The Office of Research and Grant Development coordinates two competitive internal funding programs for faculty each year.
Both competitive funding programs are sponsored by the university's Office of the Vice President for Research.
Through ASPIRE, USC faculty can compete for funding to begin a promising new research endeavor for later external funding, build up a collaborative, interdisciplinary research project, and/or invest in the university's research infrastructure with the objective of enhancing USC's research capabilities.
The RISE Program provides financial support for faculty at the system campuses of the university. Through a competitive application process, the program provides funds for summer salary, research supplies, research-related travel, and undergraduate student support.