Research Cores Continuity Funding FY2025: Apply by September 16
The Vice Chancellor for Research is pleased to announce a second round of Cores Continuity Funding for FY2025. Research core facilities and shared research resources are critical components of the research enterprise at UC Davis, providing shared services, expertise, instruments, equipment, and other resources that play a vital role in enriching the research landscape. Cores are force multipliers for research investment, amplifying impact across many projects and disciplines. Researchers across campus depend on the shared resources managed by cores: investment in these capabilities ensures continuity and productivity of the UC Davis research enterprise. Although research core facilities and shared resources provide an efficient and impactful pathway to expand research opportunities across a broad usership, financial support for cores is variable and achieving sustainable operations can be a challenge.
In an effort to maintain and strengthen campus research core capacity, the Office of Research has worked with the Associate Vice Chancellor’s Cores Working Group, the Research Core Advisory Council, campus leadership and additional stakeholders to repeat the Research Cores Continuity Funding Program. The Cores Continuity Funding Program, Round 2, provides one-time support to maintain and strengthen campus research core capacities by supporting the operations and instrumentation in high-performing cores.
The Research Cores Continuity Funding Program invites applications for one-time investments in core operational expenses, including salary for technical staff, and equipment and instrument purchase, upgrade, maintenance, service and repair costs. Operational costs must be related to current expenses in FY2025: deficit reduction is not an eligible expense. Eligible units include any organized shared research facility or resource that provides access to technologies, equipment, services, and expert consultation to enable, facilitate, and enhance the research mission of the university. Eligible units must serve a substantial user base and have established and approved and current (within the past three years) recharge rates for users. Evidence of strong financial stewardship and robust administrative oversight is required.
The FY2025 Research Cores Continuity Funding Program is supported by an investment of $500,000 from the Office of Research. Each award will be in the range of $10,000 – $100,000 for operational expenses in FY2025: funds must be fully expended by May 30, 2025. Awardees are expected to submit status reports at the end of the award period and at 1-year post-award. The awards are for FY2025 only and do not imply any continuing commitment.
The deadline for submission is Monday, September 16, 2024, at 5:00 pm PST. Please contact Isabelle Girard ([email protected]), Director, Research Core Facilities Program, with questions.
APPLICATION
Please apply through the online platform [InfoReady] hosted by the Office of Research. For the purposes of this application, the term “core” includes any UC Davis research core or shared research facility (regardless of previous designation as a Campus Research Core Facility) on the main campus, in Sacramento, and at off-campus locations in all schools and colleges. Cores and shared facilities include scientific recharge units, service centers providing research services, and shared instrumentation and equipment facilities.
Please review the Research Cores Continuity Funding Evaluation Rubric included in InfoReady to understand the criteria and evidence that will be used to assess each application.
INFO SESSION
The Research Cores Facility Program (RCFP) will host an informational session for interested applicants on Thursday, August 15 at 12:00 – 1:00 pm PST on Zoom.
