Duke Research Summit 2025: Collaborative Research Planning Grant

Request for Applications

Purpose: 

The Duke Office for Research & Innovation (OR&I) is excited to launch a new initiative to cultivate competitive, large-scale collaborative research projects through the formation of highly effective research teams. This program aims to boost interdisciplinary collaboration and fortify research teams by offering facilitated research planning. Our goal is to reduce barriers to collaboration, refine research questions, develop innovative approaches, and ultimately generate high-impact research proposals. 

The Duke Office of Climate & Sustainability is also partnering on this request for applications to provide facilitated research planning specifically for teams focusing on research that aligns with the aims of the Duke Climate Commitment.  

Program Overview: 

This program includes the following components: 

1. A full day retreat at the Washington Duke Inn or JB Duke Inn, facilitated by the CTSI Team Science Core, for research teams to engage in focused discussions, strategic planning, and problem-solving. Professional facilitators will work with the team to custom design the retreat agenda and activities to meet the specific needs of the selected team. 

2. 10% effort (4 hours/week) of project management support, provided by the Research Project Management Core, for four months post-retreat to maintain momentum. 

Eligibility: 

Applications are open to tenured/tenure-track faculty interested in addressing challenging research problems requiring interdisciplinary collaboration. Applications from teams with external collaborators will be considered eligible, however, retreat attendance is limited to those internal to Duke. Applicants are encouraged to include Postdocs, Fellows, and other trainees on their team.   

Application Requirements: 

Applications must include the following components: 

• Team Composition: Provide a list of team members, including their roles and expertise. 

• Team Dynamics: A statement (max 1,500 characters) that describes the team’s current methods for collaboration and communication, strategies for decision-making and conflict resolution, and any challenges or areas for improvement. 

• Research Challenge Description: A brief overview (max 2,500 characters) of the complex research challenge the team is addressing, including the current stage of the research and specific barriers or issues that the retreat could help resolve. 

• Retreat Goals: A statement (max 1,500 characters) outlining what the team hopes to achieve through participation in the retreat. 

Selection Process: 

Applications will be reviewed by the Office for Research & Innovation leadership. Criteria for selection will include the significance of the research challenge, the interdisciplinary nature of the team, the potential impact of the retreat on the team’s dynamics and research progress, and the feasibility of the proposed goals. Top teams may be invited for a Zoom interview to further discuss their application. 

Reporting and Follow-Up: 

Each awarded team must complete a post-retreat evaluation form and submit a final report on project progress within six months of the retreat.