JHU Pivot Grants

JHU Pivot Grants will provide short-term support to faculty members experiencing unexpected federal research funding terminations or long-term delays to renewals or continuations that are equivalent to terminations.. 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 strategic pivot in either research direction or funding strategy 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 disrupted or terminated federal research awards, as well as other necessary research needs including equipment, materials, or services. Proposals must reflect a clear pivot—either toward a new research direction or a shift in the planned external funding pathway. Proposals that seek to continue previously funded work with no change in scope, direction, or funding strategy are not eligible. 

Eligibility 

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

Faculty members who have not received an explicit notice of termination are also eligible to apply, provided they can demonstrate that their original award or proposal represents a continuation—whether competitive or noncompetitive—that is highly unlikely to receive further funding. Examples include: a highly rated proposal that is no longer eligible for resubmission due to structural changes at the funding agency; or strong program officer communication confirming that while an active project is due for a non-competitive renewal, no future support will be available due to portfolio shifts. 

Applications must also demonstrate lack of alternative sources of funding and include a plan for how any available unrestricted funds will support the proposed work. Discretionary funds do not need to be fully exhausted before a Pivot application can be submitted but should be fully budgeted as part of the cost-sharing requirement. Applicants are required to report total discretionary account balances. Those with substantial discretionary balances will be expected to justify why those funds are not being used for immediate support. 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 matching requests.  

Training, education, curriculum development, and other non-research proposals – such as programmatic or service delivery grants – will not be considered. 

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/disrupted grant.   Projects must reflect a meaningful shift in either scientific direction or external funding strategy. Proposals that solely aim to maintain existing research activities with no clear pivot will not be considered. 

Application 

Ready to apply? Please submit your application through InfoReady. 

1. Application Form 

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

a) Description of specific needs associated with terminated federally supported research activities. 

b) 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. 

c) If there is no clear notice of termination, explain why the award is highly unlikely to receive further funding 

d) Cost-sharing Plan – how the school, division/department, or PI will contribute 50% of the award funds (including discretionary account balances)

e) 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 providedto show projected use of funds and justification 

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: 

1. Clarity and strength of the proposed pivot—either in research direction or funding strategy
2. Clear justification of need and requested budget 
3. Applicant’s track record and potential to secure future funding 
4. Alignment with divisional and university priorities