HHS OFFice of Research

These are competitive internal research grants for which all full-time HHS faculty may apply; this includes tenured and tenure track faculty. Also, AP faculty whose positions require external research funding may apply. These awards are for projects showing strong potential for leading to subsequent external funding. Awards are up to $5,000 for individual investigator awards and up to $10,000 for collaborative projects from April 2027 through August 2028; collaborative efforts are encouraged. A top-off funding component can be added to the current year’s Faculty Research Grant, and the application for this top-off funding is part of the overall HHS 2027 Faculty Research Grant application.

Applications are due January 19, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. The Guidelines, HHS 2027 Faculty Research Grants, Expanded (PDF), the application, and supporting materials are available through the InfoReady Review platform.

The HHS Office of Research and UNCG Division of Research and Engagement (DORE) provide competitive internal research grants for which many individuals may apply. HHS Faculty Research Grants and DORE New and Regular Faculty Grants have been capped at $5,000 (single investigator) or $10,000 (multiple investigators) for some time, and the DORE P2 Grants are capped at $6,000 in year 1, $6,000 in year 2, and $4,000 in year 3. The inaugural DORE Interdisciplinary Collaborative Project Grant is capped at $25,000. Many types of research are costly, and costs have generally increased over time.

Thus, the purpose of this Top-Off Funding Program is to allow full-time faculty to request additional funds to further enhance the quality or quantity of data they are able to collect/analyze in an effort to support projects that generate compelling data that will increase the likelihood of external funding and publications. HHS Faculty may apply for this supplemental funding if they have active funding from: 1) a spring 2025 or spring 2026 HHS Faculty Research Grant; 2) a fall 2024, fall 2025, or fall 2026 DORE New or Regular Faculty Grant; or 3) any DORE P2 Grant; or 4) the DORE $25,000 Interdisciplinary Collaborative Project Grant.

HHS full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty and AP faculty whose positions require external research funding can apply. These funds are primarily for projects showing strong potential for leading to subsequent external funding. Funds may not exceed the initial award amount; available funds are limited, so requests should be limited to essential costs and must primarily be expended within the fiscal year (i.e., by May 24, 2027). Applications are due January 19, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. The Guidelines, HHS 2027 Research Grant Top-Off Program, Expanded (PDF), the application, and supporting materials are available through the InfoReady Review platform.

Scholars’ Travel Fund (STF) provide full-time HHS faculty members, both AP and tenure track, with supplemental travel funds to support presentation of their research, scholarship, or creative activity; to serve as chairpersons; to participate as panelists; or to contribute in other appropriate manners at scholarly meetings in the USA, Mexico, or Canada. The principal aim of the Scholars’ Travel Fund is to promote research and scholarship. Faculty can apply for up to $750 per academic year (with a $375 match); if travel expenses are less than $1,125 ($750 + $375), the traveler will need to match the prorated portion.

To be considered for the STF, HHS faculty must submit their application to Lisa Walker, HHS Assistant Dean for Research Finance and Operations, at lbwalke2@uncg.edu. Please Note: Applications from HHS faculty are no longer submitted to Barbara Hemphill in DORE.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis but must be received in advance of travel. All applications must be complete for consideration and must include a minimum $375 match. Departmental signature is required regardless of matching source. Please review the Scholars-Travel-Fund-Guidelines, 2026-2027 (docx) for complete fund details. Scholars Travel Fund Application, 2026-2027 (docx)

Funding for research-related international travel outside of North America is available at the university level, although it is limited in that faculty members are ineligible to receive funding for more than one trip in a single year or more than two years in a row and in the event of a co-authored presentation, only one author may receive funding. Furthermore, given the cost of international travel, the overall amount of available funding is relatively low. This mechanism is intended to supplement ITF travel when full-time HHS faculty are eligible and to provide some funding for full-time HHS faculty when they are ineligible for ITF funding for one of the reasons noted above. There are no restrictions on US/domestic travel; however, international travel must be approved through the UNCG Global Engagement Office.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis but must be received in advance of travel. To apply for this funding, we accept the UNCG Global Engagement Office’s ITF application rather than requiring a separate application. Along with your ITF application, please attach your official invitation/acceptance to the conference and, if applicable,a description of the activity including your responsibilities and official documentation of your participation. Please submit your ITF application and accompanying documents to Lisa Walker at lbwalke2@uncg.edu.

The HHS Summer Grant Writing Fellows Program supports full-time faculty in their efforts to submit strong grant proposals.  Fellows must identify a mentor, attend a series of summer workshops, and agree to submitting a grant within the following year. Upon approval by the Provost, the selected fellows may be awarded $4,000, and an additional $1,000 may be awarded upon grant submission if submitted by June 30, 2028; mentors may receive $500, upon Provost approval, if the grant is successfully submitted within the deadline. Any approved award payments will be made in the summer. We anticipate selecting 5 faculty fellows this year. Planned proposals that are new submissions and re-submissions will be considered.

The HHS 2027 Summer Grant Writing Fellows Program Guidelines (PDF) and application process are available through the InfoReady Review platform.

Applications for summer 2027 are due February 22, 2027 by 5:00 p.m.

