Application now open! Deadline to apply is January 15, 2024.
Unit and MAU administrators must approve applications by January 31, 2024.
I write to you today with exciting news about a new internal funding program called Tetrad. The program requires a collaboration among three faculty, with MSU as the fourth “institutional” partner. Together they form a Tetrad, or a “group of four.”
The Tetrad initiative is designed to foster new cross-unit and cross-college collaborations. Tetrad seed funding will allow teams to form and explore novel areas of research, that might not otherwise be funded. This will ideally lead to new connections among faculty, larger projects, and new extramural support.
The Tetrad Initiative was specifically developed to foster interdisciplinary research among faculty who have not worked together previously. The program is designed to increase scholarly and creative collaborations across the university in support of novel, “outside of the box” projects, that will be tracked over time. The program will be administered through my office, with Kay Connelly, AVP, as the executive sponsor.
How it works:
Faculty, at any rank, seek collaborators from outside of their own unit to form a team of three investigators, who must also be faculty (any track), librarians, or academic specialists. Once the team submits a completed proposal that meets criteria, their Tetrad will receive $30,000. The $30,000 comes from collaborative funding among the PIs’ three departments, their colleges, and a match from the Office of Research and Innovation. There is no review for merit. However, if Tetrad applications exceed available funding, a random drawing will be conducted to determine awards. Note that funds can be used for supplies and services in support of the projects, staff effort, MSU learner effort (such as students, post-docs, residents, and fellows), but not faculty effort.
More info and how to apply:
Extensive details, a link to the application, frequently asked questions, a roster of participating units, and a Microsoft Teams site where researchers can post ideas and recruit collaborators to form a Tetrad, are available on our new informational website.
The first phase, which recently concluded, invited all university departments, colleges, and other major units to opt-in, and share their level of commitment to cooperatively fund Tetrads. Participating units are listed on the website, so check it out to see if your unit opted in. If your department or college is NOT listed, reach out to them to encourage participation.
NOTE: Unit and MAU administrators must approve PI applications by January 31. Watch for emails alerts from MSU Power Automate – Tetrad Application Review.
If you have any questions, please refer to the website or email vprfunds@msu.edu.
We look forward to the new teams and ideas that will emerge from this program, and sincerely appreciate the financial support of the MSU Research Foundation for making Tetrad a reality.
Good luck and best regards.
Douglas A. Gage, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research and Innovation