Applications due Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Overview
Purpose
The ORCA Acceleration Grants (OAG) are intended to support research and creative activities that expand our knowledge in meaningful ways and drive positive change in society through clear public impact.
In response to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & Creative Activities (ORCA) is launching a special call through the OAG program to provide flexible, time-sensitive funding for projects specifically focused on wildfires in Los Angeles. While the application is streamlined, proposals should nevertheless articulate how the anticipated research outcomes will impact and benefit the Los Angeles community (as well as possible broader impacts in communities nationally and globally). Applicants are strongly encouraged to work with community partners where appropriate.
Submissions are encouraged from all disciplines across north and south campus and may address any aspect of research related to the wildfires, including but not limited to:
- Time-sensitive data collection
- Studies of environment and sustainability
- Health of impacted communities
- Response and readiness
- Community displacement, disparities, and/or resilience
- Development of policy, urban planning strategies
- Other relevant research topics
While the OAG program is typically focused on providing seed funding, this special cycle of the program will not require proposals to be for seed funding. However, applicants are still encouraged to consider how they might leverage OAG funding to secure extramural support to continue their project beyond the end of an OAG award.
NOTE: In addition to this special cycle of the OAG program, it is anticipated that a regular cycle of the OAG program will occur later in the academic year. Applicants unable to apply for this deadline are encouraged to apply during a future OAG cycle for wildfire research funding.
Background
As a public research university, UCLA’s mission is “the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society.” The OAG program builds on ORCA’s commitment to this mission and is intended to support research and creative activities that expand our knowledge in meaningful ways and drive positive change in society. The OAG program complements ORCA’s Public Impact Research (PIR) Awards, which recognize faculty or teams who have made a concerted effort to translate their research or creative activities for public benefit. While both programs address the impact of research and creative activities, the OAG funding is positioned at a much earlier stage in realizing that impact, catalyzing activities that could eventually be recognized with a PIR Award.
Award Information
Award Amount
$250,000 in funding is available.
Projects may request amounts from $5,000 to $30,000, depending on project scale, timeframe, and complexity.
Period of Performance
Awardees should plan for a project period up to 12-18 months (inclusive of the time needed to complete any required IRB/ARC process).
Awardees should plan to use all funds by 6/30/2026.
Award Disbursement
Applicants can expect to receive a decision notification within 7 business days of the application deadline.
Funds will be distributed in a timely manner upon receipt of a completed award acceptance form and any required IRB/ARC documentation.
Award funds will be transferred to a UCLA account for the awardee.
NOTE: Prior to submitting a proposal, the PI should ensure they have identified the UCLA department that will receive and administer any awarded funds.
Award funds must be used in accordance with the submitted budget.
Budget Information
Applicants may request amounts from $5,000 to $30,000, depending on project scale, timeframe, and complexity. Due to the nature of these awards, the application will not require detailed budget information. Applicants will only be asked to break out the budget request into general budget categories.
Use of Funds
Funds must be used for direct research and/or creative activity costs such as materials, supplies, personnel (including staff and student salaries), and travel to the extent that such expenses are directly related to the proposed project.
To allow flexibility in the execution of funded projects, PIs may adjust the allocation of awarded funds between any budget categories included in the original application budget.
Proposed activities and expenditures must comply with all applicable university policies and procedures.
Allowable Expenses
The following are allowable expenses:
- Personnel, including staff/student salaries and fee remissions
- Proposals may include compensating non-UCLA affiliated personnel, especially expenses related to community outreach, documentation, and empowerment (e.g. compensation of community partners)
- Materials and supplies directly related to conducting the proposed research/creative activity
- Open Access publishing fees of up to $7,000
Unallowable Expenses
The following are unallowable expenses:
- UCLA-based faculty/PI salaries or support (including teaching buy-outs or summer ninths)
- Departmental overhead costs (indirect costs)
- Seminars, courses, or curricular development
- Conferences or conference support, workshops, or training programs
- Publishing subventions
Eligibility
PI Eligibility
Each application must have a single Principal Investigator (PI) who personally participates in the project to a significant degree and has primary responsibility for the execution and administration of the project.
