IDEA 2026 Summer Research & Professional Development Grants

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What are the IDEA Summer Research & Professional Development Grants

The Faculty Summer Research and Professional Development Program advances the University of Minnesota’s Elevate Extraordinary 2030 strategic plan by supporting scholarly excellence in research, teaching, and faculty professional growth. The program provides resources to faculty for research initiatives and professional development opportunities that may not be fully supported through existing internal awards or external grants..

These awards are designed to strengthen the University’s academic mission by enabling faculty to deepen their disciplinary expertise, advance innovative research agendas, and enhance their teaching practices. In alignment with Imperative One of Elevate Extraordinary 2030, the program also supports faculty efforts to incorporate meaningful opportunities for civic engagement into their courses, creating structured spaces for students to engage in civic discourse within their disciplines and to connect academic learning with public and community contexts.

Awards of $10,000 may be used to support research and/or professional development activities during the summer months. Funds may also be extended for use during the regular academic year but must be expended by spring 2027. Applications are due April 30, 2026, and funding decisions will be announced by May 10, 2026.

This is a collaborative initiative between the Institute for Development, Excellence and Advocacy (IDEA) and the Office for Faculty and Academic Affairs.

What is the application window?

Applications are due April 30, 2026, and funding decisions will be announced by May 10, 2026.

What is the Award?

Awards of $10,000 may be used to support research and/or professional development activities during the summer months. Funds may also be extended for use during the regular academic year but must be expended by spring 2027.

Grant funds may be used for:

  • Summer Salary
  • Course and Curriculum Design
  • Graduate student support to specifically work on a faculty research project.
  • Research/professional development related travel expenses.
  • Workshop participation
  • Data analysis and other support services.
  • Software and other equipment purchases. Use of grant funds to purchase equipment such as computers or printers is not permitted, unless clearly related and essential to the proposed research and not available on campus.

Who is eligible to apply?

All tenure track and contract faculty are eligible for this award.

To apply:

Applicants should submit a 2-3 page proposal. The proposal should include the following:

  1. Applicant’s name, department , and email address
  2. Title of project
  3. Brief description of project (no more than 1,000 words). The description should include major objectives and activities to be completed during the summer months. A description of how the funds will increase the researcher’s capacity to carry out the project (e.g., eliminate the need for summer teaching), potential longer term impact of the project for the faculty and the field, and/or proposed products or interim outcomes.
  4. A list of current funded projects and a brief statement on how the proposed activities differ from those already funded. (1-page maximum)
  5. A list of University support received in the form of grants, stipends, research funds or matching funds since your initial appointment.
  6. A letter of support from the department chair. . (1-page maximum)
  7. Budget and justification . (1-page maximum)