The CAS Research Collaboration Development Grant supports faculty in building, strengthening, and sustaining productive research partnerships. This program provides resources for collaborative activities that go beyond typical conference interactions, including writing retreats with co-authors, hosting visiting scholars, organizing small collaborative workshops, and creating the infrastructure needed for ongoing research partnerships. By investing in the development of meaningful collaborations, this grant helps scholars expand their research capacity, produce high-impact collaborative scholarship, and build lasting professional networks that enhance the visibility and reach of CAS research.
| Amount | Up to $10,000 per application |
| Deadlines | December 1 and April 1 (applications open one month prior) |
| Eligibility | Any grant-eligible CAS faculty (tenured, tenure-track, research, professor of practice) |
| Timeline | All activities and expenses should be completed within one year of award notification. Notification of awards will generally be within 4 to 6 weeks from the application deadline. |
| Limit | One award as Principal Investigator per fiscal year |
What We Fund
This grant supports activities that help you start, develop, or deepen research collaborations. We encourage creative approaches to collaboration building. Eligible activities include:
Writing Retreats and Intensive Work Sessions
- Writing retreats with collaborators to develop manuscripts, grant proposals, or book chapters
- Intensive collaborative analysis sessions for shared data or projects
- Joint manuscript development workshops
- Grant proposal development sessions with potential co-PIs
- Visits to potential collaborators' institutions to explore shared research interests
Collaboration Initiation and Development
- Hosting visiting scholars to develop collaborative projects
- Planning meetings for multi-institutional research projects
- Joint pilot data collection or preliminary studies with collaborators
Collaborative Workshop and Event Organization
- Small workshops bringing together scholars around a shared research theme
- Symposia development with potential collaborators
- Collaborative research design sessions
- Method-sharing workshops with collaborators from other institutions
Infrastructure for Ongoing Collaboration
- Collaborative technology or software needed for joint research
- Shared data management systems or collaborative platforms
- Communication and project management tools for distributed teams
- Specialized training needed by multiple collaborators
Network Building for Collaboration
- Participation in collaborative research networks or working groups
- Site visits to establish research partnerships
- Meetings with multiple potential collaborators around a research theme
- Facilitated sessions with community partners for community-engaged research
This is not an exhaustive list. If your proposed activity meaningfully advances a research collaboration, we encourage you to apply.
What Makes a Strong Proposal
The CAS Research Advisory Committee (CASRAC) evaluates proposals based on:
Collaborative Potential and Impact
- Clear demonstration of how the activity builds or strengthens collaboration
- Potential for the collaboration to produce meaningful scholarly outcomes
- Quality and complementarity of the collaborative partnership
- Evidence of mutual commitment from all collaborators
Feasibility and Planning
- Realistic plan for using the funds to advance collaboration
- Clear timeline and milestones
- Evidence that collaborators are committed and available
- Reasonable budget that maximizes collaborative impact
Scholarly Merit
- Intellectual significance of the collaborative work
- Potential to enhance visibility of CAS research
- Alignment with participants' research programs
- Expected scholarly outcomes (publications, grants, creative works, etc.)
Career Development
- How the collaboration advances your research trajectory
- Potential for sustained partnership beyond this grant
- Opportunities for professional growth and expanded research capacity
While priority is given to early-career faculty, we welcome applications from faculty at all career stages. We value diverse forms of collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and sectors.
How To Apply
Application Deadline
Applications are due December 1 or April 1 each year and must be submitted through NuRamp.
To Submit Your Application
- Access NuRamp at https://nuramp.nebraska.edu/login
- Select "Internal Competitions" from the upper left menu
- Select "Applications" and "Add a New Application"
- Search for "CAS Collaboration Development Grants"
- Complete the application and budget pages
- Route to your department chair for endorsement
- Application will be automatically routed to the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education
Application Components
Submit the following materials as one combined pdf:
1. Description of Proposed Collaboration Activity (maximum 1,000 words)
Write for a general academic audience. The review committee may not have specialized expertise in your field, so use clear language while providing enough detail to evaluate the merit of your collaboration.
Your description should include:
a. The collaboration and your role
- Who are your collaborators and what are their relevant expertise?
- What is the nature of your collaboration (new partnership, deepening existing work, expanding team)?
- What is your specific role and contribution?
b. The collaborative activity
- What specific activities will you undertake?
- How will these activities advance the collaboration?
- Why is this approach needed now?
c. Significance and expected outcomes
- What will this collaboration produce?
- How does this collaboration enhance your research?
- What makes this collaboration particularly valuable?
- What scholarly outcomes do you expect? (e.g., co-authored manuscripts, joint grant proposals, collaborative presentations, new research directions, creative works)
d. Timeline and sustainability
- When will activities occur?
