Research Resilience Initiatives

Purpose:

The purpose of this funding track is to preserve and enhance select at-risk institutional capabilities that are essential to the research and education missions of the University of Maryland AND to provide temporary funding to enable select institutional initiatives to pivot to new and sustainable sources of funding.  

Criteria for Submissions:

• Articulates a highly compelling need for short-term funding that preserves select capabilities for a defined transitional period (not greater than 12-18 months)
• Documents federal actions or federal intent to reduce/eliminate/pause funding in the applicant’s area of research
• Identifies and clearly delineates a strategy for near-term, long-term, and sustainable funding potential (at a granular, i.e. program specific level).
• Defines the scope of the capabilities, impact, and institutional priorities that would be lost if funding were not provided

Eligibility:

The PI of this application must be the head of a department, institute, mulit-disciplinary initiative, large campus center, or cooperative agreement. A letter of support from the Dean of the PI’s College/School acknowledging that fund balance will be used to support the award must be provided.  No more than 2 submissions per college are permitted. If you are unsure of your eligibility, please contact Dylan Baker and Eric Chapman. 

Funding Amount and Number of Awards:  

A maximum of $500K in one-time, non-renewable funding can be requested by a PI on behalf of an institute, department, large center, etc. It is expected that approximately 4-5 awards will be made. 

Use of Funds:  

Acceptable use of funds include temporary provision of salary to PTK faculty for a clearly defined business development need and/or to support costs associated with pilot data collection that positions units to secure future funding from a non-traditional funding source. Funding to support or partially support graduate students is also permitted.  Funds will be made available in August 2026 and must be spent by June 30, 2027.  Funds shall not be used for the following purposes: TTK summer salary, routine administrative support, or other recurring expenses such as software licenses. Repurposing of funding is not permitted.  

Requirements of Awardees:

• During the award period, quarterly updates are required on use/accounting of funds, progress on planned proposal activities, and paths to pursuing and securing alternative external funding.  Semi-annual reports are expected for one year following the conclusion of the award period. Specified metrics on award fund use will be shared in the award notification letter.  
• During the award period, teams are expected to coordinate with and utilize local or central proposal development and management resources (to include ‘red team’ reviews) to enhance the quality of external proposal submissions. 

Review Process:

A four page (maximum) narrative is required. More details will be posted on June 15, 2026.

Submission Link for Preserve, Pivot & Grow Program: Track A – Strategic Institutional Investments:

Submission link will be posted on June 15, 2026. 

Purpose:

The purpose of this funding track is to provide short-term funding that preserves select capabilities that enable a principal investigator, and/or lab group members to sustain operations impacted by recently terminated, reduced or paused funding AND to enable a portfolio pivot that better positions the faculty member or lab group for new and sustainable funding sources.  .

Criteria for Submissions:

• Articulates need for short-term funding that preserves select capabilities for a defined transitional period
• Clarifies a strategy for securing near, long-term and sustainable funding sources that are identified at the program (active or forecasted) level
• Defines the scope of the capabilities, impact, and institutional priorities that would be lost if funding were not provided

Eligibility:  

The PI of this application must be a faculty Principal Investigator (PI) who was impacted by recently terminated, reduced or paused funding. This funding source is designed to enable a portfolio pivot that better positions the faculty member or lab group for new and sustainable funding sources. Faculty who were not impacted by a grant termination or grant reduction are eligible to apply, but they must specifically convey how the changed funding environment has negatively impacted their prospects for funding. 

A letter of support from the Dean that acknowledges and specifies the potential for college/school fund-balance support to a faculty member is required. Multiple requests from the same department must be rank ordered in terms of priority by the Dean/Department Chair. Applications not meeting the above criteria are not encouraged.

Funding and Number of Awards:  

A maximum budget of $50K can be requested.  A detailed budget identifying how the funds are intended to be used must be submitted and accompany the narrative. Approximately 20-25 awards are expected. 

Use of Funds:  

Acceptable uses of funds include temporary provision of salary to PTK faculty, business development needs, collection of pilot data to position for future funding. Funds shall not be used for the following purposes: TTK summer salary or routine administrative support. Any repurposing of funding greater than $5K requires prior approval. 

Requirements of awardees:

• During the award period, quarterly updates are required on use/accounting of funds, progress on planned proposal activities, and paths to pursuing and securing alternative external funding.  Semi-annual reports are expected for one year following the conclusion of the award period.  Specified metrics on award fund use will be shared in the award notification letter.  
• During the award period, teams are expected to coordinate with and utilize local or central proposal development and management resources (to include ‘red team’ reviews) to enhance the quality of external proposal submissions.  

The number of awards in the institutional and individual tracks are estimates; they may change based on the quantity and quality of submissions. 

Review Process:  

A three page narrative is required and must address all points listed in the “criteria for submissions” section above.  The narrative will be accompanied by a detailed budget request. More details will be posted on June 15, 2026.

Submission Link for the Preserve, Pivot & Grow Program: Track B – At-Risk Individual Faculty & Lab Groups
 

Submission link will be posted on June 15, 2026.