The Office of Research Development (ORD) is committed to supporting faculty in their research, scholarship, and creative inquiries. These inquiries can include knowledge making in any area, including creative endeavors, pedagogy, and inclusive excellence. The UMass Lowell (UML) Researchers and Scholars Investment (RSI) Fund supports faculty in their professional trajectory, providing opportunities to test new ideas, implement initiatives, and strengthen their skills and craft. These funds are meant to provide immediate assistance for short-term projects and goals that will provide great benefit to the scholar, their team, and the university.

Examples of appropriate use of funds include:

  • Collecting preliminary data
  • Subscription to a digital tool or resource
  • Hiring an editor for a new book
  • Purchasing supplies for an art installation
  • Support for student travel to a conference with the project lead to present collaborative work

The list above is not exhaustive and applicants may request funding for activities as long as they demonstrate the direct benefit of the project to the individual researcher/scholar and the university. Students can be supported, but the research project must advance the work of the applicant. Priority for funding is given to projects that directly support the UML 2028 Strategic Plan.

Anticipated Funding Amount

The Office of Development intends to fund up to $3,000 per project and up to 30 projects per fiscal year.

Application Deadline and Process

Applications are accepted through InfoReady once in the Fall semester and once in the Spring semester. The call for applications for the Spring 2025 cycle will be announced in February 2025.

Eligibility

  • UML tenured, tenure-track, and emerit faculty are eligible to apply.
  • Applicants must demonstrate that they have no other available source of funding including startup funds, research investment funds (RIF), etc. If you have funds earmarked for other activities, you may still apply for the RSI Fund. However, you must clearly show how each pool of funds will be used in the budget section of the application.
  • Applicants may only submit as lead PI on one application for any award sponsored by the Office of Research Development per academic semester. If multiple applications are received from the same lead PI applicant in the same academic semester, only the first submission will be considered for funding.

Guidelines

  • Review the guidelines for all ORD-sponsored funding
  • Funds are awarded for a one-year period. Funds for the Fall cycle of awards will be disbursed in January. Funds for the Spring cycle of awards will be disbursed in July.
  • Funds must not be used for summer salary or other additional compensation for faculty
  • Funds must not be used to fund Research Assistants/tuition waivers (funds may support student hourly wages)

Timeline

Fall 2024 cycle

  • September – Announcement of call for applications
  • November 1, 2024 – Application deadline
  • November/December – Application review
  • December 9, 2024 - Notification of decision to applicants
  • January 1, 2025 – Disbursement of funds

Spring cycle - general timeline

  • February – Announcement of call for applications
  • March – Application deadline
  • April/May - Application review
  • July – Notification to applicants and disbursement of funds