Promising Investigator Research Award (PIRA) funding is provided by the Office of Research and Graduate Education to encourage faculty to develop individual research projects leading to the pursuit of external funding and or the promotion of scholarly activities.

• Track I funds will be considered "seed" monies and will be awarded to faculty with the stated objective of enhancing the competitiveness of a subsequent submission of a new or renewal proposal for external funding. Priority will be given to junior researchers that have received optimistic reviewers’ comments from a sponsor.
  
  
• Track II funds support the general development, expansion or enhancement of faculty research and creative activity. These funds are focused on research contributions that increase academic, intellectual and scholarly activity.
  
  
• Track III funds support the creative and performing arts. Support may include costs associated with creating an exhibit, a performance, a musical work, etc.

Please click here to access the full 2010 PIRA Guidelines.