We invite proposals for the following internal grant programs:
Find a high-level overview of internal grant programs offered through the Office of Research Development. Your research development specialist (RDS) can provide additional information about these and other funding opportunities to support your work (find your RDS on the Research Development Support Team). Full details and application guidance for internal grant programs currently accepting applications are available via the ORD InfoReady competition portal.
Research and Artistry is an annual internal grant program supporting faculty research, scholarship and artistry activities. Proposals are invited from NIU tenure-track and tenured faculty from all academic areas who have not received Research and Artistry funding for the past five award cycles. The process is competitive and applications are reviewed by a faculty committee.
The Research and Artistry program supports research, scholarship and artistry with clearly articulated goals that support a trajectory toward meaningful contribution, impact and/or visibility in the proposer's field. Proposals should clearly articulate these anticipated results and should articulate strategies for securing ongoing resources and partnerships over time, recognizing current challenges with external funding and with size, scope and source appropriate to the field. Faculty are encouraged to reach out to their ORD research development specialist for assistance in identifying and developing a plan for field-relevant resources and partnerships for their research, scholarship and artistry, including going beyond any traditional sources that are historically or currently limited. Applicants can identify the RDS assigned to their department on the Research Development Support Team webpage or email ord@niu.edu if needed.
Complete details about the Research and Artistry program, eligibility, proposal content and formatting requirements, review criteria and process, award information and contact information for questions are included in the Research and Artistry Guidelines document uploaded to the InfoReady competition space (see the Details section of the competition landing page).
Interested individuals who have trouble accessing the InfoReady portal, or who have questions after reviewing the Research and Artistry guidelines, may email resart@niu.edu for assistance.
Rapid is an internal grant program that offers time-sensitive and bridge funding for tenure-track and tenured NIU faculty whose research, scholarship and creative activities have been interrupted due to shifting external funding landscapes or who otherwise have time-sensitive opportunities to advance their research, scholarly and creative activities. The program intends to assist faculty in being competitive for external funding mechanisms, including as they pivot to new corporate, foundation and governmental opportunities. Awards up to $5,000 will be considered.
Tenure-track and tenured NIU faculty who lack alternate internal funding resources are invited to apply via the InfoReady internal competition portal. Complete information about the Rapid funding opportunity including detailed eligibility criteria, proposal content and formatting requirements, review criteria and process, award information and contact information for questions is provided via the Rapid Guidelines document uploaded to the InfoReady competition space (see the Details section of the competition landing page).
Interested individuals who have trouble accessing the InfoReady portal, or who have questions after reviewing the rapid guidelines may email ord@niu.edu for assistance.
The Office of Research Development (ORD) will provide matching funds to tenured/tenure-track NIU faculty for a scholarly book to be published with a university press in the United States, up to a maximum of $1,000 per book. Matching funds are limited, and applications will be accepted throughout the NIU fiscal year until funds are exhausted. To be eligible for matching funds, applicants must secure funding from other NIU departments and/or external sources. The department chair (or equivalent) and the college dean (or designee) must approve all requests.
The program supports publication of original scholarly books in all disciplines, including authored monographs and edited volumes, to be published by presses in the United States. See the eligibility section in the guidelines for complete details on eligible books.
The subvention grant supports costs for author indexing, editing, copyright permissions, artwork, maps, photographs, and other associated costs paid directly to a publisher as a subvention fee or borne by the author.
Applications must be submitted via the ORD InfoReady internal competition portal.
Please direct questions to ORD at ord@niu.edu and specify "subvention grant" as the subject line.
NIU tenure-track and tenured faculty members are invited to apply for funding for publication of scholarly books.
Complete details including eligibility, proposal content and formatting requirements, application guidance, review criteria and process, award information and contact information for questions are included in the Book Publication Subvention guidelines document uploaded to the InfoReady competition space (see the details section of the competition landing page).
Interested individuals who have trouble accessing the InfoReady portal, or who have questions after reviewing the Book Publication Subvention guidelines may email ord@niu.edu for assistance.
The USGS Internal Grant Program leverages funding recovered under a cooperative agreement with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to support earth sciences research, education and outreach. Proposals addressing relevant topics are invited from NIU tenure-track and tenured faculty, faculty teams and faculty/staff teams. The program is especially interested in projects in the following areas:
Applications are due and awards are made in the spring semester for projects to be completed by the end of the following NIU fiscal year. The process is competitive and applications are reviewed by an internal committee and a representative from USGS.
The USGS internal grant program supports projects with clearly articulated goals that align with the NIU and USGS common interest in earth sciences research, education and outreach and address issues such as emerging or regionally significant contaminants in groundwater and surface water, numerical modeling of groundwater and surface water, application of stable isotope analysis in hydrologic studies, geophysical approaches to hydrologic studies, science communication in underserved communities and developing instrumentation using lowcost, open-source products.
A secondary goal of this funding opportunity is to provide resources for faculty to grow their existing research programs and enhance their foundation for additional external support. Proposals should clearly articulate anticipated results that will significantly enhance the PI's/PI team's research, scholarship or artistry and/or NIU's reputation. To support long-term sustainability, proposals should also articulate how a proposed project will advance over time, including strategies for securing ongoing resources and partnerships after the USGS grant period ends.
Faculty are encouraged to reach out to their ORD research development specialist (RDS) for assistance in identifying and developing a vision for long-term project sustainability including program goals beyond this internal grant, existing and new partnerships and establishing longer-term financial support. (Applicants may identify the RDS assigned to their department via the ORD website, or may submit a consultation request form or email ord@niu.edu to be connected to their development specialist.)
Applications must be submitted via the ORD InfoReady internal competition portal.
Complete details including eligibility, proposal content and formatting requirements, review criteria and process, award information and contact information for questions are included in the USGS grant guidelines document uploaded to the InfoReady competition space (see the details section of the competition landing page).
Interested individuals who have trouble accessing the InfoReady portal, or who have questions after reviewing the USGS grant guidelines may email ord@niu.edu for assistance.
Proposal and overall program contact: resart@niu.edu for questions about proposal requirements including RFP clarifications, opportunity vs. facilitation proposal categories, eligibility requirements, budget restrictions/allowances or other miscellaneous questions.
Technical contact: erahelp@niu.edu for questions about the InfoEd submission portal or troubleshooting assistance. Please reference "research and artistry" in the email subject line.
Post-award management: dcrawford@niu.edu for questions about award management guidance and requirements described in your award letter or other questions specific to a current award.