UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — During fiscal year 2026, Penn State’s Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses (OVPCC) has invested more than $460,000 in faculty and student research across the Commonwealth Campuses.
An initial round of funding last fall provided nearly $141,000 to support interdisciplinary research, research mentorship and undergraduate research initiatives. A second round this winter provided nearly $262,000 for initiatives related to artificial intelligence and community impact and engagement. Separate funding of $60,000 supports student research presentations at professional conferences.
In total, 122 proposals were submitted across the two funding rounds, with 103 projects selected for funding. The funded initiatives represent faculty from 18 Commonwealth Campuses, five University Park colleges and the College of Medicine.
“This represents a major investment in research growth and excellence across our Commonwealth Campuses,” said Renata Engel, vice president for Commonwealth Campuses and executive chancellor. “By supporting innovative faculty scholarship and expanding opportunities for students to engage in research and share their findings, we are strengthening our research culture and creating new platforms for collaboration across campuses and throughout the University.”
Round 1: Interdisciplinary Research and Undergraduate Initiatives
The first round of seed funding included Excellence in Interdisciplinary Research Seed Funding, Research Mentorship Seed Funding, Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) and Internal Mock Review programs.
In Round 1, 83 faculty members are serving as principal or co-principal investigators on funded projects. Fifty undergraduate students are participating in Research Experiences for Undergraduates projects supported through seed funding, and an additional $30,612 in Federal Work Study (FWS) funding was leveraged in the REU programs.
Round 2: Artificial Intelligence and Community Impact Initiatives
The second round centered on the AI Discovery Initiative and the Community Impact and Engagement Seed Funding Program.
The inaugural call generated 73 submissions, resulting in 23 AI Faculty Fellowship awards, 27 AI Faculty Seed Fund awards, and 15 Community Impact and Engagement Seed Fund awards. In Round 2, 90 Commonwealth Campus faculty members are serving as principal or co-principal investigators, with additional collaboration from University Park faculty.
Beyond the seed funding programs, OVPCC also made a new investment to support undergraduate and graduate students who have been accepted to present their research at professional conferences. More than 80 students have received conference travel support during fiscal year 2026, helping to cover registration and travel costs and enabling them to share their work with broader scholarly communities. The opportunity remains open and continues to accept applications from eligible students.
“These investments extend beyond funding individual projects,” Engel said. “By investing in faculty scholarship, mentorship and student research — and by supporting students as they present their work to professional audiences — we are building a stronger, more connected research community across our campuses and throughout the University.”