Interdisciplinary Faculty Research Project Development Initiative

Program Overview

The Interdisciplinary Faculty Research Project Development Initiative (I-FRPDI) is a competitive, campus-wide funding opportunity that supports collaborative faculty teams in the development of major external grant proposals that advance CSUN’s academic mission, visibility, and long-term research capacity. Building on the successful structure and administrative framework of CSUN’s Faculty Research Project Development Initiative (FRPDI), I-FRPDI specifically prioritizes interdisciplinary collaboration, defined as intellectual or creative integration across disciplines, methodologies, or scholarly traditions. Funded projects must demonstrate a clear plan for interdisciplinary partnership and show strong potential to result in the submission of a major external grant proposal to a federal agency, foundation, or other sponsor (request exceeding $600,000). Awards are intended to provide developmental support to a small number of high-potential teams whose projects align with institutional priorities and are positioned to generate sustained scholarly, creative, and financial impact for CSUN.

Please review the eligibility requirements and application guidelines. The deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m. PDT on Monday, March 30, 2026. Complete applications must be submitted within the InfoReady system by the deadline. Incomplete applications and applications received outside of InfoReady (e.g., via email) will not be considered for funding.

Program Goals

The I-FRPDI prioritizes interdisciplinary partnerships that integrate perspectives, methods, or creative approaches across fields and that extend beyond the award period. The program goals are to:

  • Support faculty teams engaged in interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Increase faculty competitiveness for large-scale or prestigious external funding opportunities
  • Strengthen CSUN’s long-term research, scholarship, and creative ecosystem

Award Details

Awards are intended to provide sufficient support to enable focused project development. Funds may be used for reassigned time and/or other eligible project development expenses. Applicants are encouraged to request only the level of funding necessary to achieve clearly articulated outcomes. All expenditures must comply with CSU and CSUN policies and procedures.

  • Award Period: Summer 2026 through Spring 2027
  • Maximum Funding Amount: Up to $20,000
  • Number of Awards: Up to three projects may be funded

Comparison w-Summer Grant Program

RSP is deliberately releasing RFPs for both the 2026 Summer Grant Program and the new Interdisciplinary Faculty Research Project Development Initiative (I-FRPDI) simultaneously as both programs intend to support the development and submission of a full proposal for external funding. Where the I-FRPDI program supports collaborative interdisciplinary teams of faculty who are developing major external grant proposals, the Summer Grant Program remains available for faculty focused on individual proposal development or smaller-scale collaborations. Applicants are encouraged to evaluate the terms of both RFPs to determine which program is better suited to their objectives. Applicants may apply to only one of these opportunities during the spring 2026 application cycle.

Similarities

  • Applications are published on InfoReady
  • Deadline is 5:00 p.m. on March 30
  • Awardees will be announced May 1
  • Both initiatives require the submission of an external proposal for sponsored research/projects by June 30, 2027
  • Applicants must include a link to the targeted funding announcement
  • Applicants may only submit one application between the two initiatives
  • Applicants are required to follow the campus process if the identified funding opportunity is a Limited Submission

Differences

  • Award amount
    • Summer Grant offers $3,000 in additional pay during summer 2026
    • I-FRPDI offers up to $20,000 per project team; project funds may be used through Spring 2027 for allowable expenses
  • Reassigned time
    • Summer Grant does not include an option for reassigned time
    • I-FRPDI offers up to six units per project team for Fall 2026; requested units are deducted from the $20,000 maximum award at $2,500 per unit
  • Funding Opportunity
    • Summer Grant requires a funding opportunity that offers an award of a minimum of $10,000
    • I-FRPDI requires a funding opportunity that offers an award of a minimum of $600,000
  • Project team
    • Summer Grant allows individual faculty to apply, and may include one co-applicant
    • I-FRPDI requires collaboration between at least two faculty from different academic disciplines
  • Application
    • Summer Grant has a maximum one-page limit on Project Summary
    • I-FRPDI has a maximum three-page limit on the Project Narrative

 

Please direct any questions regarding this funding opportunity to Dr. Edgar Lopez at (818) 677-6776 or edgar.lopez@csun.edu.