Program Description

Submission Deadline: Sunday, November 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM
 

The Faculty Innovation Grant (FIG) program supports the establishment of new research projects, taking existing research in promising new directions, or otherwise expanding research programs beyond their current scope. A FIG award initiates study of a new research question, tests the feasibility of a novel approach or synthesis, or translates of theory to practice. These awards are seed investments intended to launch research lines that will continue well beyond initial funding.

A FIG award may be used to demonstrate the potential of a new interdisciplinary approach or application of concepts from one field to another, and to establish an initial record of joint publication.

New for 2026-27: FIG projects must now include the submission of a formal external proposal as a primary deliverable. As described below, proposals must describe the project’s long-term goals and potential impact. Applicants must identify specific barriers to external support and provide a clear plan—including a target agency and timeline—to secure the funding necessary to continue the research.

Funding is provided by the Smith Fund for Research and Innovation in Science and Engineering (for natural sciences and engineering) and by university funds for all other fields.
 

Award

Grants are limited to a maximum of $35,000. 
 

Eligibility

All tenured/tenure-track faculty, as well as research professors (Assistant, Associate and Full), are eligible. Individual faculty or teams are limited to one FIG award every two years. A faculty member with a current award may apply as part of a different team if the project goals and scope of work are significantly distinct. All required reports for prior Lehigh awards must be submitted to be eligible.
 

Allowable Costs

FIG awards are investments in faculty research and impact. You may use funds for a wide range of expenses essential to the project, such as:

  • Graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and hourly research assistants.
  • Research materials (including books unavailable through the library).
  • Access to off-campus research materials and lab supplies.
  • Travel necessary to conduct research.
  • Manuscript preparation and publication costs.
  • Travel to disseminate outcomes (requires clear justification).

All spending must follow Lehigh’s Travel and Business Expense Policy. 


Non-allowable Costs

Awards cannot supplement current funding or support work already covered by active or pending grants. Funds may not be used for:

  • Faculty salaries (except for the Accelerator grant summer salary)
  • General-purpose equipment or computers (unless research-specific)
  • Visiting faculty or course development
  • Reprints or facility remodeling
  • Costs incurred before the application date

If you have any questions about allowable/unallowable expenses, please contact our office. 


How to Apply

Application Details:

Submit via Lehigh’s InfoReady portal, which requires:

  • Project title (suitable for public websites).
     
  • Names and roles of all participating faculty members. The Principal Investigator (PI) serves as the primary correspondent responsible for deliverables and budget management. 
     
  • Budget total and IRB/IACUC status - refer to our Research Integrity site.
     

  • Abstract: A 250-word description of objectives, methodology and results in plain language. 

     

Body of Proposal:

Upload a single PDF (1-inch margins, 11pt font minimum) containing:

1. Narrati​ve (Max 3 pages, excluding references)

  • Background, context, and long-term goals: Describe the project’s long-term goals and potential beyond the FIG support period.
  • Project plan: Outline the work and expected outcomes. Show how these outcomes address the barriers to external funding.
     

2. Timeline: Provide a simple timeline for completing the work. You must include the target date for your required external proposal submission. Work should be completed within 12 months of the start date.

3. Plans for continuation (Required): 

Identify expected sources of external support, including:

  • The agency and specific program with known deadlines
  • How this FIG project aligns with that funder’s priorities.
  • How this funding opportunity fits into your FIG project’s long-term plans.
     

4. Budget: Provide a one-page itemized budget and justification. 

5. Recent Grant Fun​ding: List all internal and external grants from the past two years (active, completed, or pending). If this project appears to overlap with any of your other grants, please briefly explain how this work and its goals are distinct.

Align your proposal with the reviewer evaluation criteria below.

Note: A multidisciplinary faculty committee will review your proposal. Please avoid excessive technical jargon. Reviewers must be able to understand the project’s significance and why each budget item is necessary.
 

Review Process

The Internal Review Committee (IRC) evaluates proposals. Because the committee includes members from various disciplines, avoid technical jargon and ensure the project is accessible to non-specialists.

  • Intellectual Merit, and Potential Impact: Proposals must pose novel questions or bridge theory and practice to advance a field of scholarship. The work should promise a sustained program with broad impact and must be distinct in scope from any of the applicant's current or recent funding.
     
  • Quality of the Research Plan: Applicants must present a sound plan that leverages existing resources and addresses critical feasibility questions. Notably, the plan should identify and tackle barriers to the idea's acceptance, including potential field bias, within an appropriate timeline.
     
  • Long-Term Potential: This assesses the project’s ability to open new avenues for researchers and the university. The focus is on whether the work can solidify a uniquely competitive team, repurpose resources creatively, and link academic discovery to broader societal concerns.
     
  • Potential for Enabling External Support: Applicants must demonstrate a clear alignment between their project goals and the priorities of future funding sources. The proposal should show that achieving these initial outcomes will make the team immediately competitive for external grants.


Expenditures and Grant Management

If awarded, the PI is responsible for ensuring funds are spent according to the approved budget, objects, and Lehigh’s business policies. Unused funds will be reclaimed after 12 months unless a no-cost extension is approved. PIs may request a one-time, no-cost extension of up to 12 months if the project requires additional time.

For more information, please consult our Internal Grants FAQ.
 

Reporting Requirements

As a condition of the award, PIs must document the resulting external proposal submission. You must also report annually on progress for five years and cite the grant ID in any resulting publications or presentations.
 

Contact Information

Questions and requests for additional information should be directed to VPResearch@lehigh.edu

Infoready Internal Grant FAQ Pivot-RP