UC San Diego Launches Triton Amplify Research Awards Funding Program
Designed to seed large-scale interdisciplinary collaborations with grants of up to $1.5 million
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University of California San Diego’s Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) is announcing the new Triton Amplify Research Awards, a three-year, milestone-contingent funding program providing grants of up to $1.5 million.
This investment from Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla aims to support multidisciplinary activity on campus and drive research in new areas and on problems where federal funding may not be readily available. The program is designed to launch large solution-oriented collaboratives that take a multidisciplinary approach to major scientific, humanitarian, societal and environmental challenges of national or global impact.
"Triton Amplify is about giving bold, interdisciplinary teams the time, structure and seed support they need to turn a shared vision into a sustainable research enterprise,” said Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Corinne Peek-Asa. "In a period of change for academic research, we are intentionally investing in collaborations that can attract diversified external funding and deliver solutions no single lab or discipline could achieve alone. When our researchers work across schools, sectors and communities, there are truly no limits to the impact we can have.”
Successful applicants will need to pitch a bold vision for an interdisciplinary collaboration that advances research, discovery and innovation that addresses a complex challenge that no single investigator or discipline can solve alone.
Proposal Requirements
Proposals must outline clear three-year milestones across three core pillars:
- Organization and Governance – Design and establish effective leadership, administrative and operational frameworks
- Multi-Pronged Funding Strategy – Build a diversified fundraising pipeline
- Research Vision and Plan – Formulate a compelling interdisciplinary vision and drive 3-5 focus areas
Milestones must demonstrate steady progress toward securing $5 to $20 million in external funding across government, industry, foundation and philanthropic avenues within 5 years of the initial award.
Awards and phases
Funding is expected to total a maximum of $1.5 million per team with adequate justification. Initial award selection is a two-step process involving written proposals reviewed by a campus committee, followed by an invitation-only pitch session. Advancement to subsequent award phases requires meeting target milestones and passing competitive reviews.
Eligibility and requirements
- Award principal investigators (PIs) must hold an active, full-time appointment.
- PIs may submit only one application and may not simultaneously lead a Chancellor’s Interdisciplinary Team Catalyst Award.
- Teams should include representation from at least two schools and three different academic disciplines or sectors. Multidisciplinary efforts incorporating social sciences, policy, arts and humanities, and/or business and management alongside science, engineering and health are encouraged.
- Each collaborative will be based in a home academic unit. Negotiate resource commitments, such as administrative staff or facilities, with the unit and address them in the application.
Timeline
- Informational webinar on October 7, 2026 from 9 to 10 am.: Registration link.
- Applications Due: Monday, November 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT
- Pitch Selection Notification: February 5, 2027
- Pitch Sessions: February 22, 2027, 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in-person
- Phase 1 Award Notification: March 2027
- Phase 1: April 1, 2027 – September 30, 2027
- View the full RFA for the Triton Amplify Research Program.
- The application portal will open in November.
Contact Lisa Trahan, Research Growth Initiatives Associate Director, Office of Research and Innovation, at vcri-initiatives@ucsd.edu with any questions.
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