Interdisciplinary Small Grant Program

Overview

The Social & Behavioral Science Institute (SBSI) Interdisciplinary Small Grant Program supports ambitious and pioneering research that will advance social and behavioral science to solve societal problems related to at least one of SBSI’s five impact areas.

Bringing together distinct disciplinary perspectives, methods, and forms of evidence produces more complete understanding of complex problems and more robust solutions than any single field can offer alone. To that end, the SBSI Interdisciplinary Small Grant Program supports team-based, interdisciplinary research. All proposals must include collaborators who contribute distinct intellectual perspectives, expertise, methods, or approaches to the project.

Interdisciplinary collaboration is not defined solely by participation from different departments or units. Competitive proposals will demonstrate how the integration of multiple disciplinary perspectives strengthens the project in ways that would not be possible within a single field alone. For the purposes of this grant program, interdisciplinary collaboration involves the intentional integration of different forms of expertise to address a research question, challenge, or opportunity.

Competitive interdisciplinary projects may include:

• Integration of theories, frameworks, or conceptual approaches across disciplines
• Use of complementary methods or analytic approaches
• Collaboration across distinct areas of substantive expertise
• Shared development of research design, interpretation, or dissemination activities
• Coordinated efforts that produce outcomes unlikely to emerge from a single disciplinary perspective

Research proposed for the Interdisciplinary Small Grant Program must be guided by social and behavioral science theory and evidence. The program supports the development and evaluation of ideas and applications that produce innovative, generalizable knowledge with the potential for significant impact. Projects can be oriented toward elucidating fundamental phenomena (i.e., basic research) or practical solutions (i.e., applied research). Regardless, projects should show promise for external funding.

Criteria for Submissions to the SBSI Interdisciplinary Small Grant Program: 

• SBSI Interdisciplinary Small Grants are open to tenure-track faculty (PI) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
• Proposals must be submitted by interdisciplinary research teams that intentionally integrate distinct forms of expertise to address a research question, challenge, or opportunity; submissions from individual investigators will not be accepted.
• Proposals must show innovative approaches to address important issues related to at least one of the SBSI five impact areas.
• Projects must use rigorous methods and analyses that can answer the research questions and/or hypotheses. 
• Proposals must articulate a clear pathway toward the development and submission of one or more proposals to external funding agencies.

Submissions will be reviewed based on:

• Significance of their contribution
• Methodological and analytical strength
• Promise for external funding
• Meaningful interdisciplinary integration

Eligibility & Awards

Who is eligible for an SBSI Interdisciplinary Small Grant?

Primary Investigator:
Eligibility to serve as a primary investigator (PI) is limited to tenure track faculty members at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Tenure track faculty members are only eligible to submit one pre-proposal per funding cycle and be a PI on one SBSI Small Grant every 5 years.

Co-Investigator:
Eligibility to serve as a co-investigator (Co-I) is inclusive of tenure track faculty members, research professionals, specialized faculty, postdoctoral research associates, and community partners.

Who is NOT eligible?

• Students may NOT serve as Co-Investigators.
• Proposals by individual investigators will NOT be accepted; they must be submitted by research teams.

Supported Project Types:

• The collection and analysis of new data to advance social and behavioral science to address societal problems
• Compilation and/or analysis of data already collected at the local, state, national, or global level to advance social and behavioral science to address societal problems
• The development and testing of novel methodological approaches that advance social and behavioral science
• The development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions or publicly engaged programming based in social and behavioral science

Unsupported Project Types:

• Reviews of theory and/or research, including meta-analyses and AI-assisted reviews
• Development and/or delivery of public engagement programming without a significant evaluation of its effectiveness
• Development of apps or other technology without a significant evaluation of their effectiveness
• Development and/or delivery of training programs (e.g., for undergraduate or graduate students), unless such programs are the focus of the research

Awards

Awards range from $5,000 to $30,000 with a project performance period of 18 months.

Impact Areas

Interdisciplinary Small Grant Projects must broadly address issues relevant to at least one of the five SBSI Impact Areas.