Currently, much University-related funding for workshops, training programs, short courses, meetings, conferences, and for travel is for presenting completed research at these events. Unmet needs include: (1) travel and/or registration fees to attend in-person or virtual research-related workshops, training programs, short courses, etc.; (2) expenses to coordinate in-person or virtual meetings with grant officers related to specific funding opportunities at agencies and organizations such as National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Institute for Education Sciences, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Ford Foundation, etc.; (3) expenses to arrange in-person or virtual meetings with consultants or off-site mentors who may facilitate ongoing or planned research projects or grant proposals; and (4) unforeseen research expenses such as needing to contract out specialized research-related activities when it may not make sense for faculty or other personnel to conduct the tasks (e.g., transcription services) or they do not have the needed skills (e.g., translating questionnaires or interviews, technical services such as building web-based platforms.) These are intended to be examples, not an exhaustive list.  Faculty should reach out if they have other needs related to research expertise and wish to discuss possible sources of funding. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through March 22, 2027 ; the majority of funds must be expended by May 24, 2027. HHS Research-Related Training, Consultation, or Specialized Research Services Application, 2026-2027 (PDF)

This mechanism supports expenses related to forging strong collaborative relations that will lead to externally funded research. It takes time and multiple opportunities to connect and forge strong collaborative relationships with (a) community partners (e.g., local agencies), (b) potential funders (e.g., Cone Health Foundation, The Community Foundation, Guilford Green Foundation, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, national Foundations, etc.), or (c) potential research collaborators. The purpose of these funds is to support activities or events to forge these connections. Examples of ways in which such funds might be used include hosting in-person or virtual meetings that involve community engaged scholars, their community partners, and local funders focused on high priority funding areas and tips on how to successfully apply for grants/contracts from their organizations. Funds could also support meetings among new groups who plan to seek external funding. These examples are illustrative, not exhaustive.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through March 22, 2027; the majority of funds must be expended by and May 24, 2027. HHS Funding to Build Collaborations, 2026-2027 (docx)

To support faculty scholarship and sponsored research activities, the HHS Office of Research will contract with Research Velocity Collaborative to facilitate Grant Chase and Paper Chase opportunities twice each year, during December and summer. Each Grant/Paper Chase is a facilitated 3-day event which involves full participation from all team members with shared writing assignments and collaborative, live editing; the goal is a near-finished product at the end of the third day. These programs provide dedicated time, support, and momentum to help move a team’s work toward submission and success. No stipends/awards will be awarded to participants.

A call for applications will be distributed prior to each cycle. Applications may be submitted by collaborative and interdisciplinary teams and will be reviewed with consideration given to: 

• The likelihood of success or funding 
• The team’s stage of preparation and readiness (e.g., analyses must be complete for a manuscript, specific aims complete and specific mechanism/funder identified for grant) 
• The size and impact of the funding opportunity (for Grant Chase applications) 

To ensure broad access to these resources, barring exceptional circumstances, teams/individuals may participate in either a Grant Chase or a Paper Chase during a given cycle, but not both. We especially encourage teams to involve faculty who have not previously received assistance through these mechanisms. Strengthening collaborative research teams is an important goal of this initiative. If a team requires a specific timeline or scheduling accommodation for a Grant Chase or Paper Chase, please contact Esther Leerkes at emleerkes@uncg.edu to discuss. 

For the December 2026 cycle, applications are due Tuesday, September 22, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. ET. Applications are available through the HHS December 2026 Grant Chase or Paper Chase Application Microsoft Form.

This competition is being supported by The Penny Family Faculty First Endowment. The endowed fund is intended “to allow one faculty member each summer term to participate in individual field research or to pursue creative projects” and invites applications from “full-time tenure-stream faculty members in the School of Health and Human Sciences.” In addition, if the HHS Office of Research budget allows, additional faculty may be selected to receive summer funding using internal resources. The same criteria will be applied. 

The award will be paid as summer salary (maximum of $4,000). As such, all relevant University policies regarding salary must be followed. Specifically, recipients cannot exceed 100% of their available summer salary. Thus, applicants must affirm that their total pay for summer teaching, summer effort on internal grants or external grants, or other paid duties in the summer does not exceed their summer cap. For 9-month faculty, the summer cap is 33.33% of their 9-month salary. For 10-month faculty, the summer cap is 20% of their 10-month salary. By default, faculty with a 12-month appointment are ineligible.  

The HHS Penny Family Faculty First Summer Funding for Faculty Research Guidelines (docx) and application process are available through the InfoReady Review Platform. 

Applications are due February 8, 2027 by 5:00 p.m.

Faculty may have unique time-sensitive needs for support for new research projects or existing research projects that do not fit with the timing or criteria for existing internal mechanisms. University F & A (from DORE, Departments, and/or faculty) or other resources should be used for these purposes whenever possible. For instances in which that is not possible, a small amount of funds are being set a aside to assist. The HHS RAC will assist in creating a priority list that will guide decision making for such requests.

Research funding requests are accepted on a rolling basis through March 22, 2027. Funds may be depleted before this. If so faculty will be notified by email. This funding must be expended before the fiscal year end.

Direct special research project funding requests to the HHS Associate Dean for Research, Dr. Esther Leerkes at emleerke@uncg.edu.