Funding Opportunities
Seed funding for new materials research directions.
The UTK-MRSEC Seed Grant Program provides short-term funding for innovative, high-risk/high-reward collaborative research at the forefront of areas supported by the Center for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing.
The program is open to faculty members within the University of Tennessee and UT-ORII materials research community. Seed grants are intended to enhance existing MRSEC research in creative new ways or support entirely new lines of interdisciplinary materials research.
Funding cycle details, deadlines, eligibility, and application instructions should be updated before each call for proposals.
Seed Grant Program
Program Overview
Award Amount
Each Seed Grant provides up to $50,000 in direct costs for a one-year project, with the potential for continued MRSEC support subject to review.
Research Goals
Successful projects should strengthen CAMM research, build collaborations, and position teams for additional federal funding or long-term MRSEC support.
Funding Tiers
The program includes three funding tiers designed to encourage new lines of inquiry and create UT partnerships with national laboratories or industrial partners.
CAMM Research Priorities
Connected to CAMM’s research mission
CAMM’s vision is to become a world-leading center for collaborative discovery, creating revolutionary quantum materials and advancing materials for new extremes. The center’s interdisciplinary research groups and education programs are designed to prepare future researchers and entrepreneurs while supporting U.S. leadership in next-generation materials and manufacturing.
IRG 1
Taming the Complexity of Quantum Materials with Artificial Intelligence
IRG 1 applies artificial intelligence and machine learning to quantum magnetic materials and engineered quantum systems. Projects may connect to model Hamiltonians, materials principles, automated experimental or theoretical protocols, and emergent quantum phenomena.
IRG 2
Advancing Next-Generation Alloys and Ceramics for Extremes
IRG 2 explores materials stability, structure, and properties under extreme conditions. Projects may connect to high-performance alloys and ceramics, nuclear fusion, hypersonics, radiation, high temperature, mechanical stress, multiscale modeling, and AI-guided materials discovery.
Seed Grant Funding Tiers
Choose the funding tier that fits your project
Include Tier
INCLUDE
INCLUDE Grants provide up to $50,000/year per award in direct costs with the goal of establishing new lines of inquiry that may form the basis for future Interdisciplinary Research Groups within CAMM.
Learn more about INCLUDE
Translate Tier
TRANSLATE
TRANSLATE Grants provide up to $50,000/year per award in direct costs and require one UT PI with up to two Co-PIs from industry and/or a national laboratory.
The goal is to build reciprocal, translational partnerships with industry and/or national lab collaborators and position the UT team to engage in multidisciplinary research for real-world problems.
Learn more about TRANSLATE
Expand Tier
EXPAND
EXPAND Grants provide up to $50,000/year per award in direct costs with the goal of establishing new lines of inquiry within CAMM’s existing Interdisciplinary Research Groups.
Special emphasis is given to applications from early-career researchers.
Learn more about EXPANDMore Information