OVPR Funded Opportunities
OVPR provides select funding opportunities related to innovation, scholarship, and the diverse research endeavors of Penn’s faculty.
University Research Foundation: Research Grant
The University Research Foundation (URF) is an internal funding program that supports the research mission of the university. While the details of structure and funding have evolved over its 37-year existence, the goals have remained the same: to support faculty as they start their careers; to help established faculty pivot into new research directions; to compete for external funding; and to facilitate collaborations across disciplines
Award Amount
Up to $75,000
Deadline
September 30, 2025
Period
1 year
University Research Foundation: Conference Grant
The University Research Foundation (URF) Conference Support program is designed for scholarly meetings that will be convened on Penn’s campus, thereby providing enrichment opportunities to interested faculty, students, and staff, most frequently in the format of a 1–2-day colloquium. The intent is to support meetings that are designed to enhance existing research and scholarly programs, particularly in disciplines where external funding is difficult to obtain. It should highlight the scholarship of Penn faculty and bring distinguished scholars to Penn’s campus.
Award Amount
Up to $5,000
Deadline
September 30, 2025
Period
1 year
Discovering the Future of AI Grant Program
The Discovering the Future of AI grants program provides faculty with critical resources to pursue research and teaching development, exploring the intersection of AI advancement and modern business models, industries, and global economies, health care, and science. This fund supports the development of new methods, the application of existing techniques, new educational methods and paradigms, and investigations into the impact of AI and analytics. Faculty can apply for funding for a specific project or general financial support to advance their research or teaching.
Award Amount
Up to $200,000
Deadline
October 17th, 2025
Period
1-2 years