Internal Funding Opportunities

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the FY 2026 Research Enhancement (RE) Funding Program. This year, 28 applicants submitted outstanding proposals for the RE funds from all academic units across TAMU-CC. After a thorough review based on the RE program evaluation criteria,  the Review Panel recommended the following projects for funding:

• Drs. Liwen Zeng (PI), Department of Health Sciences, and Zheng Wei (co-PI), Department of Mathematics and Statistics, for the project titled A Multi-Level Analysis of Factors Shaping Birth Outcomes in Texas, $15,000
• Dr. Wenlu Wang, Department of Computer Science, for the project titled Molecule GPT - Generative Drug Discovery using Preference Optimization, $10,000
• Drs. Kelly Brown (PI) and Chris Benedetti (co-PI), both from the Department of Educational Leadership, for the project titled AI-Assisted Dissertation Support for Timely Doctoral Completion, $8,840
• Drs. Yu-Shan (Sandy) Huang (PI) and Jennifer F. Taylor (co-PI), both from the Department of Management and Marketing, for the project titled Increasing Customers’ Financial Well-being: The Role of AI, $6,325
• Dr. Travis Washburn (PI), Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, for the project titled Pilot Study Towards Identifying Ecological Indicators of PFAS Pollution, $5,000
• Ms. Alexandria Canchola (PI), Department of Art and Design, for the project titled Chicano in Print, $5,000
• Mr. Jonathan Durham, Department of Art and Design, for the project titled Expanding 3D/Sculpture through Digital Scanning, Modeling & Fabrication, $5,000
• Ms. Leandra Urrutia (PI), Department of Art and Design, for the project titled Innovations in Ceramic Tracery and Extrusion, $4,371
• Dr. Hyun Jung Stephany Noh (PI), Department of Communication and Media, for the project titled Streaming K-Drama: The Evolution of a National Industry & Cultural Form, $2,500

These projects will start on September 1, 2025, and end on August 31, 2026.

The Research Enhancement Funding Program aims to promote research and scholarly production and, when possible, promote grant proposal submission by faculty members at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC). Research Enhancement funds will continue to be available (up to $5,000) for projects led by a single tenured/tenure track faculty member, and to multi-investigator teams (up to $10,000) for collaborative and/or interdisciplinary projects from the same college or other non-TAMU-CC entities. Funding (up to $15,000) will be available for interdisciplinary projects conducted by multi-college teams from TAMU-CC. Research Enhancement awards have funded research, scholarly, or creative projects from tenured/tenure-track faculty in all colleges.  Upon the availability of the funds, the call for proposals for the next RE funds will be announced in December 2025.

For questions about the RE funds, please contact Dr. Hamid Mansouri Rad at hamid.rad@tamucc.edu. 

DEADLINE: 5:00 p.m. on September 2, 2025

POINT OF CONTACT: Dr. Hamid Mansouri Rad (hamid.rad@tamucc.edu)

OVERVIEW

The Research/Creative Activity Seed Grant Program provides intramural grant support ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 for projects demonstrating innovation in either:

• Engaging in research or scholarly activity that is exploring a significant question, issue, or innovation with the potential for future extramural funding; OR
• The development of an innovative, creative work/performance.

There will be only one Seed Grant competition in AY 25-26. Projects must be initiated no later than October 15, 2025, and activities and expenditures must be completed by August 31, 2026. The total amount of program funding is subject to availability.

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY

Eligible applicants are tenure-line faculty, including faculty in institutes and libraries, as well as PI-eligible TAMU-CC employees. Intramural collaborations will be considered. Applicants must not have been awarded any support via the Texas Comprehensive Research Fund (TCRF) after September 1, 2023.

UNALLOWABLE COSTS

Seed Grant funds cannot be used for memberships and research instrumentation exceeding 30% of the total budget requested.

Note: All funded PIs/PDs must agree to meet bimonthly with the Office of Research Development staff for brief activity and financial progress reports. Additionally, a final report will be due to the Office of Research Development and the awardees’ colleges within 60 days of the project end date. Investigators with outstanding final reports are not eligible for additional funding from the Division of Research and Innovation.

Download the complete Program Description, including instructions for proposal preparation and submission, and review criteria here.

POC: researchdevelopment@tamucc.edu 

Available funds: Varies
Full proposal due: Ongoing
Award period: Funds will need to be used in the fiscal year for which they are allocated
Application: Contact researchdevelopment@tamucc.edu 
Objective: To support the development of competitive proposals by faculty members and research scientists/fellows
Eligibility: Faculty members and research scientists/fellows

The program supports faculty members by providing funds to help with proposal development and writing to external research funding opportunities.

Overview

• Open to proposals from all colleges and research centers and institutes on campus
• All requests for grant writers or consultant require Dean or Center/Institute Director approval
• Institutional priorities and research objectives will be considered, for example, campus leadership may decide to dedicate some of the funding to strategic initiatives
• Applicants may select their own grant writers after R&I reviews and approves them. Applicants may also request the division to recommend pre-approved grant writers and consultants.
• Upon submission of a proposal, R&I will survey the team to learn the quality of their grant writer or consultant and will review agency comments on all proposals written by contractors

Office of Research Engagement Impact Multiplier Grant

POC: Joseph Miller, Joseph.Miller@tamucc.edu

Available funds: $1,000 to $7,500
Deadline:  TBA
Number of Awards: 2 or more
Application: Click Here
Objective: Impact Multiplier Grants aim to foster and facilitate community engagement using existing TAMU-CC research, talent, knowledge, and resources to create a positive impact for the public.
Eligibility: Staff and faculty members at TAMU-CC

Impact Multiplier Grant proposals can be a standalone project, a proof of concept for a larger program, or an extension of an existing program's broader impacts. Impact Multiplier applications will be evaluated on how well TAMU-CC intellectual capital, research, knowledge, and activities will be disseminated and applied outside of the University to address, for example, economic and social issues in the community. Awarded Impact Multiplier Grants will utilize research engagement, educational processes, or other institutional activities to create broader impacts. Awarded grants should have a timeline of completion within 18 months after the award date. For more information click here.

Contact your chair or research enhancement committee member for more information. 

Consult with your center director, chair or dean about funds that may be available to support research.