One-year research projects: Seed Grant Research Competition/Funding Opportunity
Forecasted
One-year research projects: Seed Grant Research Competition/Funding Opportunity supports researchers collecting pilot data on southern Lake Michigan to build a foundation for larger research proposals.
Funder: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Due Dates (Anticipated): August 2027 (Full proposals)
Funding Amounts: $10,000–$50,000 per project for one year; $150,000 total anticipated funding
Summary: Supports pilot data collection and initial investigations relevant to southern Lake Michigan as a foundation for larger research proposals.
Key Information: Applicants must provide non-federal matching funds equal to 50% of requested IISG funding.
Description
The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program (IISG), with funding from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, supports one-year seed research projects that generate pilot data or pursue initial investigations. The goal is to establish a foundation for a larger, future proposal to another funding agency. Projects should focus on southern Lake Michigan and support IISG’s 2024–27 Strategic Plan.
The competition accepts work addressing any strategic-plan goal, with particular interest in enhanced sensing and monitoring capabilities, winter processes and biological activity, and nearshore habitats. Illinois- and Indiana-based researchers are prioritized, but researchers from other states may apply when their work benefits IISG’s mission or meets its research priorities. Applicants from all disciplines are encouraged, including early-career scientists and researchers partnering with or mentoring them.
