Every $100 invested by IDS through internal grants to faculty-student teams generated $338 in external follow-on grant funding between 2018-2024.
In 2026, IDS will award three to four grants of up to $15,000 each. In addition, we are offering joint funding opportunities with the following partners:
- Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing & Engineering Innovation: One grant of up to $25,000 for a team with at least one faculty member from both nursing and engineering.
- NEW! — College of Humanities and Fine Arts (HFA): One grant of up to $25,000 for a team with at least one HFA faculty member and one faculty member from another UMass school or college.
Deadline: February 2, 2026
Request for Proposals
Application Form
Recently Funded Teams
Education Embodied: Measuring Student Engagement Through Physiology
Education Embodied: Measuring Student Engagement Through Physiology
Power, Heat, and Health: Rethinking Community Safety During Outages
Power, Heat, and Health: Rethinking Community Safety During Outages
With Colleges at a Crossroads, What Do Americans Want from Higher Education?
With Colleges at a Crossroads, What Do Americans Want from Higher Education?
Designing A Robotic Guide Dog for Inclusive Tourism
Designing A Robotic Guide Dog for Inclusive Tourism
Past Recipients
IDS has been awarding seed grants to STEM research teams focused on social issues since 2018. In total there have been 29 teams funded, more information on each project can be found below.
2023 Recipient
“The IDS grant gave me the flexibility to try a new project and get some ideas for larger grant proposals in the future. It has been invaluable as a new faculty trying to make connections and form collaborations.”
2022 Recipient
“I appreciated the support to keep this project going in a moment when I really had no funding for it. I also appreciate very much the support and guidance of Buju Dasgupta."
2019 Recipient
“The funding was a wonderful opportunity to develop these ideas and collaborators with faculty across campus.”