New Frontiers Grant Program
CU Boulder New Frontiers Grants are designed to foster groundbreaking, interdisciplinary research projects with the potential for high impact. “High impact” projects may include the potential for significant advancements in knowledge, problem-solving or innovation that exceeds incremental progress and creates new paradigms of understanding.
With support from the Research & Innovation Office (RIO), the Colleges of Arts & Sciences, Engineering & Applied Science and the School of Education, New Frontiers is open to any eligible CU Boulder faculty member.
The New Frontiers Grants (NFG) program aims to support visionary, interdisciplinary projects that advance knowledge and innovation. The program seeks to stimulate new strengths at CU Boulder by encouraging researchers to think beyond individual disciplines and work together to tackle complex and impactful research challenges.
The program will support research teams with representation from two different colleges or schools and at least one institute-affiliated researcher.
NFG is divided into four phases and two rounds. The second round will be announced in 2025.
Overview
Kickoff & Frontier Forums
- RIO and NFG partners kick off the program with an overview of the intent and ultimate objective.
- Faculty present ideas to campus via one-minute, lightning-style presentations at the Frontier Forums (details below) using this quad chart template and invite others to join as collaborators.
Idea Phase
- After the Townhall Kickoff and Frontier Forums, the program solicits innovative ideas via a one-page prospectus to develop new research strengths for campus.
- Three selected ideas move to the Planning Phase.
Planning Phase (12 months)
- Following the Idea Phase, the program awards three grants ($25,000 – $50,000) to incubate ideas.
- Supports project organization, team building and preliminary data collection.
- Teams develop their "big idea" for Launch Phase competition, which will occur the following year.
Launch Phase (18 months)
- The program awards $200,000 to one selected Planning Phase project.
- Advances research by fostering large teams, amplifying collaborations and developing large grant proposals.
- $10,000 for workshop or conference convening is available for successful Launch Phase projects.
- Successful Launch Phase projects gain national research recognition and promise significant impact in relevant fields.
Eligibility
Teams must consist of faculty from at least two different colleges or schools, and one institute-affiliated researcher. As such and since the program intent is true interdisciplinarity, teams with three distinct faculty are encouraged and will be prioritized; however, teams may consist of at minimum two researchers – one affiliated with a college and one affiliated with a different college and an institute. For instance, a faculty member may have an affiliation with INSTAAR and the College of Arts & Sciences while the second team member comes from CMCI.
All CU Boulder Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty, Instructors and Senior Instructors (including Teaching Assistant Professors, Teaching Associate Professors, and Teaching Professors), and Career Track Research Faculty (i.e., Research Professors Series, Senior Research Associates* (SRA), and Research Associates* (RA)) who hold an appointment of half-time or greater are eligible to apply. The lead PI should be employed by CU Boulder. Co-PIs are allowed and can be funded as long as they are CU Boulder faculty.
Collaborators from other institutions are also permitted but cannot receive funding from the program. *Postdoctoral Associates, Postdoctoral Fellows, and Research Associates/Senior Research Associates in short-term, transitional postdoctoral training positions should not apply as the intent of this award is to foster programs of research and scholarly activity that will be of long-term benefit to CU Boulder.
Additional Eligibility Information
- Applicants may submit no more than one proposal as a funded PI or Co-PI. Applicants can serve on multiple proposals as an unpaid co-PI.
- Recipients with active awards may not be compensated for another project, but may serve as an unpaid co-PI. Like PIs, co-PIs may only be funded in one active NFG award.
- Projects with a major scientific or budgetary overlap with the PI's active research support are ineligible.
- Projects with a primary focus on curriculum development are ineligible.
- Faculty course or teaching buy-out is not an eligible expense for the Planning Phase. However, subject to department approval, it may be an option during the Launch Phase.
- Applicants with existing resources that could be used to fund their project are discouraged.
- Applicants may request up to two weeks of summer salary in their proposal budgets.
Review Criteria
Interdisciplinarity
How does the work itself foster cross-disciplinary collaboration?
Innovation
How will the project develop a new or unique research strength or direction for campus?
Integration
How will the project integrate with or leverage research funding priorities and center-level opportunities?
Frequently Asked Questions
Special Terms & Conditions for Planning Phase & Launch Phase Grantees
- Meeting Requirements: Meet quarterly to ensure extramural, center-level funding pursuits are on track. Meet with Lewis-Burke Associates, a DC-based government relations firm, to discuss the project and strategize around center-level funding pursuits at the federal level. Center programs may include but are not limited to the following: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
- Reporting: Provide quarterly progress reports to the Research & Innovation Office (RIO) outlining key accomplishments, work completed, engagement or meetings with extramural sponsors for follow-on funding, goals for the next quarter and any challenges or necessary project plan revisions. Provide a final report with key impacts of the work and how broader spectrums of research and understanding were made possible with the funding. RIO staff will be in contact with report requirements.
- Exclusive Funding: Recipients agree to not seek or accept funding from any other RIO funding source for the same project or activities funded under this award including but not limited to AB Nexus, Research & Innovation Office Arts & Humanities Grants and/or Research & Innovation Office Seed Grant funding.
- Review Panel Service: Recipients agree to serve on future grant review panels for the RIO including but not limited to NFG, Research & Innovation Seed Grant and/or limited submission competitions. Recipients agree to score and provide written comments for such competitions with award acceptance.
- Compliance: If the project entails any compliance issues such as IRB, IACUC, EHS, biohazardous material, etc., recipients certify that the appropriate compliance offices on campus will be made aware of the proposed activities before initiating any work.
- Funding Access: Awards will be made available through the financial office in recipients’ respective college/school/institute on the first day of the listed project period following award notification (not earlier), at which time project spending can commence. The budget office at the PI’s respective college/school/institute will set up the speedtype (account) number for the award. RIO will transfer the funds to the speedtype. Recipients are advised to contact respective budget offices for the speedtype following award notification.
- No-Cost Extensions: No-cost extensions are not permitted, as the program is focused on achieving substantial progress within a defined timeframe. Unused funds at the end of the project will be returned to RIO.
- Suspension of Funds: If a recipient fails to fulfill any of the aforementioned conditions, RIO reserves the right to suspend funds.
Questions?
If you have further questions not addressed in the FAQs above, please email rio@colorado.edu.