Fall Research Competition
The Fall Research Competition application opens on August 18, 2025 at 8 a.m. and closes on September 5, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.
NEW THIS YEAR: For the Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences in which extramural funding has historically been available, the 2025 Fall Research Competition will prioritize continuation or completion of research that has experienced or is likely to experience an interruption to or cancellation of federal funding. FRC (Fall Research Competition) proposals that serve as backup support (“insurance”) for pending external grant applications will also be accepted in all disciplines.
Before starting your application, read all the FAQs for your division linked below for important information on new priorities and other changes for this year.
Eligibility
This competition is for tenured professors and associate professors, tenure-track assistant professors, and permanent PIs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Faculty members and permanent principal investigators (PI) may submit one application to the Fall Research Competition. This submission may be either individual or involve collaboration with another faculty member or permanent PI. Applicants will be notified of the outcome in December 2025.
Award recipients will be required to complete a brief report at the end of the award period as well as follow up reports describing the impact of the award.
Applicants may apply to the Fall Research Competition OR to the Reimagining Next Phase Research Competition [https://research.wisc.edu/uncategorized/2025/08/06/building-bridges-support-for-research-impacted-by-federal-funding-cuts-gets-a-boost-from-ovcr/], but not both. Applications to both mechanisms from the same faculty member/permanent PI will result in the withdrawal of both applications.
Description
An important goal for the Fall Research Competition is that OVCR investments lead to external funding.
Continuation/Completion Funding
For the Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences disciplines in which extramural funding has historically been available, this year’s Fall Research Competition will prioritize projects that have experienced or are highly likely to experience an interruption to or termination of federal funding given their substantive research area or funding mechanism, and for which additional support will allow for continuation or completion of the research goals. Applications based on anticipated funding interruption/termination will only receive support in the event of an actual loss or interruption of funding. FRC awards made to address federal funding interruption/termination are expected to average approximately the cost of a 50% FTE project/research assistant, and most funds will be allocated to providing such support, though some projects may receive research staff salary support if necessary to complete the research.
Insurance Funding
FRC proposals that serve as backup support (“insurance”) for pending external grant applications will be accepted in all disciplines. “Insurance” awards are provided should the “insured” proposal fail to be funded by the outside agency. Insurance proposals for federal applications should be in current government priority areas. Information about the granting procedures of various federal and non-federal agencies is available from the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs.
Other
If you are applying for a Guggenheim, National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), or American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) fellowship, contact your Divisional Associate Vice Chancellor. Make sure you know and understand the supplementation policies, especially for external research fellowships other than the three identified above.
Application Preview
Please see the examples of a 2025 Traditional Insurance application form and a 2025 Continuation/Completion application form along with the associated Instructions. For further information about eligibility and types of support, see the Competition policies for 2025.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) by Division
Before starting your application, read all the FAQs for your division linked below for important information on new priorities and other changes for this year.
Apply Online: https://competitions.ovcr.wisc.edu/Submissions/
Contact Information
Questions about the application?
competitions@research.wisc.edu or 608-262-8387 or 608-265-6931
Having technical difficulties?
ovcr-it-for-administration@office365.wisc.edu
Past applications and results: https://competitions.ovcr.wisc.edu/Submissions/