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The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) Supporting Pathways for Advancement, Research, and Knowledge (SPARK) award program receives funding from the ACES Office of Research. The grant encourages creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration between ACES faculty and other research partners to conduct research to generate/gather preliminary data and results for use in obtaining external funding. Inter- or intra-departmental/college collaboration is expected. This grant is restricted to assistant professors (tenure-track and specialized) with a primary appointment in ACES.
Award: Up to $60,000 for a 2-year period
This year's call is open to all tenure-track and specialized assistant professors who will not be considered for promotion prior to September 2026.
The aims of SPARK proposals are for faculty to:
- Develop interdisciplinary exploratory research ideas
- Identify a research theme or question that expands the PI's research
- Collect preliminary data or other relevant information to address research questions
- Prepare, develop, and submit research proposals for external funding
The expected product of the SPARK grant program is the generation of preliminary data or results to support a fundable extramural interdisciplinary research proposal.
Projects are expected to fall within USDA NIFA's Science Areas and Knowledge Areas Crosswalk.
Projects are expected to achieve milestones and actively seek significant external support through a proposal to NIFA, NIH, NSF, DOD, DOE, or other federal agencies, industry, or foundations. Applicants can request a maximum of $60,000 over 2 years (FFY2027: Oct. 1, 2026 - Sept. 30, 2027; FFY2028: Oct. 1, 2027 - Sept. 30, 2028). Investigators can also request funding for a single year (up to $35,000) for FY2027. Two-year projects will require a progress report to release Year 2 funding. All projects will require the completion of a final report.
SPARK awards will utilize USDA NIFA Hatch or Multistate Hatch funding and is subject to federal grant regulations. To receive these funds, the Lead PI will need to have or initiate an active Hatch or Multistate Hatch project. NIFA has annual reporting requirements which must be followed in addition the SPARK report.
Funding can be available to the Lead PI in two ways:
- Through their unit's universal Hatch project if the proposed activities are in alignment, or,
- Through the Lead PI's own active Hatch or Multistate Hatch project related to the proposed activities by the time of award
Upon award, recipients must apply for a Hatch or Multistate Hatch project (if not already active).
Proposals should include a description of the innovative nature of the research and the team's capabilities, where the contribution of each collaborator's expertise is evident.
The FY2027 RFP and FAQ documents are now available. The deadline for submission of SPARK proposals is February 16, 2026 by 5:00 PM CT. Submit proposals online through the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation (OVCRI) Special Programs site. Questions? Contact Barbara Godlew in the ACES OR for additional information.
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