PumpPrimer I Guidelines

Objective: To support the planning and background support needed to develop a large-scale project across multi-institutions that will lead to a significant project proposal for external funding

Allowable costs:

  • Overseas research visits (one to three months) to expand international collaborative networks and enhance research via collaboration
  • Travel costs associated with expert panel or external researchers for proposal planning
  • Support graduate student or postdoctoral travel, but only if it directly benefits the research group, per his/her advisor

Ineligible costs: Funds may not be used for faculty salary

Eligibility: Tenure-track faculty

Deadline: Rolling submission

Funds: A maximum of $5,000

Proposal format:

  • Cover sheet
    • Project title
    • Project lead
    • Collaborators and their institutions
    • Amount requested
    • Anticipated funding mechanism and due date, if known—e.g., program announcement and link (NSF Engineering Research Center grant, etc.)
  • Brief description of research scope including proposed external funding outlet after PumpPrimer I (PPI) funds are expended—one page maximum
  • Basic budget justification

Application process: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Interested faculty should contact their respective assistant dean of grants and contracts by email with a copy to John Tarduno, john.tarduno@rochester.edu:

For an appointment to discuss your project with Dean John Tarduno, please contact Michelle Dunn by email at michelle.dunn@rochester.edu.