Boost
This program supports PIs leading teams working on transdisciplinary projects with substantial potential for producing highly competitive proposals in response to large-scale external funding opportunities within the next 2-5 years.
Boost is a semester-long cohort program that nurtures effective teams with structured activities and deliverables on topics such as team collaboration, research communication and strategic planning.
Each team accepted into the program will receive staff support from a research development professional and up to $75,000 to conduct activities such as preliminary research, gathering background data and information, holding team meetings, inviting speakers, and connecting with external partners including industry and community groups.
What are the benefits and outcomes?
Teams accepted into the BOOST program receive:
- Training and Skill-building from experts in Research Development, Team Science, Broader Impacts, Community Engagement, Strategic Planning, and Value Creation
- Facilitated ideation, brainstorming, and team building sessions
- Conceptual figures from a professional graphic designer
- Connections to external partners
- Support in identifying relevant external funding opportunities
- 1-1 consultations with research development professionals
- Up to $75,000 in funding for research and team development activities
Who should apply?
Boost applications are open to newly formed teams of interdisciplinary researchers interested in pursuing large-scale funding in the next 2-5 years. The program is intended for researchers who not only have compelling research ideas, but also want to expand their skills in research leadership, networking, collaboration, and communication. Requirements include:
- Teams must consist of 3-8 interdisciplinary partners.
- The PI of the team must be a U-M faculty member.
- At least two other team members must be U-M faculty; a faculty member may only be a member of one Boost team.
- Other members can be faculty or staff from U-M, other institutions, or partners from community organizations and/or industry.
- Teams must have at least two different schools or colleges represented on their team (based on primary appointment).
- Teams should propose projects tackling significant and complex research questions that require interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Each team member should commit to regular attendance of the in-person cohort sessions and to ensuring that the majority of the team — barring emergency situations — will be present.
- Faculty who previously led a Boost team are not eligible to lead another, though they may participate on a new team with a new project.
Application Information
Applications for the Fall 2025 BOOST program are due May 30.