Core Facility Voucher Program—Undergraduate Investigators

ÌýÌýThis application portal will remain open until all the funds are awarded. Please contact Joe Dragavon (joseph.dragavon@colorado.edu) with any questions.

The Core Facility Voucher Program—Undergraduate Investigators (CFVP-UI) is aimed at encouraging undergraduate investigators to utilize ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ Core Facilities to advance in their research.

CFVP-UI assists undergraduate investigators in gathering new or additional data for their undergraduate research thesis, grant applications, or manuscripts (new and enhanced resubmissions), as well as for addressing concerns from peer reviewers on a submitted manuscript for publication.Ìý

Intent of the Core Facility Voucher Program—Undergraduate Investigator

The CFVP-UI assists undergraduate investigators in their pursuit to gather new or additional data for:Ìý

  • Undergraduate research thesis and/or research experience
  • Grant applications
  • Manuscripts (new and enhanced resubmissions)
  • Exploratory research that aims to ultimately result in a future grant application or peer reviewed manuscriptÌý

Eligibility

  1. The CVFP-UI is intended to support as many undergraduate investigators as possible. The applicant must be housed within an affiliated research lab whose Principal Investigator meets the eligibility criteria listed below:
    1. ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty
    2. Senior Instructors
    3. Career Track Research Faculty (i.e. Research Professors Senior Research Associates, Research Associates)
    4. PRAs must receive written approval from their department chair, college dean, or institute director before applying
    5. The applicant must hold an appointment of half-time or greater
    6. Note: Preference will be given to applicants pursuing support for senior undergraduate research theses or equivalent reports
  2. Applications may only involve Core Facilities that are in good standing with the Central Support Program
    1. Core Facilities must have an approved rate sheet by the RBSA office
    2. Current list of Core Facilities

The application portal will remain open until all funds are awarded, or until April 30, 2026, whichever occurs first.Ìý

Applications must be submitted electronically via and include the following information: Ìý

  • Applicant name
  • Cover page
  • Applicant details:
    • Email address
    • Institution
    • Department of major
    • College of major
    • Anticipated graduation date
  • Principal Investigator/Research lab
  • Proposal description (1,000 word maximum) including:
    • Research significance and impact
    • Experimental plan
    • Data use
    • Future/post-graduate plans
  • Applicant resume
  • Amount requested (max = $1,500)
  • A budget generated from the provided template that automatically calculates and adds the 8.68% GAIR to the quote (link below). Note: RIO and the CVFP will not pay for GAIR.
  • List of Cores to be used
  • Detailed quote for the Core(s) services
    • The quotesÌýmust be provided by the Core Facility.
  • Details concerning how the data will be applied:
    • Future manuscript
    • Future funding
    • Future thesis/document for graduation
  • Annual Report Agreement
    • The PI of the applicant must agree to submit an annual Impact Report for three fiscal years (three reports in total)

Additional file uploads

All applicants will also need to upload these additional supporting documents:

After all the above steps are complete, the applicant will be prompted to submit the application.

The maximum per request is $1,500 per applicant.ÌýThere will be no no-cost extensions, and the funds must be spent by the end of FY26 as detailed below.

The funding source for the Core Facility Voucher Program—Undergraduate Investigators (CFVP-UI) is coming from Auxiliary funding, therefore GAIR is required to be included in the total request for the Voucher award applications.ÌýPlease use theÌýÌýÌýbudget template, which automatically calculates and adds the 8.68% GAIR to the quote.

Deadline

Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please allow 2–3 weeks for review and decision on the proposal.ÌýFunds must be used by June 30, 2025.ÌýNo new voucher awards will be made after April 30, 2025.

Restrictions

  • Funds for awarded vouchers will be provided to the selected core(s) and used for services as outlined in the submitted quote. Make sure you used theÌýÌýÌýbudget template that automatically calculates and adds the 8.68% GAIR to the quote. Note: The GAIR calculation is for your reference. Neither RIO nor the CFVP-UI will pay for GAIR.
  • Unused funds cannot be redirected to other uses.
  • Click here for a list of all eligible Core Facilities.Ìý

Review

Members of the Cores Executive Committee will review the submitted proposals. Review criteria include:Ìý

  • Eligibility of the applicant and the Core Facility
  • Strength of the proposal description
  • Ability of the Core Facility to satisfy the goals and objectives of the project
  • Justification of the need for financial assistance
  • Track record of the PI in grant submissions and publications

Funding decisions will be announced on a rolling basis 2–3 weeks after submission.

Post-voucher award reporting and acknowledgement

PIs must submit a brief Impact Report.ÌýRecipients will receive a link to the Impact Report each August. The report will request information on core facility useÌýand grants/publications submitted.

Any awarded grants or publications must acknowledge support from the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ Financial Futures Program.

By accepting the award, the recipient and the PI agree to acknowledge the "ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½Æƽâ°æÏÂÔØ FY26 Core Facility Voucher Award Program" in any and all publications and presentations that were supported by the award. Failure to do so may disqualify the applicant and the PI from future funding opportunities.Ìý

For more information about campus cores or applications for this program, please contact Joe Dragavon, Director of Core Facilities & Shared Instrumentation at joseph.dragavon@colorado.edu.

Support Programs