Program Description

Fall 2026 Submission Deadline: Sunday, October 11, 2026 by 11:59 pm

Note: There is one round of FRG for 2026-27.


The Faculty Research Grant (FRG) program supports the continuity, advancement, and impact of research would not otherwise be possible. The FRG award supports work that is not currently supported by existing university resources, including external grants, gifts, or endowments. Priority is given to proposals that develop a new research focus, expand research programs beyond their current scope, or enable ongoing programs to have expanded impact. 


Award

Grants are limited to a maximum of $6,000.


Eligibility

All tenured/tenure-track faculty, as well as research professors (Assistant, Associate and full) are eligible. Applicants who have received three or more FRG awards in the past 5 years are not eligible. All required reports for prior Lehigh awards must be submitted to be eligible.

* For the 2026-2027 cycle, only proposals from the arts, humanities, and social sciences will be accepted.


Allowable Costs

FRG 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 2-3 pages, excluding references)

Background, context, and long-term goals: Overview including background, objectives, and methodology. Clearly justify the need for funding and detail the impact on your career and Lehigh’s profile. Include your qualifications and how this work advances your long-term goals.

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

3. 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.

  • Potential impact of the proposed project. Proposals should demonstrate how the grant enables high-caliber scholarship that would otherwise be impossible. They must describe how the project extends the work’s reach—via dissemination, public access, or practical application—while sustaining research growth and addressing systemic biases or inequities in the field.
     
  • Potential for success: Proposals should establish a clear path to success by aligning the funding plan with the applicants’ specialized qualifications and proven record of accomplishments.
     
  • Budget. Proposals should provide a budget that is appropriate, well-justified, and directly scaled to the project’s scope.
     


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