Below are Frequently Asked Questions about the Here and Next Research Grants. This will continue to be updated.
Have a question that you don’t see here? Please reach out to researchseedfunding@wustl.edu. Please also see our main page for upcoming webinars for interested applicants.
All Programs
Am I eligible for Here and Next Grant funding?
All full-time WashU faculty may apply for Here and Next seed grant funding. If you have previously received funding from a Here and Next Seed Grant as a co-PI in a previous academic year, that award must be current on all award reporting for you to be eligible. The new proposal must also be distinct from any previous awards with no overlap.
What happened to the Tiers? What’s with the new names?
After our first year of funding, we realized that the idea of tiers was confusing to prospective applicants. The first area of confusion is that one must have a Tier 1 or 2 before progressing to a Tier 3; there is no such stipulation or expected progression. The second area of confusion is that the seed grants tiers were all the same, the only difference being the level of funding possible. This is also not true—each program has its own objectives and aims. Thus, for clarity’s sake, we’ve revised the program names.
I have several projects. Can I apply for more than one grant?
You can apply for more than one grant, but only one per program per academic year. If you apply for an Ignite Interdisciplinary Grant in the fall and are not awarded, you may submit an application again for the spring competition.
What kind of work does the Here and Next funding support?
Generally, Here and Next Seed grants support interdisciplinary research and initiatives that grow research capacity and excellence at WashU in the areas of Public Health, Global Health, Environmental Research, Digital Transformation, and Research Impacting the St. Louis Community. Thus, all programs require co-PIs, and that the primary appointment of at least 2 co-PIs be at different WashU schools. Otherwise, please check individual programs to see the type of work supported.
I missed the deadline; can I still apply?
Unfortunately, no. Only two of our programs have deadlines (Ignite Interdisciplinary Grant and the Spark Funding: Pop-Up Initiative Grant). For Ignite Grants, you may apply in the next semester. Pop-Up Initiatives will return every fall.
We accept applications on a rolling basis during the academic year for Transcend Initiative LOIs and Spark Funding: Proposal Development Grants.
Are there any single-investigator awards?
No, there are no single investigator awards at this time. All proposals must have a minimum of two co-PIs with appointments from two WashU schools.
What are the Here and Next Research Excellence Priority Areas?
The Research Excellence priority areas are Public Health, Global Health, Environmental Research, Digital Transformation, and Research Impacting the St. Louis Community.
How long will these programs last?
These programs will return annually.
Do you have examples of successful applications that I can see?
No, not at this time. Please try your best to be responsive to the questions asked rather than emulating another application to an external sponsor or to another internal grant program.
Spark Funding: Proposal Development Grant (formerly Tier 1)
The opportunity for which I am requesting support requires an LOI or is limited by the sponsor. Can I still apply for Spark Funding: Proposal Development funds?
Yes, you may, but you must identify back-up opportunities to which you will apply if not selected to submit a full proposal or to be WashU’s institutional applicant. You should also explain how the work completed will support that back up proposal.
I don’t have a specific opportunity in mind, can I still apply for a Proposal Development grant?
No, applicants must have a targeted opportunity to which they are applying in order to be eligible.
Can research/project support be requested for a SF: Proposal Development Grant?
Generally, no. However, if the project support is critical to the proposal, the applicants may request it in their proposal. This support must be well-justified, however. In the application, applicants should explain why the project support is necessary for success, how the work will impact the proposal, and how they will complete that work within the time constraints of the proposal development grant. (Applicants are required to submit the external proposal by the end of their period of performance, usually 9 months after award.)
How long does it take to get a decision for Proposal Development Grants?
We expect Proposal Development Grants to be timely, thus we hope to make decisions quickly, usually within a month of submission
Spark Funding: Pop-Up Initiative Grant (formerly T1)
What is a Pop-Up Initiative?
We define Pop-Up Initiatives as collaborative projects that are early in their development that will have a large impact upon the WashU research ecosystem. We expect the co-PIs to clearly explain the work that is being initiated through this Pop-Up. In general, this grant is meant to support researchers in the early-stage of a project so that they have the time and effort covered to lay the groundwork for larger actions.
I would like to hold my initiative over a non-summer month, can I do so?
No, at this time all work must be done over the summer months. The goal is for PIs to dedicate one-summer month of their time to developing the initiative in a short burst of activity, and that is not possible during the academic year.
What deliverables are Initiatives expected to produce?
Examples of work that can be produced by Pop-Up Initiatives include, but are not limited to, white-papers; funding roadmaps; outlining a short-term project that will need external funding dollars; laying the groundwork for long-term research partnerships that will increase research excellence and funding at WashU; and determining new ways to share data amongst traditionally siloed groups within WashU.
Ignite Interdisciplinary Grants (formerly Tier 2)
What kind of work does an Ignite Interdisciplinary Grant support?
