September 26, 2023

Dear Colleagues,

Last year, LSU launched the Provost’s Fund for Innovation in Research, a record-breaking $1.8 million dollar investment in seed funding for interdisciplinary research. The funded research projects included 77 faculty across LSU, with a focus on the Scholarship First priority research areas. The Provost’s Fund for Innovation in Research is one part in a series of changes in recent years, including better data reporting and an increased focus on research, that together resulted in the $428 million dollars in total research activity across the LSU system, an impressive milestone representing a 16 percent increase in only one year.

I am pleased to announce another $1.8 million dollars in available funds for the Provost’s Fund for Innovation in Research. The funds are available through five mechanisms:

  1. Applications for Big Idea Grants are due by November 15. By focusing on major, innovative research ideas and fostering cross-disciplinary collaborations, the Big Idea Research Grants program aims to position the university as a leader in key research domains and secure substantial external funding. Phase 1 funding up to $25,000, phase 2 funding up to $75,000 and phase 3 funding up to $250,000. Click here to learn more about Big Idea Grants.
  2. Applications for Scholarly & Creative Activity for the Arts, Humanities, Social & Behavioral Sciences (formerly known as the Arts/Humanities and Summer Stipend Awards) are due by October 15 for fall 2023 and December 15 for spring 2024. The maximum award has been increased to $7,500 and the funds are exclusively available to faculty in the arts, humanities, social & behavioral sciences.
  3. Applications for Seminar Collaborator Support (formerly known as the Conference Support Fund) are due October 15 for fall 2023 and December 15 for spring 2024. Faculty may use these funds to host academic scholar seminars, collaborative research events or workshops, with an aim to foster knowledge sharing with researchers, scholars, and artists outside of LSU. The maximum award is $7,500.
  4. The Equipment Repair program aims to supplement department or college funds to repair equipment deemed critical to research productivity with an original acquisition cost of over $5,000. The available balance has been increased to $200,000 and applications will remain open until all dedicated funds are depleted. Click here to learn more about the Equipment Repair fund.
  5. Applications for Faculty Travel Grants are due September 29 for fall 2023, December 8 for spring 2024 and April 1 for summer 2024. The program aims to enable faculty to present original research, scholarship, or creative activity at national and international conferences and to support faculty visits to program directors of federal funding agencies or attendance at proposal planning workshops with federal funding agencies. The maximum award is $1,000.

As was the case last year, the Provost’s Fund for Innovation in Research will be administered through the Office of Research & Economic Development. All applications are hosted on InfoReady and will continue to be advertised through GeauxGrants. The Office of Research & Economic Development is happy to answer any questions you may have about these funds via research@lsu.edu. 

Let’s make this another record-breaking research year for LSU.

Geaux Tigers,

Roy Haggerty
Executive Vice President & Provost