What are Seed Grants?
Data sciences can enable transformative research in many disciplines. However, initiating such work can be daunting, and knowing where to find partners and expertise may be difficult. The Data Intensive Studies Center (DISC) helps Tufts researchers overcome these barriers. Through this effort we seek to accelerate well defined efforts that combine the promise of disciplinary science breakthroughs enabled by new or existing data science methodologies to target high impact research and, in appropriate areas, large sponsored research efforts.
DISC will support such efforts with a seed grant of up to $25,000 and access to data scientists, data sets and other expertise at DISC. Projects should initiate a new group effort or provide new direction and significant enhancement to an existing group’s work. Primary review criteria will be:
- potential impact of the research proposed;
- necessity of existing or new data science methodologies to enable the proposed research;
- qualifications of the team for conducting the research proposed;
- potential for follow-on scholarship and funding resulting from the preliminary work -proposed here;
- educational efforts enabled;
- support for diversity and broadening participation in data sciences.
Application Process
We seek applications including a cover page, up to 2-page project description and NSF or NIH style biosketches of the primary investigators. We encourage potential applicants to reach out to our data scientists to refine their concept.
Cover Page
- Title of group and a short abstract (elevator pitch!);
- Names and affiliations of all team members (no funding available for non-Tufts partners except costs incurred in collaboration e.g. travel to Tufts);
- Direct cost budget and brief justification.
Project Description
- Potential impact of project and challenges to be addressed;
- Description of project workflow including existing state, planned work and clearly outlined deliverables for the seed investment and potential outcomes in longer term effort that may follow;
- Potential follow on efforts and clearly identified future sponsors;
- Education efforts supported;
- Plan for broadening participation.
Applications will be reviewed by faculty and DISC data scientists.
2023-2024 Application Process is now closed. 2024-2025 Applications will open June 2024
Requirements of accepting Seed grant:
- Participate in Monthly DISC Forums and Participation/Attendance during yearly DISC Symposium
- Mid-year and a final report
What are Study Groups?
The Data Intensive Studies Center (DISC) helps Tufts researchers overcome disciplinary barriers and facilitate the formation of groups to explore and define new high impact areas for scholarship enabled by data sciences.
In this first round DISC will support such efforts with support of up to $10,000 that may be used for supporting group activities like external speakers and student time for activities such as data collection and literature survey. Projects should initiate a new group effort in a broad area. Groups will be led by disciplinary researchers and closely supported by DISC staff and fellows. Groups will be encouraged to define “sandbox” like structure for exploring preliminary concepts using new methodologies like machine learning with support from DISC staff.
Primary review criteria will be
- Potential impact of the research proposed;
- Necessity of existing or new data science methodologies to enable the proposed research;
- Qualifications of the team for conducting the research proposed;
- Potential for follow-on scholarship and funding resulting from the preliminary work proposed here;
- Impact beyond the primary domain;
- Active engagement of DISC faculty/DISC Fellows/Data scientists.
Application Process
We seek 2-page applications including a cover page and NSF or NIH style biosketches of the PI. We encourage potential applicants to reach out to our data scientists to refine their concept.
Cover Page
- Title of group and a short abstract (elevator pitch!);
- Names and affiliations of all team members (no funding available for non-Tufts partners except costs incurred in collaboration e.g. travel to Tufts);
- Direct cost budget and brief justification.
Project Description
- Description of area of research and potential outcomes in longer term effort that may follow;
- Potential follow on efforts and clearly identified future sponsors.
Eligibility
Tufts University faculty with eligibility to be PI on externally funded grants.
Requirements of accepting Study group grant:
- Participate/attend Monthly DISC Forums and participation/attendance during yearly DISC Symposium
- Mid-year and a final report
2023-2024 Application Process is now closed. 2024-2025 Applications will open June 2024