MSU Internal Funding Opportunities
Internal Grants
The Grant Proposal System is used for submitting proposals for research funding programs administered by the Office for Research & Innovation. These programs are funded through the generosity of the MSU Foundation.
Visit the FAQ page for commonly asked questions on the Grant Proposal System.
Discretionary Funding Initiative (DFI)
The DFI program provides bridge funds for tenure-stream faculty for additional studies needed for resubmission of a grant application to the same funding agency.
To request funding from this program, faculty should submit a proposal via the grant proposal system. Applicants will be expected to provide copies of their previous external reviews, if applicable, and describe the work that will be completed to address the comments provided in those documents. The research associate dean of the applicant's college (lead college if appointed in multiple colleges) will review applications and submit a prioritized list to the Office of Research & Innovation (OR&I). Requests for support approved by the research associate deans will be reviewed by the OR&I.
- The maximum award amount from the OR&I will be $25K and will require a 100% (up to $25K) match from units or colleges.
- Funds are made available for 18 months.
- The PIs will be required to submit a KC summary proposal for the DFI application.
- Reports will be required at the end of the project period.
Please note: The call for proposals for HARP-Development, HARP-Production, DFI, and SPG pre-proposals has been delayed. We do anticipate holding competitions for all of these programs this year. Please watch the grants calendars below for updated timelines.
2020-2021 DFI Schedule
- DFI Session I RFA – October 2, 2020
- DFI Session I Application Deadline - October 29, 2020
- DFI Session I Funding Announcement - December 23, 2020
- DFI Session II RFA – February 5, 2021
- DFI Session II Applications Deadline - March 11, 2021
- DFI Session II Funding Announcements - April 29, 2021
Humanities and Arts Research Program (HARP)
HARP Development
Provides funds to support faculty who are conducting important research leading to creative and performance projects or activities in the arts and humanities. This limited funding is designed to support faculty in the development of projects that seem likely to enhance the reputation of the faculty member and the university.
HARP Production
Provides funds, when research is complete, to help subsidize the costs of book publication, permissions to use copyrighted materials, CD recording and production, the creation and mounting of exhibits, and other expenses associated with producing the results of a complete creative or research project.
Please note: The call for proposals for HARP-Development, HARP-Production, DFI, and SPG pre-proposals has been delayed. We do anticipate holding competitions for all of these programs this year. Please watch the grants calendars below for updated timelines.
2020-2021 HARP Schedule
- Production Session I RFA – October 2, 2020
- Development RFA – October 2, 2020
- Production Session I Deadline - October 29, 2020
- Development Deadline - November 19, 2020
- Production Session I Funding Announcement - December 23, 2020
- Production Session II RFA – January 13, 2021
- Production Session II Deadline - February 11, 2021
- Development Funding Announcement - April 2, 2021
- Production Session II Funding Announcement - April 7, 2021
Strategic Partnership Grants (SPG)
The SPG program provides funding for major projects in key areas of research, scholarship and creative activities.
Michigan State University recognizes the value of supporting and nurturing faculty engaging in leading-edge research and scholarship initiatives. These initiatives must be of a caliber that positions the faculty to compete for significant external funding, including the development of research ideas with significant commercial potential, and to raise the stature of the university. Some of these initiatives may have strong potential to develop into a center or institute-level research program.
Please note: The call for proposals for HARP-Development, HARP-Production, DFI, and SPG pre-proposals has been delayed. We do anticipate holding competitions for all of these programs this year. Please watch the grants calendars below for updated timelines.
2020-2021 SPG Schedule
- SPG Pre-Proposal RFA – October 7, 2020
- SPG Pre-Proposal Deadline - October 29, 2020
- Invitations to submit SPG full proposals - January 11, 2021
- SPG Full Proposal Deadline - February 25, 2021
- SPG Announcement of Proposals Presented to the MSU Foundation - May 6, 2021
Other MSU Funding Opportunities
Center for Business and Social Analytics
Michigan State University Center for Business and Social Analytics requests proposals for “Innovations in Business and Social Analytics,” to provide start-up and bridging funds for multi-college research teams that are using innovative methods to tackle grand challenges in the social world.
International Studies and Programs (ISP)
ISP provides a number of opportunities for faculty including travel funding, project funding, and Fulbright Programs. ISP also offers student funding through a wide array of travel grants and scholarships.
Molecular Discovery Grants
MSU Drug Discovery will be accepting applications for the next round of Molecular Discovery Grants (MDG) due November 20, 2020. The RFA with instructions for applying and the template to be completed are posted on the group's website.
The MSU Drug Discovery staff will hold an information session (date TBD) to discuss the MDG process and answer any questions - watch for an upcoming announcement. Until then, please view the website for updates, a list of previous awardees, and more information about MSU Drug Discovery.
Pilot Funding for Clinical and/or Translational Research
The MSU Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute offers Pilot Funding for Clinical and/or Translational Research. Please review the criteria for funding and the process of submitting a proposal.
Science and Society @ State
The S3 (Science and Society @ State) Interdisciplinary Seed Grant supports new or emerging interdisciplinary collaborations between MSU’s science studies scholars (sociologists/historians/anthropologists/artists/etc. who study science) and STEM/health scholars. These interdisciplinary seed grants help create opportunities for collaborative research projects between the scholars working within a scientific/medical field, and the humanists, artists or social scientists who study that field.
Next deadline for applications: TBD
Trifecta Initiative Facilitating Funds (TIFF)
Trifecta offers up to $8,000 ($10,000 in some cases) for interdisciplinary teams of MSU faculty. The PI must be from one of the Trifecta colleges (MSU's College of Nursing, College of Engineering, and College of Communication Arts & Sciences) and the team must include a member from a different Trifecta Initiative college.
If your unit offers internal funding for MSU faculty research and creative activities, please contact research@msu.edu, so that grant opportunities and application deadlines can be posted.