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Research Development Fellows Program

Overview

The Research Development Fellows Program (RDFP) is an Office of Research and Innovation (R&I) initiative designed to provide early career faculty with the information, resources, and approaches necessary to position themselves for success in securing external funding for their research, scholarship, and creative endeavors.

Content

The RDFP is an academic year-long program consisting of a combination of learning sessions and interactive workshops. These activities are designed to help fellows be strategic in laying a strong foundation for research success as an early career faculty member. RDFP learning activities are complemented by consultations with University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) administrators and faculty colleagues.

Program Outcomes

Fellows will enhance competitiveness for extramural funding by:

  1. Constructing a concept paper summarizing a project for which they will pursue external funding.
  2. Devising a five-year plan to strategically pursue external funding.
  3. Developing a concise verbal presentation to effectively communicate their research to various audiences.

Eligibility

Applications are welcome from full-time UNL faculty at the assistant-level rank who are in the early stages of developing a research, scholarship, or creative endeavors program. Fellows who participate in the RDFP may not re-apply in subsequent years.

Information Session

R&I will host a virtual information session to answer questions about the program on Thursday, September 4, from 12-12:30 p.m. Register for the session here.

Application Process

Applications to participate in the 2025-26 RDFP must be submitted by 5 p.m. CDT on Friday, September 12, 2025. The application portal can be found here.

Application Materials

Applicants must upload and submit their application materials in a single PDF file in the application portal to complete the application submission process. Instructions for combining separate PDF files in Adobe Acrobat are available here.

To apply to participate in the Research Development Fellows Program (RDFP), please prepare the following materials:

1) A document (no more than two pages) that:

2) Your full curriculum vitae or resume.

Selection Criteria

Several criteria are used to select faculty invited to participate in RDFP, including:

Applicant Notification

The applicant notification process will be completed by early October. Fellows are expected to attend all program activities, which occur roughly once per month from October to May. To complete the program, participants must accomplish program outcomes.

2025-2026 Schedule*

DateTimeLocation
October 163 to 4:30 P.M.Whittier 152
November 163 to 4:30 P.M.Whittier 152
December 113 to 4:30 P.M.Whittier 152
January 153 to 4:30 P.M.Whittier 152
February 123 to 4:30 P.M.Whittier 152
February 278 a.m. to 5 p.m.Willa Cather Dining Center, Red Cloud Suite
March 53 to 4:30 P.M.Whittier 152
April 162:30 to 4:30 P.M.TBD
May 72:30 to 4:30 P.M.TBD
* In the event classes are to follow instructional continuity plans, the session will take place virtually.

For More Information

For more information, contact Heather Borck, research development coordinator, 402-472-4090.

Related Resources

Office of Proposal Development
Office of Sponsored Programs
Research Administration Essentials (formerly NURAMP)
NuRamp
Research Days