The PI must currently hold a full-time UCLA faculty or staff appointment in a title that includes research as part of the duties/responsibilities. This includes, but is not limited to, Academic Senate faculty, teaching professors, project scientists, and academic administrators.
Undergraduate and graduate students are not eligible to serve as the PI.
Individuals may serve as the PI on only one submission to this program, but may serve as a key collaborator on other submissions to this program.
Previous OAG/ORCA Funding Recipients
Previous or current recipients of funding through the ORCA Acceleration Grants program or other ORCA programs may apply for funding.
Submission Information
Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 11:59pm.
All proposals must be submitted through the OAG application portal. Applicants should access the application using the “UCLA Login” option, which will prompt the user to login using their single sign-on credentials.
NOTE: We've been notified that the link above sometimes mistakenly directs people to our limited submissions page. If you encounter this issue, please try opening the submission portal link in a private/incognito tab.
Application Materials
Proposal Information
- PI name, email, title, school, department
- Key collaborator(s) name, email, title, affiliation (Optional): Applications may list up to 6 key collaborators. Individuals listed here should include those who will personally participate in the project to a significant degree.
- Project title
- Project abstract (150 words max)
Budget Information
- Total requested amount
- Budget breakdown - Applicants will be asked to enter into the application form the amount requested in each of the following categories (as applicable):
- Personnel (including staff/student salaries and fee remissions)
- Community partner compensation and expenses
- Research expenses (e.g. materials, supplies)
- Other expenses
Uploads
- Project description (3 pages maximum, 12pt font, single-spaced) - This document should include the following (with section headings):
- Project aims and description
- Anticipated impact and public benefit in the Los Angeles area, as well as any broader impact for communities nationally and/or globally
- Proposed timeline, including why this project is time-sensitive and requires rapid funding
- Community interaction plan (if applicable) (500 words maximum, 12pt font, single-spaced) - It is vital to ensure that we are sensitive to the needs of populations impacted by the wildfires. If your project will include any engagement with impacted populations, please include a document describing the anticipated community interaction and how you plan to mitigate any possible negative impacts.
- PI CV / Biosketch / Equivalent (2 pages max) - There are no formatting requirements, as practices vary across disciplines
Animal Activities/Human Subject Review
Projects involving animal or human subjects require appropriate review board(s) approval prior to the release of funds. The approvals or waivers will need to reference the applicable funding mechanism. Program staff must receive a copy of this documentation prior to the disbursement of award funds.
Please do not seek IRB/ARC approval for any work to be funded specifically through this grant program until after award notification.
For more information, please refer to the relevant UCLA office:
- Human Subjects – PIs must determine whether human subjects are involved in their project and if there is the need for Institutional Review Board (IRB) review. For information about submission requirements, available training, and applicable policies and procedures, please refer to the Office of the Human Research Protection Program website.
- Animal Activities – Research activities involving animals must receive approval from the Animal Research Committee (ARC).
Application Review
Review Process
Proposals will be reviewed by members of the UCLA community with relevant expertise.
Applicants can expect to receive a decision notification within 7 business days of the application submission.
Review Criteria
Project descriptions should be understandable by reviewers from a variety of disciplines.
Each proposal will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Excellence: The proposed project advances excellent and rigorous research related to wildfires.
- Timeliness: The application clearly demonstrates why flexible, rapid funding is important for the successful execution of the proposed project.
- Impact: The application articulates clearly how the proposed research will have a demonstrable effect and/or influence within the topic area.
- Benefit of Impact: The application has a well-considered justification for why this impact would be of benefit to Los Angeles (and, if applicable, communities nationally and/or globally).
- Qualifications: The PI and any collaborators possess the necessary expertise to carry out the proposed work.
- Feasibility: The proposed project is feasible given the amount of funding and time available.
Overview
Purpose
The ORCA Acceleration Grants (OAG) are intended to support research and creative activities that expand our knowledge in meaningful ways and drive positive change in society through clear public impact.
