Impact Incubator

Overview

When faculty identify and apply for funding opportunities, they have a general sense of how the funding will contribute to their overall agenda for research, scholarship or creative endeavors. However, many faculty struggle to create appropriate education, outreach, or stakeholder engagement activities for each new grant proposal. A more strategic approach to maximizing the societal benefits of research can make this work less stressful, more rewarding, and more effective, while also contributing to long-term funding success.

The Impact Incubator is an Office of Research and Innovation initiative designed to help UNL faculty develop, plan for, and advance their impact agenda.

Format

The Impact Incubator is a six-week program that includes cohort sessions and one-on-one coaching. Participants will formulate impact goals; identify and engage with potential impact partners; and draft an actionable impact agenda. Program sessions will be led by research impact coordinator Jocelyn Bosley.

Program Outcomes

Participants will:

  1. Identify personal strengths, values, and connections they can leverage to develop a unique impact identity.
  2. Formulate short-term, intermediate, and long-term impact goals.
  3. Identify and meet with at least one potential impact partner.
  4. Draft an actionable impact agenda, including unfunded steps, existing investments, and potential funding sources they can leverage to advance this agenda.

Eligibility

Applications are welcome from full-time UNL faculty in the early stages of developing a research impact plan. All participants should attend Research Impacts 101 prior to the start of the Impact Incubator program. If you have not previously attended RI 101, register here to attend the September 18 session.

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.

To apply, please prepare the following materials:

  1. A document (no more than two pages, 11-point font, one-inch margins on all sides) describing:
    • any previous experience you have with outreach, education, or engagement activities.
    • any previous experience you have with developing impact plans for grant proposals.
    • your reasons for participating in the Impact Incubator Program.
  2. Your full curriculum vitae or resume. (In addition to the two-page limit. Please combine documents and attach them as one PDF.)

Application Deadline

Applications to participate in Impact Incubator must be submitted by 5 p.m. CDT on Oct. 1, 2024. Applicants must upload and submit their application materials as a single PDF file via the application portal to complete the application process.

Apply for Impact Incubator

Selection Process

Up to 10 participants will be selected based on the applicant’s level of readiness and ability to articulate how the program will benefit their research, scholarship or creative endeavors. Applications will be reviewed by members of the research development group in the Office of Research and Innovation. The applicant notification process will be completed in early October. 

Schedule*

Participants are expected to attend all program activities, which run from October to November and consist of four cohort sessions and two individual sessions.

ActivityDateTimeLocation
Session 1Wednesday, October 163-4:30 p.m.Whittier 151B
Session 2Wednesday, October 233-4:30 p.m.Whittier 151B
Individual coachingTBDTBDTBD
Session 3Wednesday, November 63-4:30 p.m.Whittier 151B
Individual partner meetingsTBDTBDTBD
Session 4Wednesday, November 203-4:30 p.m.Whittier 151B

* In the event UNL classes are to follow instructional continuity plans, the session will take place virtually.

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