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Research Development and Support

RAMP

Rapid-Advance MicroGrant Program (RAMP)

Program Information

RAMP awards are designed for smaller-scale funding opportunities that require a rapid response, allowing faculty to innovate in the moment and to seize strategic and time-sensitive opportunities as they arise.

  • This program provides support ranging from $500 to $5,000 as the budget allows, with smaller requests encouraged.

Fund Uses

RAMP funds have been used used to:

  • Support the development of creative works
  • Acquire materials for research or projects, including wages for student researchers
  • Travel to either meet with collaborators or bring them to Vanderbilt

Eligibility and Terms

  • All full-time, VU-employed (Provost-reporting) faculty are eligible.
  • Faculty may submit up to one proposal per fiscal year as lead faculty.
  • Applicants are encouraged to consider how their proposal advances inclusive excellence.
  • Funds may not be used to support faculty salary.
  • Faculty are not eligible to submit another proposal until all reporting requirements have been met.
  • Each participating faculty member must disclose all institutional research support funds, including endowed-chair funds, annual allocations, and other such sources.
  • All funds must be used within the awarded period (i.e. no carry forward).

Review Process

Proposals will be accepted on a monthly basis July through May. Proposals will undergo an administrative review; applications are reviewed for alignment with the program and allowable funding uses.

RAMP applications will enter into review on the below dates: 

January 31st
February 28th
March 31st
April 28th
May 31st
No review in June

Application and Proposal Information

Link to Application Portal for FY 2023 RAMP 

Applicant Information

  • Lead Faculty First and Last Name
  • Lead Faculty VUnetID
  • Lead Faculty Department
  • Lead Faculty Appointment Title
  • Collaborators (up to 4 faculty)

Proposal Information

  • Proposal Title
  • Project Summary (100 words)
  • Project Proposal including detailed description of work to be completed. Discuss the overarching theme, research question, area of scholarship or creative expression to be addressed. Detail the timeliness and/or time-sensitivity of the funding. Review project timeline and how funds will be used. (750 words)
  • Significance and impact of the work/scholarship on the field, the community, the university and/or the faculty involved. (250 words)
  • Outline the anticipated outcome and note any future activities or projects this funding would facilitate. (250 words)
  • Disclose current internal funding for all VU faculty involved. Each participating faculty member must disclose all institutional support funds, including endowed-chair funds, annual allocations, and other such sources. If none, please put N/A.
  • Total funding requested

Uploads

  • Detailed budget
  • Optional supporting image attachment.  Such attachments are only for images or graphics that cannot be included in the program description text box.
  • NOTE: Additional written content or files will not be reviewed

FAQs

Contact

For more information about RAMP, please contact ovprfunding@vanderbilt.edu.