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 support 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:

  • Research activities such as data analysis, sample archiving, or manuscript publication costs
  • Hourly wages for a currently enrolled graduate student
  • Collecting preliminary data
  • Core Research Facilities (CRF) user fees
  • 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 UMass Lowell (UML) 2028 Strategic Plan.

Anticipated Funding Amount

The Office of Research Development intends to award up to nine (9) RSI Fund projects in the fall semester of Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27). Awards are up to $5,000 per project for a 1-year project period.

Application Deadline

The deadline for the fall cycle in FY27 is Tuesday, October 13 at 11:59 p.m.

Submit an Application

Proposals must be submitted through InfoReady. In the competition, you may download the full solicitation under “Supporting Documents.” Please review the solicitation thoroughly for eligibility, guidelines, and proposal requirements. Please also review the guidelines for all ORD-sponsored funding.

Eligibility

  • Only UMass Lowell tenured, tenure-track, and emeritus faculty are eligible to serve as lead principal investigator (PI). Non-tenure track faculty, such as adjunct faculty, are only eligible to participate as Co-PI.
  • Applicants must demonstrate that they have no other available source of funding including startup 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.
  • Lead principal investigators (PIs) can only hold one award sponsored by the Office of Research Development at a time. PIs may only apply for awards with project periods that do not overlap with the project period of their current award, including any extensions.
  • Applicants may only submit as lead PI on one application per academic semester to any of the Office of Research Development’s internal funding opportunities. In fall 2026, applicants may submit as lead PI to either the RSI Fund or the Community-Engaged Research and Scholarship (CERS) Fund, but may not submit as lead PI to both programs. If multiple applications are received from the same lead PI applicant in the same 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 (January 1 – December 31).
  • No extensions will be granted on RSI awards.
  • Applicants may not request more than $5,000 for their project.
  • Funds must not be used for summer salary or other additional compensation for faculty.
  • Funds must not be used for salary for external co-PIs. Funds may be used to hire a consultant whose expertise is required to perform an element of the project.
  • Funds must not be used to fund Research Assistants or tuition waivers (fund may support student hourly wages).
  • Funds may be used for research staff salaries. However, funds must not be used for additional compensation for full-time staff (research or administrative). Budgeted staff must not exceed 1.0 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE).
  • ORD internal funding is not intended to support and sustain annual programming over time. Applicants should consider long-term sustainability plans as appropriate.

Timeline

  • September – Announcement of call for proposals 
  • October 13, 2026 – Proposal deadline 
  • October/November – Proposal review 
  • November 16, 2026 – Notification of decision to applicants 
  • January 1, 2027 – Disbursement of funds (12-month award period)

Deliverables

  • Awardees are required to submit a final report outlining activities and outcomes no later than 12 months after the project end date. Instructions for the report will be provided near the end of the award period.
  • Awardees must serve as a reviewer for at least one future cycle of ORD applications, if asked.
  • Awardees must present a lightning talk about their project at the annual Faculty Symposium following the end of their award period.