The Office for Research and Creative Activities is pleased to announce the 2022-2023 call for proposals for “Transdisciplinary Research Acceleration Grants” (TRAG). The purpose of these grants is to catalyze transdisciplinary research and creative activities by supporting early stage projects with the specific goal of facilitating investigators’ chances for attaining extramural funding. Grants may be used to advance work-in-progress, including the development of proof-of-concepts, the creation of mock-ups/wire-frames/functional prototypes, or the collection of pilot data, among other deliverables and outputs. Successful TRAG projects are expected to be beyond the preliminary “ideation” phase but not yet ready for extramural funding.
TRAG proposals must represent a research or creative collaboration from at least two distinctly different disciplines where the contribution of each collaborator’s expertise is evident and critical for the success of the research. Applications must demonstrate how the collaboration will rely on the combined expertise of team members to enable research or creative activities that otherwise could not have occurred within the confines of a single discipline.
Preference will be given to projects led by a PI with a primary appointment in a department or unit affiliated with one of the following Divisions or Schools:
- Anderson School of Management
- Graduate School of Education & Information Studies
- Herb Alpert School of Music
- Humanities Division
- Luskin School of Public Affairs
- School of the Arts & Architecture
- School of Law
- School of Theater, Film & Television
- Social Sciences Division
Preference will be given to projects that advance diversity, equity and inclusion within the research enterprise and demonstrate broader, public impact. Finally, projects led by or involving early-career faculty will be given preference in the evaluation process.
Award Amount and Details
- It is anticipated that about 8 projects will be funded, with a maximum award of $30,000 per project.
- Funds will be available for distribution approximately 4-6 weeks following the announcement of the awards, so long as the research team provides all requested information including IRB/ARC approvals, if applicable, in a timely manner. All funds should be expended within approximately 12 months of the fund transfer. PIs/Project Directors will be permitted to apply for one no-cost extension of an additional 12 months.
- Please see opportunity's webpage for more details about funding restrictions and period of funding.
Deadlines and Date Information
The due dates listed below are the most recent due dates our office is aware of. Please see the opportunity home page for information about potential upcoming deadlines or other opportunities.
Important Dates
- Application Opens: February 2022
- Application Due Date: March 23, 2022 (11:59pm)
- Announcement of Awards: May 2022
- Project Start/Funding Date: June 2022
Submission Process
- All submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. on March 23, 2022. Each proposal and all corresponding information must be submitted through the TRAG application portal.
Eligibility Information
- Projects must have one lead principal investigator (PI) and at least one co-PI from a different school or division at UCLA.
- Both PIs must hold UCLA academic faculty or academic administrator appointments as of 7/1/2022 (individuals in the senate, lecturer, adjunct, other non-senate, or academic administrator series are all eligible).
- Visiting faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and individuals without UCLA appointments are not eligible to serve as the PI, although they may serve as co-investigators or team members.
- Each faculty member is limited to one application as lead PI, but may serve as a co-PI or co-investigator on more than one application.
- PIs or co-PIs who have a currently funded TRAG are not eligible to apply. PIs or co-PIs who applied last year and did not receive funding are encouraged to reapply.
- Please see opportunity's website for more details about the eligibility criteria.
