Seed Funding FAQ

Q: Is CITRIS Seed Funding open to non-CITRIS Investigators?

A: No, the Seed Funding is only available to CITRIS Investigators.



Q: Do all Co-PIs need to be CITRIS Investigators?

A: Yes, all Co-PIs are required to be CITRIS Investigators.



Q: I have participated in previous CITRIS activities. How do I find out if I am officially a CITRIS Investigator?

A: You can check on CITRIS website at http://www.citris-uc.org/research/investigators, and search whether your name is already listed on the website.



Q: How do I become a CITRIS Investigator?

A: CITRIS membership is inclusive. If you share CITRIS’s vision, and you have PI status in one of the CITRIS campuses (Berkeley, Davis, Merced, Santa Cruz), you are eligible to apply for CITRIS Investigator. The responsibilities and privileges are outlined in CITRIS Investigator Agreement. The application process is easy: simply email your request to :

• The signed CITRIS Investigator Agreement
• Your C.V.
• A paragraph describing the synergy between your research and CITRIS mission.

Q: Do I need to have Co-PIs in another CITRIS campus?

A: This is not a requirement, but cross-campus collaboration is highly encouraged, particularly those that leverage on the strengths of each campus.



Q: Do I need to have Co-PIs from a different discipline?

A: Since all CITRIS projects are multi-disciplinary, it is natural to have Co-PIs from different discipline(s). Pure technological development or social studies are outside the scope of CITRIS Seed Projects.



Q: I have a current CITRIS Seed Project. Can I renew my project?

A: Existing CITRIS Seed Project cannot apply for new Seed funding. The Seed Project is intended to provide initial support of new ideas so it will attract funding from Federal/State agencies or industrial/private sector.



Q: Can Seed funding support summer salaries of PI/Co-PIs?

A: No. The summer salaries of PI and Co-PIs are not eligible for Seed funding budget.



Q: Does matching fund from industry increase the likelihood of selection?

A: In general, matching fund is not required for Seed funding. Matching fund will have positive impact only when the proposal has high technical merit by itself and is within the scope of CITRIS Seed Project.