Smoke- and Vape-free Scholars Initiative (SVFSI)
Smoke- and Vape-free Scholars Initiative (SVFSI) supports CSU and community college students through mentored tobacco research, advocacy, and education to build researchers and reduce commercial tobacco’s harms.
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Funder: University of California - Office of The President
Due Dates: August 20, 2026 (Letter of Intent) | October 29, 2026 (Full application)
Funding Amounts: Up to $1,150,000 in total direct costs over four years
Summary: Supports institutional partnerships providing mentored tobacco-related research, advocacy, and educational experiences for CSU/CCC students.
Key Information: Requires a CSU/CCC partner and a California doctorate-granting research institution, with an accepted Letter of Intent.
Description
The Smoke- and Vape-Free Scholars Initiative (SVFSI), administered by the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP), develops a pipeline of tobacco control researchers and advocates. Program Awards support California State Universities and California Community Colleges partnering with California doctorate-granting institutions to administer mentorship and training for undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and master’s-level students, particularly those from tobacco priority populations.
Programs combine mentored tobacco-related research internships with local tobacco control or advocacy projects, educational activities, and career guidance. Research training can include laboratory, environmental, social, economic, policy, historical, and literature-based work. Each program uses a theme relevant to tobacco control issues affecting one or more priority populations. The initiative aims to build students’ research capacity, enthusiasm, and persistence while helping communities reduce commercial tobacco’s harms.
