Funded proposals address environmental issues at the interface of two or more Gund research themes: climate solutions, sustainable agriculture, health and well-being, resilient communities, and equity and justice.
In eight years, Gund Catalyst Awards have issued over $1.8 million in startup funds, supporting 28 innovative projects and over 140 UVM scholars. These projects have generated over $40M in external funds and inspired real-world action.
In 2025, the Gund Institute launched the Gund Impact Awards, which aim to move solutions-oriented research to real-world action. Impact projects apply and scale solutions to environmental challenges based on demonstrated proof of concept and collaboration between UVM researchers and external partners.
The Gund Impact Award competition will provide $100,000 per project, plus funding for a two-year postdoctoral fellow at UVM. The Gund Institute intends to fund one project this award cycle, to run March 1, 2026 – August 31, 2028 (30 months).
Proposals are due October 28, 2025.
More Information
Eligibility and Requirements
Impact Awards eligibility requirements include:
- The Principal Investigator (PI) on each proposal must be a Gund Fellow.
Each proposal must include one or more UVM co-PIs or collaborators from a different discipline and one or more non-UVM co-PIs or collaborators. Non-academic partners preferred.
Previous Catalyst Award projects (current and past) are eligible to apply.
Gund Impact Awards intend to support research-based solutions that have already demonstrated proof of concept, meaning that solutions have been tested, e.g. via a pilot project, and are ready to be expanded.
Full details are available in the InfoReady application portal.
How to Apply
Full details and instructions on how to apply for a Gund Impact Award, including an FAQ document, are available in the InfoReady application portal.
Required Files:
Project proposal (see InfoReady for instructions)
Budget and Justification (use template provided in InfoReady)
Collaborators list (use template provided in InfoReady)
2-page CVs for PI, co-PIs, and collaborators (as applicable)
- Completed signature page (template in InfoReady)
One-page letter of support from non-UVM partner(s)
Note: Applicants must follow all relevant procedures within their academic units, including pre-award processes.
Impact Awards Key Dates
Key Dates
- Applications open (anticipated): August 2025
Question and Answer Session: September 17, 2025
- Applications due: October 28, 2025
Past Competitions
Contact
Contact
Contact Gund Program Specialist Bailey Rowland with questions at any time.
- To explore other funding opportunities, contact OVPR's Research Development office.