AI Seed Fund

Eligible Participants: All Faculty

Summary: RIT aspires to be a living laboratory for AI research, development, and application. We are seeking proposals from faculty to advance the use of AI in research, teaching, learning, and everyday experiences. Proposal topics can range from the fundamental development of new AI tools and algorithms to the integration of AI in the classroom, to the application of AI and robotics in all aspects of campus life. We will provide resources for faculty to seed projects that hopefully will lead to bigger and better things and enrich our campus. To be funded under this program, faculty must clearly summarize what they plan to do over the next six months, described how students will be involved, state specifically what the deliverables and outcomes will be, and how the execution of this project will benefit RIT moving forward.

Award Terms: Awards will be made up to $5,000 for a plan of work of no more than six months.  

  • Due Date: November 1, 2023 
  • Cost Matching: Not required.
     

Proposal Length: The proposals should be no more than 4 pages in length using 12 pt. Times New Roman font (or some equivalent).  A fully executed proposal review form (PRF) and letter of endorsement from the department head is required.  The PRF and endorsement is not included in the page limit.

Proposal Guidelines

Executive Summary (1-page)

This is a summary of the entire plan, written in plain business English and explaining the work.

Narrative (2-pages)

Provide the details for the project which should include: (a) detailed description of the project including timeline (with milestones) and its significance in scholarly, social, and/or artistic terms. Please included any preliminary supporting data where relevant, and a description of methods and procedures to be used. If applicable, describe any on-going activities and how they integrate with this proposed project; (b) goals and objectives; (d) expected outcomes and products (i.e., deliverables); and (e) broader impacts and benefit to RIT.

Budget (1-page)

Expenditures must be reasonable, directly related to the proposed project, and must adhere to institutional guidelines. For example, the use of these funds for the purposes of release from departmental responsibilities is permissible. No overhead is to be included.   

Endorsement Letter

Include a letter from your department chair. The letter should describe ongoing departmental support for your research and any explicit commitments to the research described in your revised proposal(s).

Submission Guidelines and Required Documents

A completed Proposal Review Form is required as part of the submission. Upload your proposal, supplementary documents, and a completed Artificial Intelligence Seed Funding Application by 5 p.m. on November 1, 2023

 A notice of intent form must be completed to initiate the process for proposal routing. https://www.rit.edu/research/srs/node/2130 

Please direct questions to preaward@rit.edu(link sends e-mail).