Large-Scale Integrative Research Awards (LIRA)

The Provost and the Vice Chancellor for Research & Engagement, in coordination with the Chancellor, have established the Large-Scale Interdisciplinary Research Awards (LIRA) program. LIRA will offer seed funds totaling up to $400,000 to support integrated team efforts to develop large-scale initiatives. The goal of this program is to empower creativity; to promote equitable collaborations, especially those that foster diversity, equity, and inclusion; and to attract substantial external funding. Preference will be given to projects that address large-scale societal problems, with potential for significant impact. The program will provide professional cohort-based training to awarded teams on integrative teaming, equitable collaboration, and budget planning, and research development support for ideation and proposal development. LIRA topic areas should be well aligned with campus strengths, including, but not limited to, strategic emphasis areas, such as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Sustainability; Healthy Aging; Society and Technology; and Data Science. The Provost and VCRE will soon announce another seed funding opportunity – the Interdisciplinary Faculty Research Awards (IFRA). IFRA will focus on these same areas of emphasis, but will target faculty teams at the earliest stages of collaboration who may not be targeting external funding.

Request for Proposals (RFP) - PDF

Due date for LIRA applications is May 8, 2023 at 5:00 pm.

The LIRA program has two tracks:

• Track 1 - Integrative Team Development awards up to $30,000. Track 1 supports the development of integrated team research, often spanning multiple disciplines, leading to proposals for significant extramural funding of $1 million per year or more for at least 3 years. Track 1 awards will support integrative team development and may support research to demonstrate the viability of the concept.
• Track 2 - Center Development awards up to $60,000. Track 2 supports the advancement of integrated teams, often spanning multiple disciplines, with a vision for a large, center-level grant proposal leading to external funding of $3 million per year or more for at least 5 years. Track 2 awards will support teams with pre-existing collaborations among participants.

Info Session: The Office of Research Development will hold a virtual LIRA informational workshop on April 11, 2023, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. for potential teams to help them determine their level of team readiness and provide guidance on writing a successful application to the LIRA program. Register here.