Discovery Seed Grant Program
Through the generous support of UW–Madison alumni John and Tashia Morgridge, and in partnership with the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), the Discovery Seed Grant Program was launched in spring 2006. The effort aims to generate interest in the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery and inspire researchers to apply their expertise collectively to address some of the thorniest problems facing human health and welfare.
A campuswide competition for $3 million in research funding concluded in February 2007, with the naming of eight winning seed grant projects involving more than 60 faculty and staff researchers from 25 UW–Madison departments. The scientific studies now under way are addressing some of the thorniest problems facing human health and welfare; however, they won’t lead to occupancy of the building, which is slated for completion in 2010.
Selection process
In the first phase of the Discovery Seed Grant competition in June 2006, faculty and academic staff from 115 UW–Madison departments submitted more than 222 letters of intent. A 12-member faculty committee chaired by Paul Peercy, dean of the College of Engineering, reviewed the letters and invited 35 groups to develop detailed proposals. A different faculty committee, also chaired by Peercy, then evaluated and rated the full proposals.
Final decisions were made based on the ratings. The primary criterion for selection was scientific merit. Additional considerations included interdisciplinary content and the ability to engage faculty and staff from multiple disciplines, as well as the innovation and creativity of the project.