- How will you sustain the collaboration beyond this grant period?
- What are your plans for future collaborative work?
2. Abbreviated CV or Biosketch for all faculty participants
May be in any format, but must include:
- Summary of education
- Current and prior support (internal and external funding)
- Their commitment to the collaboration
3. Letter(s) of Collaboration or Support
Brief letters from all collaborators (CAS and external) confirming:
- Their specific role and contribution
- Their availability for proposed activities
4. Budget and Budget Justification
- Provide a clear dollar amount and a brief justification for all requested expenses
- Include details such as: retreat/meeting location and costs, travel for collaborators, equipment or software, research assistance, materials, etc.
- If relevant, review NU Travel Policy: https://nebraska.edu/travel
- Budget may not exceed $10,000.
- Note, in addition to including your budget and budget justification in your combined pdf, there will also be a place to enter basic budget information on the NuRamp budget page
After You Apply
Review Process
- CASRAC reviews all applications and makes funding recommendations
- Department chair input may be solicited to provide a rank order based on potential impact if multiple applications from a unit are submitted
- Funding is competitive and limited; the number of awards depends on proposal quality and requested amounts
Special Approvals
If your research involves human subjects, animals, radioactive materials, or recombinant DNA technology, you must obtain appropriate UNL clearance before funded activities begin. Contact the relevant office:
- Institutional Review Board (IRB)
- Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
- Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
Please also review export control requirements.
If You're Awarded
Setting Up Your Grant
Work with your department business manager to set up a cost object for your grant expenses. Contact Vanja Flachsbart (vflachsbart2@unl.edu) with questions about the business aspects of your grant.
Timeline
All activities must be completed within one year of your award notification date.
Travel Requirements
All university travel policies apply. Failure to follow these requirements will result in non-reimbursement.
Pre-Trip Authorization
- A pre-trip authorization is required prior to all travel
- Submit authorization well in advance of your travel dates
University Travel Policy Full policy details
Final Report
A brief report summarizing your activities and accomplishments is due no later than four weeks after your grant end date. This report is required to complete reimbursement of expenses. A Microsoft Form with report requirements will be provided to all awardees.
Important Policies
Funding Restrictions
- Faculty may submit only one application as Principal Investigator per grant cycle across all CAS internal grant mechanisms. This means you cannot apply to multiple programs (e.g., Research Impact and Enhancement AND Research Travel Awards) or submit multiple applications to the same program during the same cycle.
- Faculty may accept only one CAS internal grant per fiscal year. This means:
- If awarded in the Fall cycle, you may not apply again until the next fiscal year
- If not awarded in the Fall cycle, you may apply during the Spring cycle
- You may not hold two CAS internal grants simultaneously
- Funding is valid for one year from notification date
Questions?
Research and grant questions
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education, associatedeanbrank@unl.edu
Business and budget questions
Vanja Flachsbart, vflachsbart2@unl.edu
Potential Questions
Can I use this to host a writing retreat?
Yes. Writing retreats are an excellent use of this grant, whether you're co-writing with one collaborator or bringing together a small group to work on related collaborative projects. Include details about location, dates, participants, what you'll produce, and sustainability plans.
Do all my collaborators need to be from CAS?
No. You can collaborate with faculty from other UNL colleges, other universities, or even community partners. The PI must be CAS faculty, but your collaborators can be from anywhere.
Can I combine this with other funding?
Yes, you may use other funding sources to supplement costs. Disclose all funding sources in your application. However, you may only hold one CAS internal grant per fiscal year.
What if my collaboration includes more than 2-3 people?
That is fine, just be clear about everyone's role and how the proposed activities will benefit the collaboration as a whole.
Can I use this for travel to meet with a collaborator?
Yes, if the primary purpose is collaborative work (planning a project, analyzing data together, co-writing, etc.). If your main activity is presenting at a conference where you'll also meet with collaborators, the Research Travel Award is likely a better fit.
What counts as a "writing retreat"?
Any dedicated time where you and your collaborator(s) work intensively together on scholarly writing—manuscripts, grant proposals, book chapters, creative work development, etc. This could be a few days at a retreat center, a week at one of your institutions, or even a structured virtual intensive writing period.
Do I need preliminary data or results to apply?
No. This grant is designed to help you develop collaborations and projects.
What if I need to change my collaboration plans after receiving the award?
Contact the Associate Dean if significant changes occur. Minor adjustments (dates, locations) are usually fine, but substantial changes to collaborators or activities may require approval.
Can I apply if I already have a strong collaboration?
Yes. If you need resources to deepen or expand your existing collaboration (e.g., a writing retreat to complete a book manuscript, bringing in a new collaborator, developing a major grant proposal together), this grant can support that work.