About Public Impact Research Initiative Grants
**We recognize that researchers and non-university partners have been impacted by recent winter storms. As such, we have extended the deadline for these awards to the following:
January 23, 2023 for upload of proposal materials, with additional time to submit non-university partner letters. If you do not submit your non-university partner letter with your proposal (by January 23), please email it to engaged@ucdavis.edu by 5 p.m. on January 27 and we will add it to your proposal prior to review.**
The Public Impact Research Initiative (PIRI) was established through Public Scholarship and Engagement to recognize and support research that is cogenerated with community partners, is of mutual benefit, and has a positive public impact. Through this program we provide financial support for new collaborations or sustaining relationships that will support publicly engaged research with non-university partners.
We are interested in supporting research that expands who is included in the generation of knowledge and recognizes the assets that community members bring to those of university members. We value the inclusion of partners and public impacts that have been historically excluded in academic practices.
These awards are intended to position researchers for future funding, capacity building and growth in research areas that include mutually beneficial partnerships. Publicly-engaged research can have an impact at varying scales and disciplines, with many different community partners. For examples of projects previously supported by this program, please see our 2022 PIRI recipients.
Recipients of a Public Impact Research Program grant will receive $5,000 to $10,000 for their proposed activities, depending upon budget request and program review. Applications and supporting materials must be received by January 20, 2023. Funds will be distributed in April 2023. Grant recipients are expected to budget for funds that they can spend by the end of Spring Quarter 2024.
PIRI Grant Timeline:
- Applications and supporting materials due: January 20, 2023
- [Extended deadline due to winter storms: January 23, 2023, with non-university partner letter of support by January 27, 2023]
- Funds distributed: April 2023
- Deadline for all grant funds to be spent: June 2024
Eligibility and Award Criteria
All current Academic Senate and Academic Federation members from any UC Davis location are eligible to apply. The Public Impact Research Initiative will support the development of new research collaborations, and/or projects that will deepen, sustain, or evaluate existing collaborative research. Previous recipients of PIRI funds will be considered lower priority for funding, but are still encouraged to submit proposals as long as their prior requirements (blog post, final report) are complete for previous project(s).
Applications will be evaluated on the quality of the proposal, anticipated impact and potential for mutually beneficial and reciprocal relationships with one or more non-university groups. This can include, but is not limited to, direct engagement with non-university group(s) in the development of collaborative agreements, research goals, questions, and/or methods, as well as incorporating community knowledge, voices and histories to research and creative practice. For proposed work that reflects an extension of existing research collaborations, proposals should indicate the demonstrated prior accomplishments and desire to deepen, sustain or evaluate ongoing research.
Proposals should address a clear plan for one of the following outcomes of the award: a subsequent grant submission within a year after a PIRI grant is complete, a presentation at a national or international conference, or publishing research findings in peer reviewed literature. Each application should also describe a timeline with expected milestones leading to the completion of proposed tasks.