024-2025, two SPG programs will be made available:
Research and Scholarly Development:
Intended to support the efforts of a faculty team to pursue an innovative, early phase research or scholarly direction, to develop broad community or global impact of an applied research or scholarly effort, and/or to undertake a potentially high risk, high reward research initiative. Proposed future sustainable funding sources and a link to specific solicitation(s) of interest to the team should be identified in the proposal.
Center Development:
Intended to support the assembly of a faculty team, with a track record of working together on shared goals, and delivery of related results, as evidence of their preparedness to secure significant external funding that would support a center or large multidisciplinary program. Proposed future sustainable funding sources and a link to specific solicitation(s) of interest to the team should be identified in the proposal.
SPG requires college approval and/or cost share. Each college has their own process and timeline for acquiring required matching funds. Please speak with your Associate Dean for Research for more details at least one month in advance of the submission deadline.
For details about the SPG programs, please visit the Grant Proposal System (GPS) site.
The Health Equity Research Funding Opportunity, a transformative initiative developed and managed by the Office of Research and Innovation, aligned with Michigan State University's (MSU) 2030 Strategic Plan to “Enhance quality of life for people everywhere by comprehensively leveraging expertise and research activity to improve health and the systems that affect health.” The objective of this funding opportunity is to support transdisciplinary research projects that align with Michigan State University's (MSU) 2030 strategic plan goals related to addressing health equity, and social determinants of health.
Letter of Intent deadline - January 13, 2025
The Office of the President, in partnership with the Office of the Provost and the Office of Research and Innovation, invites proposals for Graduate Student and Faculty Research Continuity Support, to help offset specific funding disruptions due to executive orders, grant cancellations, and stop-work orders. This initiative is designed to provide strategic, targeted, time-limited assistance to graduate students nearing degree completion and to faculty experiencing disruptions in research funding. A total of up to $5 million annually will be allocated for this purpose over each of the next three years. There are three categories of funding that can be requested. A single proposal could request from more than one category. If faculty have access to discretionary funds (e.g. startup accounts), they must provide a strong justification for why they are seeking support from the Jenison funds.
2025-2026 Jenison Fund Career and Research Continuity Support Schedule
The SRIP program strategically invests in cutting-edge shared research infrastructure for the MSU community. SRIP supports one-time, non-recurring purchases for specialized research needs, such as equipment, large databases, and other resources. The resource is expected to advance research at MSU, benefit a diverse range of researchers, and align with MSU’s strategic research priorities. This program is funded in part through the generosity of the Michigan State University Research Foundation. For inquiries, contact proposal@msu.edu. More information can be found on the Shared Research Infrastructure Program (SRIP) webpage.
The Tetrad Initiative, launched in Fall 2023, is designed to foster new cross-unit and cross-college collaborations among faculty who have not worked together before, resulting in projects that create opportunities for extramural support of unique research programs. Researchers, at any rank, seek collaborators from outside of their own unit to form a team of three investigators, who must be faculty (any track), librarians, and academic specialists. Funds can be used to partially support MSU learners such as students, post-docs, residents, and fellows on the project. Once the team submits a completed proposal, their Tetrad is awarded funding of $30,000 with support coming from each PI’s home department and college, with a match from the Office of Research and Innovation completing the Tetrad. There is no review for merit. If Tetrad applications exceed available funding, a random drawing will be conducted. This program is funded through the generosity of the Michigan State University Research Foundation.
Learn more and review the recent awards. A symposium to report the results from the Tetrad teams is in planning for Fall 2025.
The Aitch Foundation provides graduate student support for work in cancer research. Funds may be used to provide a graduate assistantship, but additional support for fringe benefits (tuition, fees, insurance) will not be provided, and it is expected that supplemental support will come from the research mentor. The program is administered through the Office of Research and Innovation (OR&I). Details about the program and how to apply may be found on the OR&I website. Applications for the 2024 Fellowship are now closed. Details for 2025 are forthcoming.
In 2007, Spectrum Health and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (CHM) formed the Alliance to facilitate collaborative efforts in clinical research and education between the two institutions. Since that time, the Alliance has contributed over $21 million towards supporting joint initiatives to bring innovative and novel research projects to our West Michigan community. Funding for 2023 has been awarded. Please check back for 2024 funding opportunities.
The Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (IDI) provides funding through the CIEG program to colleges, as well as other academic and administrative units, individuals and groups to engage in efforts that will enhance the overall learning, living and working environment for students, faculty and staff at MSU and will demonstrably benefit students and create a more inclusive campus community for all. Learn more about the program and how to apply at the IDI website.
The HFH + MSU Cancer Committee is interested in receiving unique and collaborative grant proposals that combine the clinical expertise and the scientific strengths of both HFH and MSU. Pilot Grants fund up to $25,000 or Integration Grants fund between $50,000 and $100,000 for 12 months. These awards are intended to encourage exploratory/developmental research for the early stages of project development in areas of basic, clinical, behavioral and/or population research. Check back here for information on funding for 2024.
MSU's Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR) accepts research proposals from MSU faculty for up to $30,000 grants on an annual basis. The program typically distributes $150,000 per year. The purpose of the Michigan Applied Public Policy Research (MAPPR) grant program is to link the work of faculty to current policy discussions. The outcome of the grant program creates an information exchange between research and practice.
ISP provides a number of opportunities for faculty including travel funding, project funding, and Fulbright Programs. ISP also offers student funding through a wide array of travel grants and scholarships.
MSU Drug Discovery typically accepts proposals each fall. The RFA with instructions for applying are posted on the group's website.
Housed at Michigan State University, the MTRAC AgBio Innovation Hub (AgBio Hub) is one of five specialized statewide commercialization programs with in-depth domain expertise in specific areas of research. Each hub is sponsored by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) together with a Michigan research university having domain depth in that hub’s technical and commercial theme(s). The AgBio Hub provides translational research funding to accelerate the commercialization of high potential AgBio and related technologies. This funding is available through competitive grants offered to innovators at institutions of higher education, non-profit research centers, and hospital systems throughout Michigan.
Funded by a gift from former Provost and Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, Dr. John E. Cantlon, and his wife Carolyne Irene Cantlon, this endowed award program seeks to advance the work of an MSU graduate student whose research has the potential to contribute to economic and scientific improvements in society, with a promise of practical applications that benefit U.S. economic interests.
Learn more on the Research and Innovation website.
Trifecta offers up to $8,000 ($10,000 in some cases) for interdisciplinary teams of MSU faculty. The PI must be from one of the Trifecta colleges (MSU's College of Nursing, College of Engineering, and College of Communication Arts & Sciences) and the team must include a member from a different Trifecta Initiative college.
If your unit offers internal funding for MSU faculty research and creative activities, please contact research@msu.edu, so that grant opportunities and application deadlines can be posted.