Technology & Society

Research into the role of technological innovations in societal transformation via people’s daily lives, as well as cultural, economic, political, and institutional structures, with the goal of providing critical insights that ensure technology evolves with transparency and inclusiveness to enhance society.

Health & Well-Being

Research yielding insight into how the complex interplay of social, economic, policy, and organizational contexts shape physical and mental health across the lifespan, with the goal of providing solutions for thriving.

Institutions & Organizations

Research into how governance systems, policies, institutions, and organizations shape social dynamics, the workforce, and decision-making, providing actionable insights to foster effective systems that support democracy.

Equity, Access, & Belonging

Research on systems of power, privilege, and marginalization to promote equality and inclusion in a variety of contexts, such as workplaces, educational institutions, and public spaces.

Environment & Society

Research on the human dimensions of environmental challenges, highlighting the role of social drivers such as beliefs, behavior, communication, and decision-making in building a climate-resilient future.

Not sure whether your research fits into one of our impact areas?
Reach out to one of our Research Development Staff or email us at SBscience@illinois.edu.

Proposal Requirements

This section outlines the materials required for both the pre-proposal and full proposal stages, as well as the criteria used to evaluate submissions.

Stage 1: Pre-Proposal

Applicants are required to submit the following documents through the online submission form.

• A one-page pre-proposal using the template
• A short description of the nature of the interdisciplinary collaboration (250 word maximum, entered directly into the application form)
• Current CVs for all team members. CVs are limited to a maximum of five pages per individual.

The 1-page pre-proposal must include the following sections:

• Background & Significance
  Describe the importance of the project and the motivation for the research.
• Goals & Objectives
  Outline the specific aims and what you seek to accomplish with your project.
• Methods
  Detail your methodological and analytical plan.
• Requested Funds
  Indicate the total amount requested (up to $30,000) and how the funds will be allocated.
• Research Team
  Explain the contributions of each member of the assembled team to conduct the proposed research.
• External Funding Path
  Describe the connection to a specific external funding opportunity and include a link to the funding announcement.

Click the button below to download the Pre-Proposal Template document required to submit your application. Please include references or any additional information as a separate document and upload it under the appendices section.

Download Pre-Proposal Template

Eligible Expenditures:

• Personnel costs, such as a graduate or undergraduate student research assistant or a non-student hourly worker
• Participant support costs
• Supplies and materials
• Data access or data set purchase
• Transcription costs
• Mailing costs

Ineligible Expenditures:

• Expenditures generally made by departments and colleges (e.g., travel to professional conferences)
• Delivery of outreach programs or services
• Student master’s or dissertation research
• Tuition waivers
• PI/Co-I salary
• Course buyouts
• Meetings (e.g., seminars, workshops, conferences, or brown bags)
• Travel, unless specifically required for data collection to carry out the research
• Publication costs

Stage 2: Full Proposal

Selected pre-proposal projects will receive an invitation to submit the following required documents to submit a full proposal:

• A 6-page full proposal (Please use the template provided to you by SBSI, which will be based on external funding mechanism you specify in your pre-proposal.)
• A project summary
• A budget and budget justification
• A plan for applying for external funding
• A description of the nature of the interdisciplinary collaboration
• A project timeline

Application Process & Timeline

The SBSI Interdisciplinary Small Grant Program uses a two-stage application process: Pre-Proposal and Full Proposal. Applicants first submit a pre-proposal for internal review by SBSI research development staff. Projects selected to advance will be invited to submit a full proposal for competitive review. Important dates for each stage are provided below.

Pre-Proposals

Pre-proposals are reviewed internally by the SBSI research development staff who will decide if the project meets the criteria of the Interdisciplinary Small Grant Program.

• PIs are permitted to submit one pre-proposal per funding cycle.
• Decisions on pre-proposals are communicated within approximately two weeks of the pre-proposal submission deadline.
• If a pre-proposal is invited by the SBSI team, the applicant will be eligible to submit a full proposal for the next two funding cycles.

Invited Full Proposals

Invited full proposals are reviewed by three social and behavioral science researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; these reviews guide the decisions of the SBSI team in selecting the funded projects.

• Submission portals open a month before the deadline.
• Full proposals must be submitted within two funding cycles following the invitation.
• After two cycles, the PI can submit a new pre-proposal.

