Seed Grants for Transitional and Exploratory Projects (STEP)
Purpose
Seed Grants for Transitional and Exploratory Projects (STEP) provides seed funding on a competitive basis to SIUE faculty to support a project that will be used to seek extramural funding.
The focus of the program is to support promising junior faculty to undertake pilot projects that will aid in establishing their careers as independent investigators and enable them to successfully apply for extramural funding.
Junior faculty prior to midpoint review for tenure and promotion may submit proposals to revise dissertation material. However, applicants must make a strong argument for how the STEP project may propel the applicant’s career in a significant and lasting research direction.
STEP funding cannot be used to sustain or supplement current research programs. Faculty beyond the midpoint review (which includes all ranks associate and above) who are making a transition to a significantly new research area to support an extramural application may be considered for funding if funds allow. The proposal must clearly demonstrate how the STEP project represents a significant transition in their research from previous activity. Successful proposals by established faculty will outline specific differences between the STEP project and previous scholarly activities, including publications and conference presentations so that an educated lay reader is able to discern the new direction of the proposed project.
Definition of Research and Creative Activities
Research and creative activities are broadly defined as all creative, critical, scholarly, and/or empirical activity that expands, clarifies, reorganizes or develops knowledge or artistic perception. This definition includes the theorization, demonstration, implementation, and application of research.
Eligibility
All full-time continuing members of the faculty, including research faculty (see below for center research faculty), may apply to the STEP program. The terminal degree must be completed by the time of submittal.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply, including minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and protected veterans. Faculty with disabilities desiring accommodations in the application process should contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (618) 650-2333.
All applicants, including PIs and Co-PIs, must have submitted completed final reports and fulfilled the terms and conditions, including submission of an external grant proposal, of projects previously funded by the SIUE Graduate School at least 5 business days before this program deadline in order to be eligible for this program. This requirement applies to all PIs and Co-PIs of the previous internal award.
The Center Director must ensure submission of the required proposal if a research faculty member who was awarded leaves SIUE prior to submitting the required proposal.
Ineligible activities include:
- faculty development, such as learning a new technique, language, methodology or completing a thesis or dissertation
- institutional research, i.e., studies related directly to the operation of the University that are not generalizable and have little application beyond SIUE
- public service and consulting
- departmental curriculum development, such as the preparation of curriculum materials, curriculum modifications, and student interest surveys. Curriculum development that includes empirical studies of the effectiveness of new program formats, or techniques and content that are generalizable and have application beyond SIUE may be considered research for this grant program.
Timeline/Dates
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A workshop will be held annually in the fall. To register, complete the form in Kuali Build. While the workshop is not required, it is highly recommended.
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Third Friday in January: Applicants submit their full proposal in Kuali Build no later than 4:30pm. The STEP Application form in Kuali Build is accessible via The Graduate School’s Forms page.
- Your proposal will then route to your Chair, Dean and Unit Research Committee for review, ranking, and approval. Your application will then route to ORP for review by the R&D Committee.
- Award notifications are anticipated to be sent in April.
Awards
Pending availability of funds, funding is for one fiscal year (July 1st – June 30th) and is awarded by budget line item. All line items must be allowable costs. Awards will not exceed $16,000.
Investigators may request up to one month of their salary to a maximum of $9,000 to be used for summer support. (Therefore, if the monthly salary is more than $9,000, the request can be only for $9,000.) Commitment overload is not permitted during the term of the grant. Technical overloads may be permitted if the investigator is teaching during the portion of the summer when not committed to the STEP project. 100% time/effort commitment is required while receiving summer salary from the STEP program.
Annette and Henry Baich Award
An additional $1,000 will be awarded to the best STEP application that meets the requirements of the Baich Award. Details will be provided in the electronic application materials. For further information about eligibility, see the Annette and Henry Baich Award website.
Program Materials/Handouts
- STEP Program Guidelines
- STEP Grant Application Form
- FY2025 STEP Workshop and Information Session (Handout of Powerpoint Slides)
- FY2024 STEP Workshop and Information Session (Zoom Recording)
- Workshop Registration Form
- Previous Funding Form
- External Funding Potential Form
- STEP Scoring Rubric for R & D Committee Reviewers
- Graduate School General Guidelines for R & D Committee Reviewers
- Baich Award webpage
- Final Report webpage
Awardee Resources
Previous Awardees
- FY 2024 STEP Grant Awardss List; FY24 Baich Awardee: Debanjana Ghosh
- FY 2023 STEP Grant Awardees List; FY23 Baich Awardee: Brittany Peterson
- FY 2022 STEP Grant Awardees List; FY22 Baich Awardee: Klingensmith
- FY 2021 STEP Grant Awardees List, FY21 Baich Awardees: McGuire and Andrews
- FY 2020 STEP Grant Awardees List,FY20 Baich Awardee: Sumita
- FY 2019 STEP Grant Awardees List,FY19 Baich Awardee: Kwon
- FY 2018 STEP Grant Awardees List,FY18 Baich Awardee: Ragsdale
- FY 2016 STEP Grant Awardees List
- FY 2015 STEP Grant Awardees List
- FY 2014 STEP Grant Awardees List
- FY 2013 STEP Grant Awardees List
- FY 2012 STEP Grant Awardees List
- FY 2011 STEP Grant Awardees List
- FY 2010 STEP Grant Awardees List