Transdisciplinary RFP
Transdisciplinary Research Centers and Institutes
As part of the University’s strategic plan, Boundless Possibility, we launched a multi-phase process to identify and support transformative, cross-disciplinary research.
Phase I began with a competitive request for proposals (RFP) issued in April 2024, which generated 42 submissions. From these, an anonymous faculty committee selected 10 proposals to receive one‑year planning grants to support the development of new transdisciplinary center or institute ideas in 2024-2025.
In Phase II, all 10 planning‑grant‑supported teams—and three additional applicant teams—submitted full proposals evaluated by 60+ external reviewers, an anonymous faculty committee, and deans, and culminated in oral presentations attended by esteemed reviewers from distinguished institutions and the National Academies on June 9, 2025. From this group, four teams were selected to receive multi-year funding to establish fully realized transdisciplinary centers.