Limited Submission Funding Opportunities
CU Boulder’s Limited Submission Funding Opportunities select one nominee for the Schmidt Science Polymaths award, supporting bold, interdisciplinary research by accomplished faculty.
Funder: University of Colorado Boulder
Due Dates: July 13, 2026 (CU Boulder internal deadline) | August 10, 2026 (External sponsor deadline)
Funding Amounts: Typically $500,000/year for up to 5 years (total $2.5M); one award per institution per year.
Summary: Internal competition to select a CU Boulder nominee for the Schmidt Science Polymaths award, supporting high-risk, high-reward research by established faculty.
Key Information: Only one applicant may be nominated from CU Boulder; strong internal vetting required.
Description
The Schmidt Science Polymaths program is a prestigious, limited submission opportunity coordinated by CU Boulder’s Research & Innovation Office (RIO). It is designed to support established, mid-career faculty who are recognized for their scientific excellence and who propose bold, high-impact research directions that cross disciplinary boundaries. Through an internal competition, CU Boulder selects a single nominee to advance to the external sponsor for the national competition. The program seeks to empower researchers to pursue transformative, unconventional projects that may not fit traditional funding mechanisms.
