Our faculty can access funding programs, grant support and institutional resources to advance their work. From early-stage ideas to externally-funded projects, to collaborative efforts and much more — we encourage and support our faculty through a wide range of opportunities.
Research Funding
Faculty mentors participating in Frost SURP receive between stipends ranging from $1,500 and $6,000, depending on the number of students that faculty mentor is overseeing.
The Frost Teacher-Scholar Postdoctoral Fellowship program is designed to give recent Ph.D. graduates the opportunity to gain valuable experience in both research and teaching, alongside a Bailey College faculty member. The call for applications goes out via faculty email distribution lists during Fall Semester for postdocs to be hired for the subsequent academic year.
Indirect Costs-Generated Assigned Time
Faculty receive: 1 semester WTU of assigned time for every $75,000 in total funding (direct + indirect costs).
Undergraduate Student Salary
Faculty receive: 1 semester WTU of assigned time per 450 hours of academic-year student pay.
Grant-Funded Release Time
Faculty receive: 1 semester WTU of assigned time for every 3 semester WTUs of funded release.
Contact with Request
When requesting assigned time, faculty should contact:
- Karl Saunders, Bailey College Associate Dean (ksaunder@calpoly.edu)
- Emi Youngquist, Bailey College Budget Analyst (eyounqu@calpoly.edu)
Funded Grant Writing
Faculty can apply for: 3 semester WTUs of assigned time to write a grant proposal to submit to an external funder.
Important Dates
The call for applications for grant writing assigned time goes out via faculty email distribution lists annually during Fall Semester for assigned time to be used the subsequent academic year. This program is supported by the Frost Fund in order to leverage additional resources for faculty scholarship.
The Frost Research Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students with a demonstrated commitment to original science and/or mathematics-based research. Frost Research Scholars enroll in two units of supervised research with the faculty mentor each semester for the duration of the scholarship (1-3 years), and the student has the guaranteed option to participate in Frost SURP with their mentor during each summer until the scholarship ends. The faculty mentor receives .67 semester weighted teaching units (WTU) of assigned time during each year of the scholarship period to support mentorship of the Frost Research Scholar, in addition to the WTUs faculty may receive from students enrolling in supervisorial courses (subject to departmental caps on such by-arrangement WTUs). The faculty mentor also receives a $1,500 payment for each summer in which the Frost Research Scholar participates in Frost SURP.
Through generous donor support, faculty fellowships provide assigned time to focus on research. Examples of recent faculty fellowships include the Donna L. Beres and Terrence Dahl Endowed Faculty Research Fellowship in Computational Sciences, which supports mentorship of student research experiences, and the Leonard and Natalie Wall Physics Faculty Research Fellowship. The college or by the relevant department announces opportunities to apply for these fellowships as they become available.
Undergraduate Research Magazine
Each year, the Bailey College releases Undergraduate Research, an award-winning magazine highlighting faculty and student achievements in research projects across the college. Pub and Rec is a regular feature spotlighting faculty’s recent publications, recognition, awards, appointments and other newsworthy accomplishments.
Research Events
Throughout the year, the college and Cal Poly host a wide range of events—from conferences and symposiums to forums and competitions—centered on research and discovery. These gatherings give faculty and students the chance to present their work to a broader audience and connect with others in their field.
Helpful Resources
Office of Research
The Office of Research provides information on internal grant programs, intellectual property and patents, and other resources.
Visit the Office of Research Website
Cal Poly Pre-Award Office
The Pre-Award Office provides information, guidance, and services to Cal Poly faculty, administrators, and senior staff engaged in extramurally-funded research, curriculum development, and community service projects. Including:
Visit the Pre-Award Office Website
