AGI Faculty Collaborative Grant Development Retreat Series
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and the Area Global Initiative (AGI) invite faculty to apply to participate in a series of grant development retreats to support collaborative research teams. Designed in response to a survey of faculty affiliates of AGI’s member centers, the program will provide a framework that includes time, space, and community to support faculty seeking major grants to conduct collaborative, interdisciplinary research. Throughout the academic year, faculty teams will participate in writing retreats and individualized sessions with grant development specialists in Strategic Research Initiatives of the Office of Research with the aim of preparing grant proposals for extramural funding within the next 18 months.
Purpose:
This series of programs throughout AY 2025-26 will support Faculty Collaborative Research Teams as they seek external funding to support their research goals. This program is designed to support faculty research teams 1) identify appropriate funding agencies and learn how to engage with program officers throughout the development of grant proposals, 2) conceive, plan, and write grant proposals and 3) submit major grant proposals for extramural funding within the next 18 months.
Eligibility:
Each proposing team must include at least one faculty member who is affiliated with an AGI member center (Africa Center, CLAIR, CMES, EAC, or Orfalea Center). The additional collaborator(s) may be from any academic department at UCSB and/or from external institutions, including from STEM disciplines and departments.
Description of Activities in 2025-26 Academic Year
December 2025: Call for Proposals opens for the 2026 Collaborative Research Seed Grant
The AVC of Research has allocated seed funding and Office of Research staff time in order to support collaborative teams as they develop their grant proposals. *Some funds have been specifically allocated for faculty teams led by an AGI member center faculty affiliate.
Collaborative teams interested in having a structured, supported space to develop their grant proposal are encouraged to apply to be part of the 2026 Collaborative Retreat Series. Applicants will be required to submit a) a one-page project abstract, b) documentation that a program officer at the prospective funding agency has indicated interest in the proposed research project, or a plan to request feedback on a research synopsis from a program officer at the prospective funding agency, c) dates for their research team writing retreats during the 2026 Winter and Spring Quarters, and d) a budget describing how they intend to use the $5000 seed funding to develop their grant proposal.Teams awarded seed grant funding are expected to participate in the 2026 Collaborative Retreat series.
February 1, 2026: Short Application due for seed funding program
February 13-February 27, 2026: Notification of seed funding awards
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Winter & Spring 2025
January 16, 2026: Collaborative Research Funding Retreat
9:30 AM – 3 PM ● Loma Pelona Conference Center, UCSB
Register Here to attend this retreat no later than January 8, 2026.
This retreat provides an opportunity for Faculty Collaborative Research Teams to 1) identify funding calls that will support their research, 2) begin to draft a grant proposal abstract, and 3) learn how to reach out to program officers at funding agencies to ensure fit between your research goals and their funding priorities. Faculty interested in seed grant funding and continuing to be a part of the 2026 Faculty Collaborative Research Retreat Series should apply by February 1, 2026 (details above).
Collaborative Faculty Team Retreats I and II
Seed grant awardees and their collaborative research teams will take part in these retreats designed with faculty input to meet their specific needs and goals.
Contact Melissa Bator (SRI Associate Director, mjb@ucsb.edu) or Shiva Balaghi (AGI Academic Coordinator, sbalaghi@ucsb.edu) for more information.