Explore Research and Innovation’s internal funding opportunities designed to strengthen PVAMU’s research capacity, accelerate innovation and support student and faculty success. Each program listing includes a brief overview plus clear next steps for applying, whether through an application link, the program announcement or the correct point of contact.
VPRI Faculty-RISE Funding Initiative
Faculty-RISE (Research and Innovation Success and Excellence) is VPRI’s umbrella initiative for internal investments that strengthen PVAMU’s research and innovation ecosystem. The initiative prioritizes high-impact research and innovation clusters, supports the formation and growth of centers and institutes and encourages cross-disciplinary teams. Faculty-RISE also provides the organizing framework that connects VPRI-funded programs, so researchers can quickly see how opportunities align and where to begin.
Latest announcement: View Here
Applications are closed for this cycle, the next submission cycle is expected to open Summer, 2026.
VPRI RAPID Innovation Funding Initiative
RAPID is a rapid-response funding program that helps faculty, staff and students move promising innovation ideas toward tangible products, prototypes and viable intellectual property. The program is built for early, fast proof-of-concept work, so teams can validate feasibility, document results and prepare next-step pathways such as licensing, commercialization or external sponsored funding. Projects should define a clear path to a prototype. Calls for proposals are announced as priorities emerge, enabling timely investments that accelerate translation from idea to outcome.
Latest announcement: View Here
Faculty RISE Undergraduate Research Funding Opportunity
This program provides seed funding to PVAMU faculty and staff researchers to mentor undergraduate students in research and innovation projects. Awards are structured to expand and sustain faculty scholarly activity while giving undergraduates hands-on experience under faculty guidance. The program strengthens student preparation, builds a campus research pipeline and helps faculty develop project foundations that can be leveraged into competitive external proposals, publications and partnerships.’
Latest Announcement: Learn More
Applications are closed for this cycle, the next submission cycle is expected to open Summer, 2026.
RISE Doctoral Research Assistantship Program
This program supports PVAMU graduate faculty researchers with funding to appoint doctoral research assistants who contribute to faculty-led research, scholarly and creative activity tied to PhD training. The assistantship model helps faculty recruit and retain strong doctoral students, advance research productivity and build capacity for external grant competitiveness. It pairs structured mentorship with meaningful research responsibilities that accelerate student progress, publications and proposal readiness.
Latest Announcement: Learn More
Applications are closed for this cycle, the next submission cycle is expected to open Summer, 2026.
Panther RISE Program (PRISE)
PRISE is a joint seed-funding program that supports collaborative research and scholarly partnerships between PVAMU and Texas A&M University. Faculty teams align proposals to strategic research themes and develop shared projects that can mature into strong external funding submissions. The program is designed to deepen inter-institution collaboration, strengthen multidisciplinary teams and produce results and proposal-ready foundations for larger sponsored research opportunities across both campuses. Teams should plan to leverage outcomes into external proposals.
Latest Announcement: Learn More
Applications are closed for this cycle, the next submission cycle is expected to open Late Spring, 2026.
Texas A&M University System Research Excellence Fund (REF)
The Research Excellence Fund is a Texas A&M University System competitive program designed to elevate research capacity, collaboration and national competitiveness across member institutions. REF supports program components such as collaborative discovery, research equipment, proposal cost share and strategic initiatives aligned with state and national priorities. Submissions are routed through institutional research leadership, so PVAMU teams should coordinate early to confirm internal selection and submission routing before developing full proposal materials.
For More Information: Please contact researchdev@pvamu.edu