Big Opportunity Fund (Maryland Catalyst Fund)
The Big Opportunity Fund helps UMD faculty develop proposals for large, high-impact external research grants to boost the university’s research profile.
Funder: University of Maryland
Due Dates: June 20, 2026 (monthly: 20th of each month)
Funding Amounts: Up to $50,000 per award (typically less than $50k); supports proposal prep for external grants ≥ $2M/year.
Summary: Supports UMD faculty in preparing proposals for large, high-profile external research grants to elevate the university’s research impact.
Key Information: Only full-time UMD faculty (tenured/tenure-track or professional track, assistant research scientist or higher) are eligible as PI.
Description
The Big Opportunity Fund (BOF), part of the Maryland Catalyst Fund at the University of Maryland, provides internal support to faculty preparing proposals for major, externally funded research opportunities. The program specifically targets large-scale, high-visibility external grants—typically $2 million or more per year for multiple years—with the aim of increasing UMD’s research volume, impact, and reputation. The BOF is overseen by the Vice President for Research and managed by the Research Development Office in collaboration with academic units and the Provost.
