Find Campus Funding Opportunities

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign supports innovative research in a number of ways. Campus funding helps faculty and research staff advance new ideas, complete important preliminary studies to attract external support, and supplement resources available from other sources.

Many of the programs listed below (in alphabetical order) have revolving deadlines. Check individual websites for specific requirements and application criteria.

Current Opportunities

Carle Illinois College of Medicine

Health Make-a-Thon Competition is Open for Idea Submissions
All Illinois residents are invited to submit ideas for improving human health to the second annual Health Make-a-Thon competition. The 10 best ideas will each be supported by $10,000 in resources to create a real prototype of their idea.
Deadline: January 6, 2020

Center for Digital Agriculture

Seed Funding Awards
The Center for Digital Agriculture is a catalyst for collaborative research projects across engineering and agricultural disciplines. Leveraging the strong tradition of team building for large long-term interdisciplinary research and education projects at the University of Illinois, CDA offered a competitive seed-funding program for new collaborative projects spanning two or more of the Center’s initial themes: Automation, Data, Animals and Crops, and People. A second round of seed funding will be awarded next year. Those interested in applying should plan to attend the information meeting on December 6, 2019.
Deadline: January 24, 2020

Center for Social and Behavioral Science

The Small Grant Program
The CSBS's Small Grants Program gives research teams a foundation for research demonstrating promise for external funding. For this funding round, there is a separate call for each one of our focus areas: (1) the Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Digital Revolution, (2) the Social and Behavioral Sciences and Health, and (3) Solving Poverty. Grants will range from $5K to $20K and are available to both faculty and staff at Illinois.
Deadline: Continuous until funds are depleted

Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities

IRPH Summer Faculty Research Fellowships
IPRH’s Summer Faculty Research Fellowships are designed to help faculty at Illinois maximize the summer for research in service of their ongoing professional development. They provide an infusion of resources designed to jumpstart or fuel an ongoing research project over the summer months. Four fellows will be chosen by an ad hoc committee organized by the IPRH Director. Two will be awarded to specialized faculty and two to tenure-line faculty. All applicants must be PhD holders and have written EO approval to apply.
Deadline: February 15, 2020

Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment

2020 Levenick Teaching Fellowship
The Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment is announcing an exciting fellowship opportunity for faculty and instructors. The 2020 Levenick Teaching Fellowship provides funding for Illinois instructors to integrate sustainability components into existing courses ($1,000) or develop a new course with a sustainability focus ($2,000).
Deadline: January 31, 2020

Technology Entrepreneur Center

Illinois Innovation Prize Nomination
The Illinois Innovation Prize for $20,000 is awarded annually to a University of Illinois student working toward innovative solutions that could have a positive societal impact. Students must be nominated by a faculty member, community member, mentor, or advisor and be on-campus during 2019-20 academic year.
Deadline: January 27, 2020