INSURE: Interim Support for Upholding Research and Excellence

All tenure-stream faculty in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences are eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate either a temporary disruption in project support or a compelling need for interim funding to maintain continuity or reposition a research program for success.

INSURE supports research and scholarship across all LAS disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, and natural, physical, and mathematical sciences. Projects may be at any stage of development.

For AY26-27, priority will be given to:

1. Graduate research assistant support
2. Postdoctoral researchers, research scientists, and other research personnel
3. Research costs necessary to maintain continuity of a research program

Graduate student support remains the program's highest funding priority.

Unit support remains encouraged but is not required. Reviewers consider the nature and specificity of unit support and engagement rather than any required cost-share amount or matching commitment.

INSURE awards may be used to support:

• Graduate research assistants
• Postdoctoral researchers and research staff
• Undergraduate hourly support necessary for research continuity
• Materials, supplies, data collection, services, and research infrastructure
• Research travel directly related to the conduct of research
• Publication subvention costs

INSURE funds may not be used for:

• Faculty salary
• Conference or workshop travel
• Travel primarily intended to disseminate research findings
• Equipment costing more than $5,000
• General office supplies or general-purpose equipment
• Activities already supported through another LAS internal funding program

Award amounts typically range from $10,000 to $45,000, depending on project needs, available funds, and program priorities.

Applications must include:

• Project Description
• Budget Template
• Budget Justification
• Current CV
• Executive Officer Letter of Support

Every budget item must be justified.

Applications requesting graduate student support must include a Path Forward Statement describing future support plans or degree-completion milestones following the INSURE award period.

Applications requesting support for postdoctoral researchers or research staff must include a Bridge Statement describing anticipated future funding and plans for sustaining the position beyond the INSURE award period.

Applications are reviewed following each submission deadline by the INSURE Faculty Review Committee. Funding decisions are communicated after committee review and evaluation of all applications submitted within a review cycle.

No. INSURE awards are intended as temporary support and are not expected to be renewed beyond the current program year.

Award recipients will be asked to provide a brief final report describing how INSURE funding supported research continuity, outcomes enabled by the award, and whether proposed continuation plans were realized.

Applications should be submitted through the LAS Funding Request webform. Applicants should upload all required materials as part of the submission process.

Yes. Previous INSURE recipients may submit a new application if they continue to experience a temporary funding disruption or can demonstrate a compelling need for additional interim support.

Because INSURE is intended to provide temporary support that helps faculty maintain research continuity while pursuing longer-term funding solutions, applicants who previously received INSURE funding will be expected to make a strong case for additional support. The application should clearly describe:

• Outcomes achieved through prior INSURE funding
• Progress toward the continuation plans identified in the previous application
• Why additional interim support is needed
• How the new request differs from or builds upon the previous award
• The anticipated path to longer-term sustainability

Prior receipt of INSURE funding does not guarantee future funding, and all applications are reviewed competitively within each review cycle.

Yes. Faculty whose previous INSURE applications were not funded are encouraged to apply in future funding cycles if they meet program eligibility requirements.

Applicants may wish to strengthen their application by addressing prior feedback, providing updated project information, or explaining changes in funding circumstances since the previous submission. All applications are reviewed independently within the context of the current competition cycle.

Questions regarding eligibility, application requirements, or proposal fit should be directed to the LAS Office of Research at las-research@illinois.edu.

Executive Officers provide a letter of support for applicants from their unit. The letter is an important component of the application and should address:

• The need for the requested support
• Unit support and commitment to the project
• Plans for sustaining the activity beyond the INSURE award period
• Student standing and progress, where applicable
• Why the need cannot be met through existing unit resources

No. Unit support is encouraged but not required. Applications are not evaluated based on a required matching amount.

The Executive Officer letter can be included as part of the faculty member's application submission through the LAS Funding Request process or sent separately to LAS Office of Research at las-research@illinois.edu. Please indicate your correspondence is related to the INSURE program in the subject line of your email.

Yes. Funding decisions are communicated following committee review, and Executive Officers may be included in award communications involving faculty from their unit.

Yes. There is no limit on the number of applications that may be submitted from a single unit, provided each proposal independently meets program requirements and eligibility criteria. You may be asked to provide a ranking or explanation of prioritization for multiple requests from your unit.

A lack of available unit funding does not disqualify an application. If unit support cannot be provided, the Executive Officer letter should explain the circumstances and describe any other forms of support or engagement the unit can offer.

The letter should confirm that the student is in good standing and making satisfactory progress toward degree completion, while also addressing the need for the requested support and plans for continuation beyond the INSURE award period.