This grant is our most traditional seed grant. It supports interdisciplinary projects between 2 or more WashU researchers with primary appointments in 2 or more schools. This program is particularly interested in novel collaborations between disciplines that do not often collaborate in an effort to break down traditional siloes. Thus, having 2 co-PIs from two separate schools is the minimum basis for eligibility, the work itself must also be explained as inter- or multi-disciplinary and it must be clear how all co-PIs are necessary to completing the proposed project.
I have already had an Ignite Interdisciplinary Grant, can I apply again?
You may, but not for the same project. Additionally, your previous Ignite grant must be from a previous academic/fiscal year than the current one. Please also seen the general eligibility requirements regarding previous award reporting; all previous Here and Next Seed Grant award reporting must be complete and current for all projects on which you were a PI.
Transcend Initiative Grant (formerly Tier 3)
What is a Transcend Initiative?
A Transcend Initiative is a team of researchers who are looking to expand WashU’s research capacity around a single initiative. These teams may be already formed or in early stages of collaboration, but they should have clear vision for their initiative that grows WashU research capacity and excellence around their selected topic, and make the case as to why WashU is poised to be successful in this area. It is expected that awarded Transcend Initiative Grants will be self-sustaining initiatives after their original 3 years of funding.
What type of work does a Transcend Initiative Grant support?
Please see the CFP for full details for what is allowed.
I’ve submitted my LOI. When can I submit my full proposal?
The LOI process take time as we request individualized feedback on the proposals. This feedback allows for higher quality proposal submissions, with teams best prepped for success. As such, teams should expect at least six weeks between submitting their proposal and receiving access to the full proposal. Teams are encouraged to consider all feedback carefully as they develop their full proposals.
I see that there have been partial Transcend awards. What does this mean, and can I apply for one?
In rare circumstances, the review committee will award partial Transcend grants to teams that have proposed an exceptional idea, but who need more time to develop their plan and vision. Partial Transcend awardees will then reapply for Transcend funds at a later date. Partial Transcend awards are an exception and not a rule.
Post-Award
Who is the Lead PI on the project?
Though these awards are meant to be fundamentally interdisciplinary and collaborative, administratively, it is necessary to distinguish a Lead Co-PI. The Lead Co-PI will be the individual who submitted the application in InfoReady. Please keep this in mind as you develop your proposals.
How will funds be distributed?
Awarded applicants will receive an award letter and a Terms and Conditions document to be signed via DocuSign that will need to be signed by all co-PIs and the Research Administrator listed on the application (usually the Lead Co-PI’s RA). The RA will need to enter the PJ code that will be associated with the project in the Terms and Conditions form before the award can be officially accepted. Do not submit the T&C form without the PJ code. It will be returned to you.
If funds need to be disbursed amongst the PIs, it is up to the PIs and their RAs to decide the best way to do so. We will only disburse Here and Next Seed Grants to the PJ code provided by the Lead PI.
Though we do not stipulate the manner in which this is done, most RAs end up transferring funds from the Lead PI’s department to recipient departments using a Budget Adjustment (BA). However, the Co-PI recipient department will need to set up their own PJ fund to receive the funds and inform the prime department about the right fund number into which to transfer funds. The Lead Co-PI of that allocation would likely be the Co-Investigator’s FFR Owner ID.
Who is responsible for submitting progress and final reports?
All information must be compiled into one report for both final reports and annual progress updates. Annual reports are only expected from multi-year grants in the Transcend Initiative Grant program. It is the responsibility of the Lead Co-PI to submit the report via the InfoReady system and to coordinate the compilation of all of the information from all co-PIs.
Either my co-PI or I am leaving the university before the award ends. What do I do?
Monies received by WashU co-PIs cannot leave WashU. If you have a remaining balance and you or your PI are leaving WashU, you must do the following:
Write to researchseedfunding@wustl.edu explaining:
- How the co-PI(s) remaining at WashU will continue and complete the work proposed
- The plan for transferring funds and resources to the remaining co-PI(s) or how the remaining funds will be spent to complete the work
- An acknowledgement that no-funds will be transferred to an external institution
After receiving permission from OVCR/RDO, you must:
- CC researchseedfunding@wustl.edu on the notification that the funds have been transferred from one co-PI to another (if necessary). If the funds were already being disbursed by the remaining PI, this is not necessary.
- The remaining co-PI is responsible for all subsequent reporting for this award.
I would like a No-Cost Extension (NCE) for my award. How may I request one and what circumstances allow for an NCE?
No-Cost Extensions are only granted in instances where there is a valid, unplanned extenuating circumstance as to why the work cannot be completed or the funds cannot be spent within the period of performance. At the time of the request, at least 60% of the awarded funds must be spent.
If granted, NCEs will only be made for up-to 6 months maximum beyond the original award period. To request a No-Cost Extension, please fill out this form, where you will explain the following:
- Why the work could not be completed within the period of performance,
- The plan for ensuring that the work will be complete and funds spent by the end of the NCE
- How much time you are requesting (up to 6 months maximum with shorter periods of time preferred)