Category: USC

Description: Supports research collaborations among faculty and students working on interdisciplinary societally-relevant research topics, such as pandemic-related topics, equity and inclusion, climate change, neuroscience, mindfulness and behavioral science, digital humanities, and climate change, among many others. The aim of these awards is not to fund specific research projects, but rather to support teams of faculty who aim to establish or foster a community of scholars at USC organized around a broad topic of shared interest. Proposals are sought that creatively overcome current pandemic limitations on travel and in-person meetings, proposing new and engaging ways to bring people together with activities that develop the impact of the collaborative group. Proposed activities should establish the foundation for members of the collaborative group to create new research projects as well as contribute to strengthening the individual research programs of its members and others as USC. Encouraged activities include an educational component, providing students an opportunity to not only participate but assist in the design and organization of events. See website for full RFP.

Award: Collaboration Fund Grants provide up to $30,000/year; awards will be made for a three-year period, subject to an annual progress review and activity plan, and continued availability of funding. At the end of three years, collaborations may reapply, on a competitive basis, for an additional three years of funding.  

Eligibility: Awards under this program are made through a competitive process, based on proposals submitted by a team of faculty investigators whose primary appointments are in different schools (at least two). The collaboration should engage a large number (normally 10 or more) of participating faculty. In addition to the representation from two schools at USC, team of faculty may include key collaborators from non-USC organizations or institutes with which the group will interact.

Deadline: 5 pm PT, April 5, 2021

Description: Aimed at supporting research and scholarship that addresses critical gaps in knowledge on equity, diversity, and inclusion, or benefits diverse communities. To be considered for this award, applications must: (a) plan to apply for an externally-funded grant on an eligible topic; (b) provide a realistic plan for sustained funding or support beyond the end of the award; and (c) demonstrate that a Zumberge award will help attract further external research support. Research topics eligible for this program need to address diversity defined to include and not be limited to, characteristics such as national origin, language, race, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, age religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, veteran status, educational background, and family structures. While proposals from individual PIs are eligible, applicants proposing collaborative research activities that are interdisciplinary and involve faculty from multiple USC schools are encouraged.

Award: Up to $30,000 in pilot research support

Eligibility: Full-time tenure track and non-tenure track faculty are eligible. Visiting & adjunct faculty ineligible. Topics eligible for funding from the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute or the Ming Hsieh Institute or not eligible for Zumberge D&I Awards. Faculty who have previously received a Zumberge D&I Award as the PI are not eligible to apply; collaborating PIs on previous Zumberge D&I awards are eligible to apply. Applicants may not apply to the Zumberge Individual award program during the same award cycle. See website for more information.  

Deadline: 5 pm, Feb. 22, 2021

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.

The Research in Architecture program is designed to support impactful individual and group-based faculty research and creative work in all of the disciplinary and sub-disciplinary areas represented by the school’s academic programs; to encourage and strengthen our colleagues’ research/creative work activity and foster a community of researchers/scholars/designers across disciplines. The RiA will assist faculty in developing sustained research programs that serve as seed-funding for new ideas. This program also supports faculty whose research field has limited external funding opportunities, in an effort to make external funding proposals more competitive.