Discretionary Funding Initiative (DFI)

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.

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.

For details about the DFI program, please visit the Grant Proposal System (GPS) site.

2024-2025 DFI Schedule

• DFI Session I RFA – August 15, 2024
• DFI Session I Application Deadline - September 12, 2024
• DFI Session I Funding Announcement - November 7, 2024
• DFI Session II RFA – February 3, 2025
• DFI Session II Applications Deadline - March 13, 2025
• DFI Session II Funding Announcements - May 1,  2025

Humanities and Arts Research Program (HARP)

HARP Development

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.

HARP Production

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.

HARP Large-Scale

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. 

For details about all of the HARP programs, please visit the Grant Proposal System (GPS) site.

2024-2025 HARP Schedule

• Production Session I RFA – August 15, 2024
• Development RFA – August 15, 2024
• Large-Scale Project RFA - August 15, 2024
• Production Session I Deadline - September 13, 2024
• Development Deadline - October 3, 2024
• Large-Scale Project Deadline - October 3, 2024
• Production Session I Funding Announcement - December 4, 2024
• Production Session II RFA – December 5, 2024
• Large-Scale Project Funding Announcement - December 20, 2024
• Production Session II Deadline - January 23, 2025
• Development Funding Announcement - January 31, 2025
• Production Session II Funding Announcement - April 2, 2025

Strategic Partnership Grants (SPG)

The SPG program provides funding for major projects in key areas of research, scholarship and creative activities.

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.

For details about the SPG programs, please visit the Grant Proposal System (GPS) site.

2024-2025 SPG Schedule

• SPG Pre-Proposal RFA – August 15, 2024
• SPG Pre-Proposal Deadline - September 13, 2024
• Invitations to submit SPG full proposals - November 20, 2024
• SPG Full Proposal Deadline - January 17, 2025
• SPG Announcement of Proposals Presented to the MSU Research Foundation - April 23, 2025

Health Equity Research Pilot Project

the Health Equity Research Pilot Project 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.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Researcher Teams (Multi-PI) Projects
   1. Eligible applicants must form research teams that include multiple Principal Investigators (PIs) from across institutions and departments, specifically from Michigan State University (MSU), MSU Extension, Henry Ford Health System, and/or Corewell Health. These teams must represent a multidisciplinary and cross-institutional approach, bringing together expertise from diverse fields and departments to collaboratively address complex health equity issues. The inclusion of different institutional perspectives and departmental specializations is critical for the success of these projects.
2. Institutional Affiliation
   1. Principal Investigators must be affiliated with MSU, MSU Extension, Henry Ford Health System and/or CoreWell Health. However, collaborative projects involving researchers (i.e., Co-I) from other institutions are allowed. At least one PI must represent MSU and be listed as the main contact for the transfer of funds. The MSU PI's home unit will be responsible for post-award accounting.
3. Transdisciplinary Nature of Research
   1. Proposals should clearly articulate how the research team integrates expertise from various disciplines, fostering a transdisciplinary approach to problem-solving. 
4. Alignment with External Funding Agency RFA
   1. The research proposal must clearly identify and align with a specific Request for Applications (RFA) from an external funding agency, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or another relevant funding agency. Alignment should be evident in the research objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes, demonstrating a strategic fit with the priorities outlined in the chosen RFA.
   2. Proposals should incorporate a timeline for applying to the selected RFA. 

2024-2025 Schedule

Letter of Intent deadline - January 13, 2025

Shared Research Infrastructure Program (SRIP)

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. The three tracks include:

• Track 1: Requests up to $100,000 for a single entity for disciplines for which other funding sources are typically unavailable.
• Track 2: Requests of $100,000 to $4,000,000 for a single entity. Submitters are expected to partner with existing shared research infrastructure entities at MSU.
• Track 3: Planning grants up to $20,000. Cost sharing is encouraged for Track 1, and is required for Track 2.

For inquiries, contact proposal@msu.edu. More information can be found on the Shared Research Infrastructure Program (SRIP) webpage.

2024-2025 SRIP Schedule

Proposal deadline - October 15, 2024
Funding announced, pending availability of funds - December 1, 2024
Proposal deadline - February 15, 2025
Funding announced, pending availability of funds - April 1, 2025

Tetrad Initiative for Interdisciplinary Research

The Tetrad Initiative, launching 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.

Other MSU Funding Opportunities

Aitch Foundation Fellowships in Cancer Research (Graduate Students only)

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. Applications for 2025 will be due in June.

Corewell Health - MSU Alliance Funding

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.

Creating Inclusive Excellence Grants

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.

HFH+MSU Health Sciences Collaborative Funding

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.

Institute for Public Policy and Social Research

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.

International Studies and Programs (ISP)

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.

Molecular Discovery Grants

MSU Drug Discovery typically accepts proposals each fall. The RFA with instructions for applying are posted on the group's website.

MTRAC AgBio Innovation Challenge

The MTRAC AgBio Innovation Challenge is a new technology concept competition designed to match the fitness of university-developed emerging technologies to validated, near-term market applications in agriculture, biomaterials, and industrial and environmental (i.e., non-medical) biotechnology markets. This scope of opportunities is referred to herein as “AgBio”.  The purpose of the Challenge is to help the MTRAC program assess technology-market risks and opportunities.

NEOGEN Land Grant Prize (Graduate Students only)

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 Initiative Facilitating Funds (TIFF)

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.