The Office of Research and Innovation funds many seed grant initiatives. While each program is designed to support different opportunities, they all share the goal of growing the quality and quantity of research at UT Dallas. Below you will find brief summaries of each seed program. Follow the links for full program details including eligibility requirements and expenditure guidelines. For further information, please contact Emily Lacy.
View the Internal Funding Webinar to learn details about each program.
Office of Research and Innovation (OoRI) Reviewer
The Office of Research and Innovation (OoRI) seeks reviewers to serve a one-year term – beginning January 2026 – as a reviewer of internal funding and limited submission competitions. Selected reviewers will assess internal OoRI applicants and provide a numerical ranking based on pre-determined criteria using the OAR portal. Limited submission competitions are held throughout the year and are dependent on agency funding opportunities.
Lyda Hill Biomedical Innovation Fund
The Lyda Hill Biomedical Innovation Fund is designed to stimulate collaborative bioengineering research and drive high-impact translation by UT Dallas and UT Southwestern researchers and clinicians. Funded by Lyda Hill Philanthropies, this award opportunity aims to accelerate the work of joint-institutional research teams who demonstrate robust potential to rapidly translate and commercialize their work, with an ultimate goal of advancing the pipeline of promising and commercially viable scientific breakthroughs to improve health.
New Faculty Research Symposium Grant
The UT Dallas New Faculty Research Symposium Grant is an internal funding mechanism designed to stimulate interdisciplinary research collaborations between newly hired (start date after January 2023) UT Dallas faculty and established (those hired prior to January 2023) UT Dallas faculty. Successful proposals will include at least two faculty members serving as PIs from different UT Dallas departments, programs, or schools. PIs who accept a UT Dallas New Faculty Research Symposium Grant commit to the pursuit of external funding for the collaborative effort within 12 months of receiving the New Faculty Research Symposium Grant funding.
Humanities and Emerging Arts (HEArts) Grant
The UT Dallas Humanities and Emerging Arts (HEArts) Grant Competition is an internal funding mechanism designed to promote scholarly activities in the form of research, outreach, and/or creative activities in all disciplines that will result in publications, recognition, awards, or exhibitions/performances. This program is well-suited to support the endeavors of those faculty with school affiliations that are outside of STEM.
Social Sciences Grant
The UT Dallas Social Sciences Grant program is an internal funding mechanism designed to collect preliminary data that will lead to external funding. This program is well-suited to support the endeavors of those faculty from the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, although there is no explicit limitation for faculty affiliations.
Seed Program for Interdisciplinary Research (SPIRe)
The UT Dallas Seed Program for Interdisciplinary Research (SPIRe) program is an internal funding mechanism designed to stimulate interdisciplinary research collaborations that will lead to external funding. Successful proposals will include faculty members serving as PIs from different UT Dallas departments, programs or schools. This program is well-suited to support the endeavors of those faculty with STEM backgrounds and project interests, although there is no limitation for faculty affiliations.
R.O.A.D. to D.C. Program
The R.O.A.D. to D.C. initiative was created by the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) to provide faculty the platform to build and cultivate relationships with program managers from agencies such as National Institute of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and other D.C. area agencies in an effort to enhance research funding.
Lynda Calkin Fellowship Award
The purpose of the Lynda Calkin Fellowship Award (LCFA) is to encourage and enhance graduate student research activities in the fields of psychology or social issues related to children and families. This program recognizes and supports outstanding students who are pursuing a doctoral degree in psychology or social issues offered at UT Dallas and are under the mentorship of one or more UT Dallas faculty members. The faculty mentor must agree to provide mentorship to the prospective Fellow before an application is accepted as complete.
Grant Proposal Editing/Writing Resources
The Office of Research and Innovation offers grant proposal editing/writing resources to help prepare competitive proposals. The Grant Writer resources will assist faculty in the development of small and large proposals across multiple agencies. The Office of Research and Innovation will cover the expenses associated with editor support.
We have a variety of Grant Proposal editors available with a track record of success in supporting faculty from other institutions. If any faculty member would like to take advantage of this opportunity, contact Emily Lacy to make arrangements.
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