President’s Interdisciplinary Research Accelerator Challenge
UNLV’s President’s Interdisciplinary Research Accelerator Challenge supports collaborative research teams with expert proposal development to boost competitiveness for major external funding.
Funder: University of Nevada Las Vegas
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2026 (Concept paper) | October 2026 (Finalist pitch) | November 2026 (Concept paper via InfoReady) | January 2027 (Finalist pitch at Symposium)
Funding Amounts: Up to 3 teams receive the equivalent of $20,000 in professional proposal development services (no direct cash award); support administered via contract with McAllister & Quinn.
Summary: Supports interdisciplinary UNLV research teams in developing competitive extramural funding proposals with expert guidance and resources.
Key Information: Open only to teams led by PI-eligible UNLV faculty; award is for professional support, not direct funding.
Description
The President’s Interdisciplinary Research Accelerator Challenge is an internal UNLV competition designed to foster collaborative, interdisciplinary research teams and enhance their competitiveness for external funding. Awardees receive professional proposal development services (valued at $20,000 per team) through a partnership with McAllister & Quinn, a national research development firm, rather than direct funding. The program supports a broad range of project types, including planning, training, research, and center/infrastructure grants, and aims to address the evolving demands of federal and institutional research priorities. The process involves a concept paper submission and, for selected finalists, an in-person pitch at the Interdisciplinary Research Symposium.
