The University of Iowa Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development has launched a pilot seed grant program to encourage researchers to use the Central Microscopy Research Facility (CMRF) to help secure further external funding.

Located in the Eckstein Medical Research Facility, the CMRF provides instrumentation and technical assistance to research programs involving the use of scanning and transmission electron microscopy, light microscopy and confocal microscopy, freeze fracture and x-ray microanalysis. The facility is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Pilot Project Seed Grant Program funds may be used by faculty to develop new research directions, make use of instrumentation they have not previously utilized, or employ new applications of instrumentation—all with the purpose of securing proof of concept and generating data to be used to pursue external funding for their work.

Proposals must be submitted by Nov. 6, 2015, and awards of up to $1,000 will be announced Nov. 16, 2015, after consideration by a review committee. (Note that this deadline has been extended from the previously advertised deadline of Oct. 23.)

To be considered for a grant under the program, save, fill out and submit the application form that may be found here along with supporting documentation to Randy Nessler, CMRF director, at randy-nessler@uiowa.edu.

Awardees will be required to file a progress report and submit the proposal to an external agency within a year of the seed grant award.