The Saint Louis University Research Institute has several internal award programs designed to foster research and scholarly activities, stimulate the quest for external support, and promote SLU as an excellent teaching and research institution.
Review our internal awards requests for proposals to learn about the process for submitting applications and criteria for evaluating internal proposals. If an internal proposal deadline falls on a weekend, the deadline will always be the following business day at 5 p.m.
Health Research Grant Program
The Health Research Grant Program is intended to encourage collaborative groups of interdisciplinary researchers across at least two or more academic units to conceptualize a larger future grant application for external funding. New working relationships are encouraged. Applications for pilot projects should include a tentative plan for a future structured grant and clearly describe how the seed money will support the future grant application.
Awards are based on a competitive review process in which reviewers consider an application on the merits of the specific activities proposed, relative ranking among other applications, and the availability of funds. Proposals must demonstrate exceptional merit and value for the field of study, the individual, the department, the college or school and the University's research mission. Preference may be given to new interdisciplinary collaborations.
- Health Research Grant Program Request for Proposals (PDF)
- Log in to myslu.slu.edu and click the OpenWater icon in the ‘My Apps’ tab. Log in with your current SLU email address (i.e., first.last@slu.edu) and your password. You will be asked to set up your profile when you log in.
- Deadline: January 16, 2024
- Contact: david.borgmeyer@slu.edu
Beaumont Scholarship Research Award
Several other changes in this year's competition include a wider scope, increased funding and a longer performance period. The program is intended to encourage faculty researchers working in the arts, humanities, and social sciences to further and complete scholarly research projects and to conceptualize and prepare for applications for external funding.
- Beaumont Request for Proposals (PDF)
- Applications should be submitted via the OpenWater portal. Log in to myslu.slu.edu and click the OpenWater icon in the ‘My Apps’ tab. Log in with your current SLU email address (i.e., first.last@slu.edu) and your password. You will be asked to set up your profile when you log in.
- Deadline: January 16, 2024
- Contact: david.borgmeyer@slu.edu
President’s Research Fund
The President’s Research Fund supports promising projects with strong potential to attract external funding. These funds have been available since 2009 to support research and scholarly activity. PRF awards support data collection or other pilot activities that the awardee will use as the basis for extramural grant or contract applications. The PRF funds can be used for seed funding for a project, bridge funding or development of a new collaboration or area of research.
The President’s Research Fund has two programs, one for medical school faculty appointments and one for non-medical faculty appointments. Please see the links below:
- Current Request for Proposals - Non-Medical School (PDF)
- Current Request for Proposals - Medical School (PDF)
- Log in to myslu.slu.edu and click the OpenWater icon in the ‘My Apps’ tab. Log in with your current SLU email address (i.e., first.last@slu.edu) and your password. You will be asked to set up your profile when you log in.
- Deadline: January 16, 2024
- Contact for non-medical school applicants: david.borgmeyer@slu.edu
- Contact for medical school applicants: Sandra Cornell, sandra.cornell@health.slu.edu
Ongoing/Rolling Funding Opportunities
Scholarship Opportunity Fund
The Scholarship Research Council (SRC) seeks to support small-budget research needs in the humanities, social sciences, and other fields represented in the SRC that are not readily funded by existing mechanisms but that can pose a significant impediment to research productivity and advancement.
To address this funding need, the SRC has created the Scholarship Opportunity Fund (SOF), supported by the Research Growth Fund. This aligns effectively with the goals of the SLU Research Institute and the Research Growth Fund by leveraging small investments for high-return gains and helping SLU researchers in the humanities, social sciences, and beyond to sustain and complete their research projects.
The maximum award is $5,000. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as long as funds are available, and decisions are returned within approximately one month. Awards must be spent within one year, and a report must be submitted on completion. More details can be found in the SOF guidelines.
Spark Microgrants
The request for Spark microgrants is currently closed and we are not accepting applications. Please check back for future updates.
The Research Institute recognizes the importance of flexible funding to help stimulate ambitious ideas and help faculty find collaborators across the University. To support faculty research, the institute will make small grants of up to $1,000 available to support faculty who wish to convene possible collaborators outside of their primary disciplinary area. A higher funding limit of $2,500 is available for collaborative projects involving SLU - St. Louis and SLU - Madrid faculty.
Applications are submitted on a rolling basis and the Office of the Vice President for Research will review applications weekly. Projects need to be completed within three months of approval. If you need additional information or wish to test the idea, contact David Borgmeyer, director of research development, at david.borgmeyer@slu.edu.