JHU Pivot Grants

JHU Pivot Grants will provide short-term support to faculty members experiencing unexpected federal research funding disruptions. Faculty across all ranks and divisions are eligible, provided they were PI/MPI/Co-PI on a terminated federal award or subaward. These funds are intended to support pivots of a research program through targeted, flexible awards of up to $150,000 to be spent over the course of 12 months. Funding can be used to support research personnel (faculty, students, postdocs, staff) who had been supported by terminated federal research awards, as well as other necessary research needs including equipment, materials, or services. Applications from pre-tenure faculty will receive particular consideration.

Eligibility 

Faculty across all ranks and divisions who were PI/MPI/Co-PI on at least one terminated federal award are eligible. Those who received partial terminations are also eligible. Applications from pre-tenure faculty will receive particular consideration.  

Applications must also demonstrate lack of alternative sources of funding and, except under unusual circumstances, have a plan to expend unrestricted discretionary funds as part of the cost sharing requirement. 

Terms 

Applications may request up to $150,000 to spend over a maximum of 12 months (up to $75,000 from the university and $75,000 in matching funds). The award amount will be commensurate with sustaining research programs at an “essential” level. A single, non-renewable grant is anticipated. If the associated award termination is rescinded and new funds are made available to cover on-going/future activities, remaining Pivot Award funds must be returned/reimbursed according to the source of funds.  Distributing funds to subaward recipients at other institutions is not permitted with Pivot funding.

Funds may be used to support research personnel (faculty, students, postdocs, staff) who had been supported by terminated federal research awards, as well as other necessary research needs including equipment, materials, or services. Up to 25% of a faculty applicant’s salary can be included in the budget request, as long as this does not exceed the effort that would have been charged to the terminated grant.  

Applications must contain written confirmation of matching funds from their department chair/head/director, a center/institute director, or their dean’s office. The school’s vice dean for research, or equivalent, will help facilitate the matching requests. 

Application 

Ready to apply? Please submit your application through InfoReady. 

1. Application Form 

• First Name 
• Last Name 
• Email Address 
• JHED ID 
• Rank 
• Division 
• Department  
• Terminated grant/contract title 
• Terminated grant/contract SAP number 

2. Proposal (as PDF) of no more than 2 pages with the following information: 

• Description of specific needs associated with terminated federally supported research activities. 
• A brief but clear “pivot plan” identifying how the funds will be used to pivot to alternative funding sources and/or pursue a new research area, including the details of potential specific external funding opportunities. 
• Description of alternative sources of funding explored to support current staff/activities (e.g., other federal funding, philanthropy, faculty discretionary accounts) and other cost saving measures taken to mitigate loss in funding 

3. Current and Pending Support, including upcoming submissions or resubmissions (PDF attachment) 

4. Budget Justification – use template provided including: 

• Cost-sharing Plan – how the school, division/department, or PI will contribute 50% of the award funds 
• Projected use of funds 

5. Faculty Biosketch or CV (PDF attachment) 

6. A letter of support from the division/department (PDF attachment) 

Review 

Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and divisional vice deans for research. Pending the volume of applications, pre-tenure faculty may be prioritized in the selection process. Primary criteria for assessment are as follows: 

• Feasibility of the pivot plan 
• Clear justification of need and requested budget 
• Applicant’s track record and potential to secure future funding 
• Alignment with divisional and university priorities