In response to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & Creative Activities (ORCA) is launching a special call through the OAG program to provide flexible, time-sensitive funding for projects specifically focused on wildfires in Los Angeles. While the application is streamlined, proposals should nevertheless articulate how the anticipated research outcomes will impact and benefit the Los Angeles community (as well as possible broader impacts in communities nationally and globally). Applicants are strongly encouraged to work with community partners where appropriate.
Submissions are encouraged from all disciplines across north and south campus and may address any aspect of research related to the wildfires, including but not limited to:
- Time-sensitive data collection
- Studies of environment and sustainability
- Health of impacted communities
- Response and readiness
- Community displacement, disparities, and/or resilience
- Development of policy, urban planning strategies
- Other relevant research topics
While the OAG program is typically focused on providing seed funding, this special cycle of the program will not require proposals to be for seed funding. However, applicants are still encouraged to consider how they might leverage OAG funding to secure extramural support to continue their project beyond the end of an OAG award.
NOTE: In addition to this special cycle of the OAG program, it is anticipated that a regular cycle of the OAG program will occur later in the academic year. Applicants unable to apply for this deadline are encouraged to apply during a future OAG cycle for wildfire research funding.
Background
As a public research university, UCLA’s mission is “the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society.” The OAG program builds on ORCA’s commitment to this mission and is intended to support research and creative activities that expand our knowledge in meaningful ways and drive positive change in society. The OAG program complements ORCA’s Public Impact Research (PIR) Awards, which recognize faculty or teams who have made a concerted effort to translate their research or creative activities for public benefit. While both programs address the impact of research and creative activities, the OAG funding is positioned at a much earlier stage in realizing that impact, catalyzing activities that could eventually be recognized with a PIR Award.
Award Information
Award Amount
$250,000 in funding is available.
Projects may request amounts from $5,000 to $30,000, depending on project scale, timeframe, and complexity.
Period of Performance
Awardees should plan for a project period up to 12-18 months (inclusive of the time needed to complete any required IRB/ARC process).
Awardees should plan to use all funds by 6/30/2026.
Award Disbursement
Applicants can expect to receive a decision notification within 7 business days of the application deadline.
Funds will be distributed in a timely manner upon receipt of a completed award acceptance form and any required IRB/ARC documentation.
Award funds will be transferred to a UCLA account for the awardee.
NOTE: Prior to submitting a proposal, the PI should ensure they have identified the UCLA department that will receive and administer any awarded funds.
Award funds must be used in accordance with the submitted budget.
Budget Information
Applicants may request amounts from $5,000 to $30,000, depending on project scale, timeframe, and complexity. Due to the nature of these awards, the application will not require detailed budget information. Applicants will only be asked to break out the budget request into general budget categories.
Use of Funds
Funds must be used for direct research and/or creative activity costs such as materials, supplies, personnel (including staff and student salaries), and travel to the extent that such expenses are directly related to the proposed project.
To allow flexibility in the execution of funded projects, PIs may adjust the allocation of awarded funds between any budget categories included in the original application budget.
Proposed activities and expenditures must comply with all applicable university policies and procedures.
Allowable Expenses
The following are allowable expenses:
- Personnel, including staff/student salaries and fee remissions
- Proposals may include compensating non-UCLA affiliated personnel, especially expenses related to community outreach, documentation, and empowerment (e.g. compensation of community partners)
- Materials and supplies directly related to conducting the proposed research/creative activity
- Open Access publishing fees of up to $7,000
Unallowable Expenses
The following are unallowable expenses:
- UCLA-based faculty/PI salaries or support (including teaching buy-outs or summer ninths)
- Departmental overhead costs (indirect costs)
- Seminars, courses, or curricular development
- Conferences or conference support, workshops, or training programs
- Publishing subventions
Eligibility
PI Eligibility
Each application must have a single Principal Investigator (PI) who personally participates in the project to a significant degree and has primary responsibility for the execution and administration of the project.
