RU4M Livable Futures Water Collaboration Grants

The Research Universities for Michigan (RU4M) initiative, a collaborative alliance of Michigan’s four R1 institutions—Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University—has announced the Livable Futures Water Collaboration Grants. These grants are designed to catalyze interdisciplinary, impact-oriented research focused on the future of water in Michigan and the Upper Midwest. The initiative is administered by the University of Michigan’s Office of the Vice President for Research, with proposals reviewed by leadership and faculty across all four institutions. The program underscores RU4M’s shared commitment to leveraging academic innovation to address pressing environmental and societal challenges. The grant opportunity reflects the growing recognition that Michigan’s abundant freshwater resources position the region uniquely to navigate the challenges of climate change and population shifts. As communities across the U.S. grapple with droughts, flooding, and infrastructure stress, Michigan may see increased migration and investment due to its water security. However, this potential growth also raises questions about sustainable management of coastlines, wastewater, potable water access, and broader economic resilience. The program calls for research that helps prepare Michigan for a livable future by 2100, while beginning to address urgent needs leading up to 2050. Eligible projects must focus on water-related research that supports human health, economic opportunity, and environmental resilience. Awards are structured as seed grants, encouraging investigators to form teams across at least three RU4M institutions, with preference given to those including all four. Each PI may request up to $20,000 from their home institution, for a maximum of $80,000 per project. Funding may not be used for faculty salaries, and each university will manage its share independently under the RU4M agreement. Priority will be placed on interdisciplinary work that engages stakeholders beyond academia, including policymakers, community organizations, and industry. The application process requires a detailed proposal narrative, budget justification, and biosketches. Narratives must outline project aims, background significance, methodology, personnel contributions, stakeholder engagement, expected impacts, and plans for sustainability. Proposals are capped at 20 pages for three PIs and 25 pages for four PIs, and must include a one-page budget justification and biosketches in NIH or NSF format. Applications must be submitted as a single PDF, with the abstract separately pasted into the application portal. External collaborators must register for access through the University of Michigan portal prior to submission. Proposals will be reviewed on significance, innovation, approach, interdisciplinarity, stakeholder engagement, impact, and sustainability. The review panel will include experts from RU4M institutions and additional external experts, with final decisions made by the RU4M Vice Presidents for Research. Awards will support projects from February 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027, aligning with RU4M’s broader efforts to build long-term research capacity across Michigan. The 2026 cycle opened with program announcements on September 29, 2025, and an informational session scheduled for October 2025. Applications are due December 1, 2025, with reviews occurring from December 2 to December 19, and award notifications released during the week of January 5, 2026. Applicants with questions are directed to contact RD-Support@umich.edu. This annual internal funding program provides Michigan’s research universities with a structured opportunity to collaborate on water-focused challenges while preparing the state for an uncertain but opportunity-filled future.

Highlight interdisciplinarity, inclusion of community and industry partners, junior faculty engagement, sustainability plans, and measurable societal impact