Application Timeline

Fall Cycle

• Pre-Proposal Submission Window
  July 15 – Aug. 15, 2026
• Pre-Proposal Deadline
  August 15, 2026
• Full Proposal Invitation Notification
  First week of September 2026
• Full Proposal Deadline
  October 15, 2026
• Grant Award Decision
  During the month of December

Spring Cycle

• Pre-Proposal Submission Window
  Dec. 15 – Jan. 15, 2027
• Pre-Proposal Deadline
  January 15, 2027
• Full Proposal Invitation Notification
  First week of February 2027
• Full Proposal Deadline
  March 15, 2026
• Grant Award Decision
  During the month of May

Full Proposal Review Criteria

Full proposals are reviewed by three social and behavioral science researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign based on four criteria:

Importance and Significance:

• Does the proposal address an important issue (e.g., a pressing societal challenge or substantive gap in knowledge)?
• Will the research advance scientific understanding of the issue?
• Is a new and promising solution to a problem proposed?

Methodological and Analytical Strength:

• Will the proposed methods and analyses answer the research questions and/or hypotheses?
• Is there an appropriate and strong methodological and analytic plan?
• Is the plan viable given logistical factors (e.g., funding)?

Clear Path to External Funding:

• Is there a clear connection to a viable external funding opportunity?

Interdisciplinary Collaboration:

• Does the project address a question or challenge that benefits from multiple disciplinary perspectives?
• Are the intellectual contributions and roles of team members clearly articulated?
• Does the proposal meaningfully integrate perspectives, theories, methods, or approaches across disciplines?
• Is the interdisciplinary composition of the team appropriate for the proposed work?
• Does the collaboration strengthen the project design, implementation, analysis, interpretation, or anticipated outcomes?
• Would the project be substantially limited within a single disciplinary framework?

Post-Award Support

At SBSI, we are committed to supporting the success of the projects we fund. Our Research Development (RD) staff offers guidance on project administration, management, and the pursuit of external funding opportunities.

Ongoing Support

All small grant recipients are matched with a dedicated RD staff member who provides team science coaching and support for the duration of their project.

Support includes:

• A kickoff meeting with the RD staff and SBSI Director
• Three team science sessions
• Progress check-ins at 6, 12, and 18 months
• Additional check-ins by request

These check-ins offer an opportunity to address any complications or unexpected developments (e.g., recruitment, data acquisition, etc.) and to begin planning for next steps beyond the current project.

Final Reporting

At the end of the grant period, recipients must submit a closeout report documenting project outcomes and impact, including scholarly products, student training opportunities, interdisciplinary contributions, impacts on future research and external funding, challenges encountered, and opportunities for continued SBSI support. Recipients will also be asked to describe plans for leveraging the work to pursue external funding.

These reports help SBSI track outcomes and evaluate the success of the grant program.

Project Changes & Issues

If challenges arise during the project, SBSI will work with you to resolve them. However, SBSI reserves the right to recover funds from projects that cannot be completed as proposed.

To request changes to your project (e.g., team, scope, design, or budget), please email SBscience@illinois.edu. All changes must be approved in advance and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

FAQs

Why was the program changed to require interdisciplinary teams? 

As SBSI has evolved from CSBS, the small grant program has been refocused to support one of the institute’s core priorities: advancing interdisciplinary social and behavioral science research. The program now emphasizes projects that bring together researchers with distinct expertise to address questions and challenges that benefit from multiple perspectives. This focus allows SBSI to invest in collaborations that build new connections across campus and position teams for future external funding opportunities. 

What qualifies as an interdisciplinary project? 

For the purposes of the SBSI Interdisciplinary Small Grant Program, interdisciplinary collaboration involves the intentional integration of different forms of expertise to address a research question, challenge, or opportunity. Competitive interdisciplinary projects may include: 

• integration of theories, frameworks, or conceptual approaches across disciplines, 
• use of complementary methods or analytic approaches, 
• collaboration across distinct areas of substantive expertise, 
• shared development of research design, interpretation, or dissemination activities, 
• or coordinated efforts that produce outcomes unlikely to emerge from a single disciplinary perspective. 

