Meta Description: Discover Penn State Commonwealth Campuses’ new seed funding programs designed to enhance faculty research support, mentorship, and undergraduate opportunities. Learn how these initiatives can elevate your academic endeavors.
Enhancing Faculty Research Support at Penn State
Penn State University is taking significant strides to bolster academic research through its latest initiative targeting faculty at the Commonwealth Campuses. The Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses (OVPCC) has unveiled four new seed funding programs aimed at strengthening research capacity, fostering mentorship, and expanding opportunities for undergraduate students. This comprehensive support system underscores Penn State’s commitment to advancing scholarly excellence and innovation across its campuses.
New Seed Funding Programs
Excellence in Interdisciplinary Research
This program offers planning grants of up to $8,000 to support interdisciplinary research development. Faculty members can utilize the funds for pilot studies, preliminary data collection, research-related travel, and other activities that enhance proposals for external sponsors. The emphasis on multidisciplinary collaboration encourages researchers to work alongside colleagues from various departments, both within their campus and across other Commonwealth campuses, University Park, Penn State Research Institutes, and the College of Medicine.
Research Mentorship
Tailored for early-career tenure-line or teaching faculty within their first four years of appointment, the Research Mentorship program pairs assistant professors with senior faculty mentors. This collaboration aims to develop a three-year research career plan and prepare competitive external funding proposals. Grants of up to $3,000 are available to support both the mentee and mentor, fostering a robust support system that enhances the likelihood of securing external funding.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
Recognizing the importance of involving undergraduate students in research, the REU program provides support for faculty-led research projects involving students. The funding covers student wages, fringe benefits, and travel expenses for presenting findings at the 2026 Undergraduate Exhibition at University Park. There are two tracks available:
- Federal Work-Study (FWS) Track: Offers up to $6,000 in funding, jointly supported by OVPCC and the FWS program, to support up to three eligible students.
- Regular REU Track: Provides up to $2,000 for projects involving at least two undergraduate researchers.
Internal Mock Review
To ensure the competitiveness of grant proposals, the Internal Mock Review program offers faculty the opportunity to receive feedback from experienced grant recipients. Tenured faculty with current or prior experience in managing sponsored research funding act as mock reviewers. Each review comes with a $200 incentive for the reviewers, and faculty members can request up to two reviews per proposal through the fiscal year 2026.
Impact on Faculty and Students
Renata Engel, interim vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor, emphasized the importance of these programs:
“Investing in faculty research at the Commonwealth Campuses strengthens discovery, fosters collaboration, and creates valuable opportunities for students. These programs are an important step in supporting faculty success and expanding the impact of their work.”
By providing targeted funding and support, Penn State is not only enhancing the research capabilities of its faculty but also enriching the educational experiences of its undergraduate students. These initiatives are poised to cultivate a vibrant academic environment where innovation and collaboration thrive.
Preparing for External Funding
One of the primary goals of these seed funding programs is to prepare faculty for securing external funding. By offering resources for preliminary research and mentorship, Penn State ensures that its faculty are well-equipped to develop competitive proposals aligned with federal research priorities. This strategic approach not only benefits individual researchers but also contributes to the broader research landscape at Penn State.
Get Started Today
Are you ready to take your research to the next level? Explore the new seed funding opportunities at Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses and discover how these programs can support your academic and scholarly goals.
