FAQ
Where can I learn more about In Principle and Practice?
In Principle and Practice is the University of Pennsylvania’s strategic framework and can be found at: https://in-principle-and-practice.upenn.edu/
Who is eligible to apply?
Current University students, faculty, post-doctoral scholars, and staff are eligible to apply. One of the strategic framework’s actionable practices is to “accelerate interdisciplinary pursuits,” and so joint proposals across schools or programs will be looked upon favorably, but proposals from single individuals or reflecting single disciplines are also encouraged.
Is this a one-time solicitation?
We expect to solicit applications for two years and then evaluate its success. If you don’t apply this year, we expect you will be able to apply next year.
How does this program differ from the University Research Foundation, Projects for Progress, the President’s Innovation Prize, and the President’s Engagement Prizes?
The Draw Down the Lightning solicitation specifically aims to advance In Principle and Practice. Because the strategic framework is broad, there may indeed be some overlap between the goals of a submission and those other programs. If appropriate, the same projects may be submitted under multiple initiatives, but cannot receive support from more than one program.
What preliminary approvals are required for application?
All proposals need approval from the relevant School, Department, or Center. Faculty should obtain approval from their Chair or Dean and work with their business office to formulate and submit budgets. Students must have a faculty supervisor who must follow the approval process for faculty. Staff should obtain approval from their supervisor who, in turn, may seek higher level approval, and similarly work with their business office for budgets. At the letter of intent stage, applicants should attest that they have confirmed supervisory approval. At the full proposal stage, applicants must provide more formal supervisory approval.
What size budgets will you fund?
Applicants should determine what support they need, solicit support from their Department(s), School(s), or Center(s), and request the remainder in their application. Centrally requested funds in any amount up to $250,000 will be considered, though we expect most proposals will be substantially smaller. Proposals will be evaluated in part for efficiency.
How do I formulate and submit a budget?
Full, line item budgets are required only if applicants are invited to submit full proposals. Those budgets should be completed with support from the applicants’ business offices and will generally follow the guidelines for the University Research Foundation (https://research.upenn.edu/funding-opportunity/university-research-foundation-research-grant/). Budgets should extend for no longer than two years. Budgets at the letter of intent stage can be approximate, but should provide enough rough detail to offer a general explanation.
Are supplementary contributions from schools, departments, centers, our outside sources required?
While such contributions are not required, they are strongly encouraged both to supplement resources and to communicate how programs might continue past the funding period of these grants. We expect that some proposals will be submitted with school, department, or center monetary or in-kind support of approximately the same value as the amount requested from the central University—or they may be supplemented by external funds--but we expect considerable variation in the level of this support and aim to evaluate the amount of that support flexibly based on the scope of the proposed program.
How will proposals be assessed?
Proposals will be reviewed by a broad committee of Penn faculty and staff. Letters of intent and full proposals will be evaluated for: (a) alignment with In Principle and Practice; (b) inventiveness and achievability of the project’s scope and ambition; (c) alignment between the proposed budget and project scope; and (d) likelihood of long-term sustainability and success. There is no predetermined number of projects that will be invited to submit a full proposal. The total number of awardees will depend on project budgets relative to available University funds.
If I receive an award, how will the funds be managed?
Funds will be distributed to the business office of the applicant (lead School/person since multi-school proposals will need one lead) and managed according to usual internal processes. Business administrators will provide yearly and end of award reporting and return unused funds.
Where can I get answers to additional questions?
Applicants with additional questions should contact Eugene Vaynberg at eugenev@upenn.edu.