Proposals should clearly explain why the interdisciplinary structure of the team is necessary to achieve the project goals. 

Can I submit a proposal as a single investigator? 

No. The SBSI Interdisciplinary Small Grant Program supports team-based research projects that integrate distinct disciplinary perspectives, expertise, methods, or approaches. 

Do collaborators need to be from different departments? 

Not necessarily. SBSI evaluates the intellectual contributions, expertise, methods, and perspectives represented on the team rather than departmental affiliations alone. 

Can faculty from outside the social and behavioral sciences participate? 

Yes. Collaborators may come from any discipline, provided the proposed research is grounded in social and behavioral science theory and evidence and aligns with the goals of the program. 

How will interdisciplinary collaboration be evaluated? 

Interdisciplinary collaboration is a core review criterion. Reviewers will assess whether the project meaningfully integrates multiple perspectives, methods, forms of expertise, or approaches and whether that integration strengthens the project in ways that would not be possible within a single disciplinary framework. 

How are the proposals reviewed? 

Each proposal is reviewed by three social and behavioral science researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. Based on these reviews, the SBSI team selects proposals with attention to interdisciplinarity as well as ensuring the support of a breadth of disciplines.

Can a person be an investigator on more than one project?

Yes, but someone cannot serve as PI on more than one funded Small Grant at a time. PIs must wait five years before applying for another Small Grant as a PI.

Can PIs from other institutions be included on proposals?

SBSI’s goal is to support research on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus.  Although this does not preclude collaborations with other universities, it puts applications at a disadvantage if there is only one Illinois researcher or unit applying for a grant with a collaborator or collaborators from other institutions.  To the extent that PIs can gather a team of researchers from the Illinois campus, their chances of earning SBSI funding will be enhanced, particularly if the team is interdisciplinary.

Can Small Grants be used by graduate students to fund master’s or dissertation projects?

No, the Small Grant funds are intended to support Illinois faculty so that they may ultimately apply for external funding.

Does the Small Grant Program fund reviews of research?

No, the program does not fund reviews, even when they may be intensive—for example, in the case of meta-analyses or AI-assisted reviews.

Does the Small Grant Program fund the development of apps or technology?

The program may fund the development of apps or technology only if the project is explicitly rooted in social and behavioral science and includes a systematic evaluation of the effectiveness of the app or technology. We strongly encourage applicants to prioritize research that evaluates these tools through a social and behavioral science framework.

Does the Small Grant Program support publicly engaged work?

The program supports publicly engaged research that creates and/or contributes to generalizable knowledge. The program, however, does not support the development of publicly engaged programming, unless it is explicitly informed by social and behavioral science and has a systematic evaluation of its effectiveness.

Do I need to reference previous theory and/or research in my pre-proposal?

The best pre-proposals indicate how the proposed research is informed by and moves forward knowledge. Thus, it is important to situate the proposed research within the current theoretical and empirical context, which involves referencing prior work.

Given space limitations, do I need to be specific in my methodological and analytic plan in the full proposal?

Yes, a key component of the review of proposals is the evaluation of whether the planned research can answer the questions or test the hypotheses guiding the proposed research. Without a clear methodological and analytic plan, it will be unclear to reviewers if this is possible.

Is it possible to get feedback on my proposal?

The SBSI staff are available to provide feedback on your proposal. To ensure we have enough time for a thoughtful review, we recommend submitting pre-proposals at least two weeks and full proposals at least three weeks in advance of the deadline. While we do our best to offer feedback, please note that we cannot guarantee it for every submission.

How do I find external funding sources that may be a good fit for my proposal?

The SBSI staff can help by conducting a targeted grant search to find funding opportunities that match your research interests. To request this service, email us at SBscience@illinois.edu. We also encourage you to subscribe to the SBSI Newsletter, which features a list of upcoming grant deadlines.

Do you have a question that isn’t listed above?
Reach out to one of our Research Development Managers or email us at SBscience@illinois.edu.

Apply

Ready to apply?

Begin the application process by submitting your proposal through the SBSI Interdisciplinary Small Grant Program application portal.

Apply Now Download Pre-Proposal Template