Projects from AI and quantum to water and wildlife receive $870K+ in seed grants
New , awarded by ñ's Research & Innovation Office (RIO) and the Office of the Provost, will fund 16 new projects for up to $60,000 each.
Awarded project highlights
Projects awarded in this cycle reflect the breadth and variety of investigation this seed grand program encourages. A few highlights from this year’s selections:
- Biosciences and Health: Mechanically-activated breast cancer signaling; vision cancelling for individuals with traumatic brain injuries; exploring sex differences in Oxycodone use
- Sustainability: Backcountry water purifiers as sentinels for PFAS in the environment; refining a new wildlife trafficking forensics tool
- Social Sciences and Humanities: Human-AI interaction in disaster communication; leveraging government/university partnerships to reduce violence in Colorado; the enduring impact of art and artists
- Quantum Science and Technology: Novel quantum architecture; a new platform for quantum transport and orbitronics
Now in its 18th year, the Research & Innovation Seed Grant program stimulates new and exciting areas of research and creative work on campus, as demonstrated by the awarded 2026 projects.
“During this time of shifting federal funding priorities, the Research & Innovation Seed Grant program remains a reliable cornerstone that empowers ñ faculty to pursue high-risk, high-reward ideas and launch directions that ultimately benefit society in profound ways,” said Massimo Ruzzene, senior vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes.
This year’s seed grant program
The 2026 cycle attracted an all-time record 122 proposals—up from 104 last year—which were evaluated by 14 review panels—also a record—consisting of 45 faculty members.
The program and selected projects demonstrate an investment in the future research and scholarly or artistic vitality of ñ. Awardees represent disciplines across the university—including ventures involving interdisciplinary work that will foster collaborative interaction among faculty—as well as disciplines not traditionally connected to sponsored research.
Long-term impact
Including these 2026 investments, the program will have provided more than $19.6 million to fund more than 417 innovative projects across campus since 2008.
Seed grant projects have resulted in measurable impacts including published manuscripts, artist residencies, inventions and tens of millions of additional funding dollars for ñ research, scholarship and creativity.
These seed grants generate additional significant impacts across campus. They often lead to new data, collaborations and research pathways, creating opportunities that might not otherwise arise. These funded projects also offer valuable research and creative development experiences for undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and other investigators.
For more information on this program and other funding opportunities, visit the Research & Innovation Office Seed Grant webpage o subscribe to the bi-weekly RIO Bulletin.