Purpose: “To support broad-based climate research being conducted through the Program on Climate Change that is grounded in climate science. It is the Donors’ intent that funds benefit undergraduate and graduate students, post-docs, research scientists and faculty pursuing climate science research through the Program on Climate Change.”

The Program on Climate Change (PCC) is requesting proposal submissions for fundamental and/or applied climate science research projects that accelerate or build capacity for climate research at the UW. Funding requests up to 30K will be considered for single PI proposals and up to 50K will be considered for collaborations between two or more PIs with priority consideration for new and/or interdisciplinary collaborations. Examples of ways funding can be used:

• for startup research projects aimed at leveraging existing or planned research grants (state what funding opportunity will be targeted)
• for side-projects or interesting new directions resulting from projects currently funded by external sources
• for activities that lay the groundwork for future funding applications (state what funding opportunity will be targeted)

Eligibility: UW faculty, UW research scientists and UW Postdoctoral Researchers with PI status from any program are invited to apply. Priority will be given to those who have not received PCC Research Acceleration funding in the past and in departments active in the PCC.

Please include the following in your proposal:

1. Title
2. All project participant affiliations and titles
3. Proposed research is limited to 3 pages (see instructions below)
4. Brief budget narrative and simple table (see instructions below)
5. Funding start date (must be on or before Jan. 1, 2027) and end date
6. Letter(s) of collaboration from unfunded collaborators (if applicable)

Research proposal instructions: Applicants must clearly describe how their proposal will advance fundamental and/or applied climate science. The proposal must also include the goals or anticipated outcomes of the project or activity. If applicable, the proposal should describe how the research benefits from any new and/or interdisciplinary collaborations.

Budget instructions: The application must include a budget narrative that includes a start date and a simple table that details expenses of up to $30K (up to $50K for two or more PIs). Please do not use an NSF or other template. In addition to equipment and supplies, the budget may include travel for participants. Salary support may only be used for undergraduate students, graduate students, and/or postdoctoral researchers at UW. Graduate student support can include salary and tuition.

Application deadline: Noon on August 15, 2026. Email applications to uwpcc@uw.edu with Subject line: PCCResAccSummer2026_PILastName

Post funding requirements: 15 months after the start of funding the awardee must submit a blog post describing the event, project, publication, or other outcomes. The UW Program on Climate Change must be acknowledged in any presentation or publication on research outcomes.

Questions? Contact Miriam Bertram at uwpcc@uw.edu