Description: Provides seed funding for broad, collaborative research activities that are interdisciplinary and involve groups of faculty from multiple schools across USC. Successful proposals are led by faculty with strong records of previous research accomplishments. Interdisciplinary awards are intended for teams of such faculty who are preparing a proposal for an externally funded multi-investigator grant on the scale of an interdisciplinary center, training grant or program project award. To be considered for this award, applications must (a) plan to apply to a specific externally-funded grant, (b) provide a realistic plan for sustained funding or support beyond the end of the award, and (c) demonstrate that a Zumberge award will make a difference in attracting further research support.
Award: Small Research Grants provide up to $10,000 for projects lasting three months or less; Large Research Grants provide up to $85,000 for projects lasting up to one year.
Eligibility: Applicants must be permanent, full-time faculty at USC. Tenure track and non-tenure track faculty are eligible; visiting & adjunct faculty not eligible. Team must include one PI and at least one co-PI. At least two separate schools within USC must be represented between the PI and co-PI. PI must have record of sustained external funding over the past five years. PIs and co-PIs who received a Zumberge Interdisciplinary Award in 2019 or later are not eligible to apply for another award in the same category (Small or Large Research Grant). However, faculty may apply for a Large grant to support activity previously supported by a Small grant. Please see RFP for full eligibility information.
Deadline: 5 pm, Feb. 16, 2021 for Large grants; Small grant proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis.