Research and Program Support

Research funds are critical to a science professor’s success. While government and foundation grants are the lifeblood of most programs, the university also plays an important role in supporting projects as they get off the ground.

For science faculty, research funding is as important as their salaries. Some of it comes from grant awards, but Cornell also is an important source.  The university uses research support funds to help new hires relocate their labs—including expenses for graduate students, postdoctoral students, and specialized equipment. These funds are also instrumental in helping faculty start new projects.

Types of Support

Cornell welcomes gifts of all sizes. Select opportunities are described below.

Life sciences excellence fund: variable gift sizes

Endowed excellence funds allow Cornell to respond to new opportunities with agility and speed. From funding new research directions to attracting the best and brightest minds to enhancing programmatic resources across the university, these funds give the vice provost the flexibility to invest in areas of greatest need and opportunity.

Seed grant fund: variable gift sizes
A gift for seed grants is an investment in the most promising research directions at Cornell. Seed grants encourage creative thinkers to actualize their ideas and apply their talents to causes of great potential.

Life sciences seed grants are essentially start-up venture funds that allow researchers to begin promising new projects and demonstrate early success. For young faculty members or for established researchers seeking to embark on new projects, seed grants can lay the groundwork for a lifetime of achievement.

Faculty start-up fund: variable gift sizes
Start-up funds are current-use resources that the university uses to cover the costs of relocating a new faculty member or startign a new project. They are an essential adjunct to endowed professorships and other recruitment tools that help the university compete for the best and the brightest.

Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows typically move with a faculty member when he or she accepts a new position. Start-up funds can help support their stipends and salaries during the transition. In addition, faculty labs often need to be outfitted with highly specialized equipment and spaces.

 

To discuss research support, contact Laura Toy.