Portals of Discovery Collaborative Research and Curricular Innovations Grants
Request for Proposals
UW-System Portals of Discovery Collaborative Research and Curricular Innovations Grants
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We are seeking applications for the Portals of Discovery Collaborative Research and Curricular Innovations
Grants to support new undergraduate STEM research initiatives between eligible collaborative teams of UW
Colleges and UW-baccalaureate faculty. Funded projects will focus on development of undergraduate
research collaborations between a 2 –year (UW Colleges) campus and 4-year UW baccalaureate institution,
and will develop ties with local high schools during the course of the funding period.
The collaborative research grants are part of the larger, NSF-funded Portals of Discovery initiative which
seeks to increase number of STEM graduates in the State of Wisconsin through collaborative research and
mentoring experiences which will 1) recruit new populations of STEM students, 2) retain new and existing
STEM students during the crucial early stages of their education, and 3) see those students through to the
completion of their baccalaureate degrees. Funded proposals will be one small component of the larger
project. This RFP allows for a great deal of flexibility in program design so that each new team of
collaborators can design the proposal to meet their current strengths and project needs. Funding new
teams in this manner will allow the model of collaborative research to be disseminated throughout the UW
System.
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Award and Eligibility Information:
Collaborative teams of faculty from a UW Colleges campus and a UW- four-year institution are eligible to
submit an application for a $7300 seed grant. Teams must consist of faculty from a UW Colleges campus and
a UW- four-year institution. This award must directly support undergraduate student research in STEM
areas, however specific budget structure is highly flexible. We encourage the use of some award funds to
support faculty and student stipends, equipment and supply needs, and/or other needs as determined by
the proposing team. No less than $500 of each award must be allocated to the specifically for the purpose
of developing collaborations with high school partners to engage their students. Prior recipients are
welcome to reapply for funds to expand successful projects.
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Application and Submission Details:
We can fund approximately 6 projects at full funding status per year. Projects will be reviewed based on a
rolling application deadline until all projects are funded. A short application should be sent by email to
Rebecca Abler (rebecca.abler@uwc.edu) adhering to the following format guidelines:
A. PI and campus information
Identify the PI at each institution (2 year and 4 year) with full contact information (campus address,
phone number, email)
B. Narrative
1. Project Summary
Include a 200-word project summary. Briefly explain why your collaboration team is requesting this grant,
what outcomes you hope to achieve, and how your efforts will lead to an increase in the number of new
STEM graduates in the State of Wisconsin.
2. Project Description
Include a statement of purpose, project background, and describe the role of each collaborator. Proposals
should specifically describe the extent of undergraduate student involvement and indicate how high school
students and faculty will eventually be involved in these research and/or curricular initiatives. The
narrative should also provide a rationale for how your project will lead to an increase in the number of new
STEM graduates. Project description should be limited to three pages maximum.
3. Evaluation
Submit a brief statement describing how you plan to document the number of STEM students affected by
program activities, including any increases in new STEM populations. Include in your statement how
success will be defined and measured, how evaluation results will be used and/or disseminated and how
the project will be continued beyond the end of the initial funding cycle. You will be required to submit a
short end-of-year report, including this data, which will be incorporated into our mandatory annual report
to NSF.
4. Budget Narrative/Justification
Describe how the collaboration team will use the $7300 award. Include a description of how the award will
support undergraduate STEM students and how the $500 component will be used to foster high school
involvement. Keep in mind that a variety of budget requests are fundable, and creative collaborations are
encouraged, as long as reasonable justification is made.
5. Attachments
Supplementary information may be included here, but is not required. Letters of support should only be
included if they document active involvement of individuals other than the project PIs and/or provide
evidence to the sustainability of the project beyond the initial funding period.
C. Portals of Discovery Online Researcher Database
All applicants are required to register on the “Portals of Discover Online Researcher Database,” and include
a brief description of relevant research projects and interests. Instructions to access the Database and
share information will be forthcoming to all applicants.