The Joy of Discovery Seed Grant Program
Forecasted
The Joy of Discovery Seed Grant Program from University of Missouri CAFNR funds early-stage interdisciplinary research to help faculty generate data for competitive federal grant proposals.
Funder: University of Missouri CAFNR
Due Dates (Anticipated): April 2027 (Full proposal deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to $20,000 for Phase 1 (max 2 years); up to $10,000 additional for Phase 2 (1 year). 8–10 awards per year.
Summary: Supports CAFNR faculty in interdisciplinary research to generate preliminary data for competitive federal grant proposals.
Key Information: Only CAFNR ranked faculty may serve as lead PI; one active project per PI at a time.
Description
The Joy of Discovery Seed Grant Program is an internal funding opportunity from the University of Missouri College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR). Its mission is to catalyze innovative, interdisciplinary research among CAFNR faculty by providing seed funding for early-stage projects. The program is designed to help researchers generate the preliminary data needed to develop competitive proposals for major federal agencies, including USDA NIFA AFRI, NSF, NIH, and DOE. Since its launch in 2021, the program has enabled faculty to secure significant external funding and advance the college’s strategic research priorities.
