The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) manages internal funding opportunities for faculty to help bolster individual research programs and develop a framework to attain extramural funding. 

Blue Sky Initiative 

At Temple University, the Blue Sky Initiative is our commitment to bold, transformative research that challenges the status quo and sparks paradigm-shifting discoveries. Managed by the OVPR, this initiative is dedicated to funding "high risk/high reward" projects that can lead to breakthroughs across disciplines, from biomedical innovations to transformative social science research.

The grants will be awarded to any high caliber research in, but not limited to:

• Basic Scientific Research: Across all disciplines.
• Innovative Translational Research: Bridging the gap between laboratory discoveries and real-world applications.
• Transformative Social Science Research: Addressing complex societal challenges with innovative approaches.

Successful projects will demonstrate potential to drive external funding and position the individual or collaborative team for external grant competitiveness. Proposals may be discipline specific or interdisciplinary in nature.  

Funding & Award Details

• Annual Cycle: Up to 5 awards per cycle.
• Funding Range: $75,000 to $125,000 per project.
• Project Duration: 12 to 24 months.

Awardees will also have the opportunity to meet with our Research Development team to explore further funding opportunities and build a pathway toward sustained external support.

Application Timeline

• Submission Deadline: On or before April 17, 2025.
• Funding Period: June 1, 2025 to May 1, 2026.

Required Application Documents

• Principal Investigator (PI) Name
• Project Title and Abstract
• 3-Page Project Description: Highlight the paradigm-shifting potential of your work and its potential impact.
• SciENcv: For the PI and Co-Investigators.
• Letter of Support: From the Dean.
• Budget & Budget Justification

Humanities and Arts Research Program (HARP)

OVPR invites full-time faculty to apply for the 2025 Humanities and Arts Research Program (HARP). This initiative is designed to support innovative, creative, and scholarly projects in the humanities and arts disciplines — projects that not only advance academic inquiry but also have the potential to attract external gifts, donations, and foundation funding, while positioning your work for future grant success.

Funding Opportunities

Faculty may apply for awards in one of three categories:

• New Individual Projects with a maximum award of $7,500.
• New Collaborative Projects with a maximum award of $20,000.
• Program or Project Completion with a maximum award of $3,500. 

In-kind support is required for all New Collaborative Projects by the department or cognizant School/College Dean.

In-kind support is optional for New Individual Projects and Program or Project Completion. 

Who Should Apply?

We welcome proposals that are either discipline-specific or interdisciplinary, and that demonstrate innovative approaches with the potential to:

• Drive external funding through gifts, donations, or foundation support.
• Position the individual or collaborative team for external grant competitiveness.

Key Dates

• Submission Deadline: March 31, 2025
• Funding Period: May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026

Proposal Format Guidelines

Ensure your proposal meets the following formatting requirements:

• Font: Times New Roman, 11-point text
• Margins: One-inch margins

Required Documents

• Principal Investigator (PI) Name
• Project Title and Abstract
• 3-Page Project Description including project evaluation and an external funding model
• SciENcv of PI and Co-Investigator(s)
• Letter of Support from the Dean
• Budget and Budget Justification

STEM Research Grants

STEM Research Grants is an internal funding initiative designed to support promising projects that address pressing scientific challenges and require rapid funding. 

About STEM Research Grants 

This annual initiative is designed to: 

• Drive Research Excellence: Provide essential funding to propel research projects and position individual or collaborative teams for future external grant competitiveness. 
• Foster Innovation: Support proposals that are either discipline-specific or interdisciplinary, ensuring a wide range of STEM research is advanced. 

Additional award details to note: 

• Proposals may be discipline specific or interdisciplinary in nature.  
• The award range will be $75,000 to $100,000. 
• The award will support 3 to 4 awardees per annual cycle of which 3 grants will support studies in any STEM discipline and 1 on the thematic emphasis for the year. 

Thematic Emphasis for 2025 

In celebration of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, the thematic emphasis for this cycle is Quantum Information Science and Technology - Computing and Sensing. Projects aligned with this theme are encouraged to apply. In addition to advancing fundamental enabling technologies, we are also interested in proposals which advance potential applications of these emerging technologies in medicine, engineering, algorithm development, climate science, or other areas of study. 

Key Dates and Required Application Documents 

The funding period is tentatively from May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026. The application deadline is April 24, 2025. 

When preparing your submission, please include the following:  

• Principal Investigator (PI) Name 
• Project Title and Abstract 
• 2-Page Project Description 
• Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv) for the PI and any Co-Investigators 
• Letter of Support from the Dean 
• Budget and Budget Justification

Innovation Flight Fund

The Vice President for Research Innovation Flight Fund fills a critical gap in the technology development pathway at Temple University by providing a resource to perform critical experiments and establish initial proof-of-concept, such as the development of initial device prototypes, performance of initial validation studies for therapeutics, and developing and testing software (including AI-based concepts).