The PI must currently hold a full-time UCLA faculty or staff appointment in a title that includes research as part of the duties/responsibilities. This includes, but is not limited to, Academic Senate faculty, teaching professors, project scientists, and academic administrators.
Undergraduate and graduate students are not eligible to serve as the PI.
Individuals may serve as the PI on only one submission to this program, but may serve as a key collaborator on other submissions to this program.
Previous OAG/ORCA Funding Recipients
Previous or current recipients of funding through the ORCA Acceleration Grants program or other ORCA programs may apply for funding.
Submission Information
Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 11:59pm.
All proposals must be submitted through the OAG application portal. Applicants should access the application using the “UCLA Login” option, which will prompt the user to login using their single sign-on credentials.
NOTE: We've been notified that the link above sometimes mistakenly directs people to our limited submissions page. If you encounter this issue, please try opening the submission portal link in a private/incognito tab.
Application Materials
Proposal Information
- PI name, email, title, school, department
- Key collaborator(s) name, email, title, affiliation (Optional): Applications may list up to 6 key collaborators. Individuals listed here should include those who will personally participate in the project to a significant degree.
- Project title
- Project abstract (150 words max)
Budget Information
- Total requested amount
- Budget breakdown - Applicants will be asked to enter into the application form the amount requested in each of the following categories (as applicable):
- Personnel (including staff/student salaries and fee remissions)
- Community partner compensation and expenses
- Research expenses (e.g. materials, supplies)
- Other expenses
Uploads
- Project description (3 pages maximum, 12pt font, single-spaced) - This document should include the following (with section headings):
- Project aims and description
- Anticipated impact and public benefit in the Los Angeles area, as well as any broader impact for communities nationally and/or globally
- Proposed timeline, including why this project is time-sensitive and requires rapid funding
- Community interaction plan (if applicable) (500 words maximum, 12pt font, single-spaced) - It is vital to ensure that we are sensitive to the needs of populations impacted by the wildfires. If your project will include any engagement with impacted populations, please include a document describing the anticipated community interaction and how you plan to mitigate any possible negative impacts.
- PI CV / Biosketch / Equivalent (2 pages max) - There are no formatting requirements, as practices vary across disciplines
Animal Activities/Human Subject Review
Projects involving animal or human subjects require appropriate review board(s) approval prior to the release of funds. The approvals or waivers will need to reference the applicable funding mechanism. Program staff must receive a copy of this documentation prior to the disbursement of award funds.
Please do not seek IRB/ARC approval for any work to be funded specifically through this grant program until after award notification.
For more information, please refer to the relevant UCLA office:
- Human Subjects – PIs must determine whether human subjects are involved in their project and if there is the need for Institutional Review Board (IRB) review. For information about submission requirements, available training, and applicable policies and procedures, please refer to the Office of the Human Research Protection Program website.
- Animal Activities – Research activities involving animals must receive approval from the Animal Research Committee (ARC).
Application Review
Review Process
Proposals will be reviewed by members of the UCLA community with relevant expertise.
Applicants can expect to receive a decision notification within 7 business days of the application submission.
Review Criteria
Project descriptions should be understandable by reviewers from a variety of disciplines.
Each proposal will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Excellence: The proposed project advances excellent and rigorous research related to wildfires.
- Timeliness: The application clearly demonstrates why flexible, rapid funding is important for the successful execution of the proposed project.
- Impact: The application articulates clearly how the proposed research will have a demonstrable effect and/or influence within the topic area.
- Benefit of Impact: The application has a well-considered justification for why this impact would be of benefit to Los Angeles (and, if applicable, communities nationally and/or globally).
- Qualifications: The PI and any collaborators possess the necessary expertise to carry out the proposed work.
- Feasibility: The proposed project is feasible given the amount of funding and time available.
For questions about OAG Special Cycle: Wildfire Research Rapid Funding, please email orcafunding@conet.ucla.edu
NOTE: We've been notified that the link above sometimes mistakenly directs people to our limited submissions page. If you encounter this issue, please try opening the application portal link in a private/incognito tab.