The goal of this grant program is to provide a limited number of high-potential awards that propose interdisciplinary mechanisms to tackle issues that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Office of International Affairs (OIA), which uses the SDGs as a strategic cornerstone of campus internationalization, seeks to develop interdisciplinary scholarly networks to solve global challenges, develop curriculum, engage the community, and foster research with the ultimate goal of making Indianapolis, Indiana, and the world a better and more just place. While there are 17 distinct goals, the SDGs are also indivisible, and they require interdisciplinary and transnational research that is transformative and comprehensive.

To that end, the OIA and IU Research are announcing a new grant mechanism to support interdisciplinary research agendas that contribute to advancing the UN 2030 Agenda. Proposals must address two or more of the Sustainable Development Goals and ideally involve two or more Indianapolis faculty from different departments or schools. To align with Indianapolis's dedication to community engagement, research that involves collaborations with local or international communities and partners are encouraged. Additional priority will be given to research proposals that address the SDGs through lenses of social justice and intercultural competence.

Eligible PIs

• All full-time tenure-track faculty having an appointment of Assistant Professor and above at Indianapolis, IUPUC, and IUFW are eligible to apply.

Ineligible PIs

• Faculty in visiting ranks
• Research scientist ranks

Allowed

• Project funding may not exceed a total of $30,000; this may be distributed as follows: $20,000 project awards; $5,000 Gateway involvement supplement; and $5,000 external grant submission award.
• Proposals that integrate use of the IU Global Gateways in a meaningful way, including hosting at least one activity (such as a workshop, conference, or public event) at a Global Gateway, would be eligible for an additional supplemental $5,000 from the Office of the Vice President of International Affairs.
• An additional $5,000 will be awarded to project directors/teams to transition or extend the project award when a significant external grant proposal is submitted within 1 year of the project end date.

Not Allowed

• Faculty salary cannot be supported through this mechanism except for faculty on a 10-month appointment who can request up to one month of summer salary support.
• Funds will not be granted for similar projects currently supported by other internal or external funding mechanisms at the campus or university level.

Proposal requirements

• Projects will be limited to one (1) year in duration. Projects that cannot be completed in one (1) year will not be funded.
• Funding should be used to support students, staff, technical help, and the technology needed to develop competitive external grant proposals that advance an SDG agenda.
• Funds will not be granted for similar projects currently supported by other internal or external funding mechanisms at the campus or university level.
• An investigator may not serve as PI or Co-PI on more than one proposal in a given round.
• While not required, proposals that include two or more faculty from multiple Indianapolis/IUPUC/IUFW schools and departments will be prioritized.
• Faculty from all schools and departments, including professional fields, STEM, and the arts and humanities, social sciences, health sciences, are encouraged to apply.
• Proposals that engage communities around the world and pursue the SDGs through lenses of social justice (in Indiana and elsewhere around the world) are strongly encouraged.
• Research that involves collaborations with local or international communities and partners is strongly encouraged.
• Faculty will be expected to attend at least one proposal development workshop by IU Research. Recipients will be able to utilize IU Research resources to support external grant development.

Application sections include

• Applicant Information
• Abstract
• Research plan not to exceed five pages
• References cited
• Budget and justification
• Biosketch not to exceed five pages, include funding history
• Letters of support from collaborators and department chair
• IRB, IACUC, and/or IBC forms if applicable

Apply to this program through the InfoReady portal. Download the Guidelines and Application form. Applications are to be submitted as one pdf file. Competitions close at 11:59pm on the deadline date. Deadlines that fall on Saturday or Sunday will be due the following Monday.

Apply for GIRG funding