InterFACE: NIH R01 Academy

The Academy provided a supportive community and a structured approach to grant writing, which helped me to refine my research questions, strengthen my current proposal, and develop a clear plan for this and future submissions. As a result, I feel more confident and better prepared to submit a competitive R01 application.

Jeffrey Mason, 2024 Cohort

Co-developed by research development professionals at Utah State University, Montana State University, the University of Idaho, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and AtKisson Training Group, InterFACE (Faculty Academy for Competitive Excellence) is a multi-institutional initiative to support faculty developing competitive proposals for select external funding opportunities.

In 2026, InterFACE will focus on the strategic development of National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 (research project grant) applications. A limited number of USU faculty will be selected to participate in the program through a university-wide application process. More information is available in the Applications section of this page. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will be the host institution for 2026 in-person activities.

The in-person workshops of the Academy were impactful, offering valuable guidance on the importance of the Specific Aims page, strategies for choosing collaborators, defining project scope, and developing all parts of the proposal. These experiences have significantly improved my ability to approach R01 proposal development with more confidence and clarity.

Norah Saarman, 2024 Cohort

Format

Through didactic and experiential learning, small group collaboration, and expert consultation, the InterFACE: NIH R01 Academy will guide participants as they prepare a complete R01 application, including Specific Aims, research strategy, budget, and ancillary documents. Because this is a multi-institutional program, participants will have the opportunity to network with faculty from participating institutions.

Schedule

InterFACE: NIH R01 Academy programming will occur March-May 2026. Formal programming will be followed by two rounds of proposal review during the fall with an intended proposal submission date in February 2027. Faculty participants are encouraged to meet regularly with their learning pods throughout the program.

Date	Activity
Tuesday, March 31 Virtual, half day	Before You Begin to Write Workshop AtKisson Training Group
Monday, April 13, and Tuesday, April 14 In-person, University of Nebraska-Lincoln	NIH R01 Development Workshop, Part 1 AtKisson Training Group
Monday, May 4	Specific Aims and NIH Biographical Sketch due for review
Monday, May 18, and Tuesday, May 19 In-person, University of Nebraska-Lincoln	NIH R01 Development Workshop, Part 2 AtKisson Training Group
October 2026*	Full proposal due for non-technical review by AtKisson Training Group
December 2026*	Full proposal due for technical review (date to be coordinated with Research Development)
Friday, February 5, 2027	NIH R01 submission
NOTE: Additional activities may be scheduled in addition to the above. *Timeline can be adjusted to target an October submission date.

Eligibility

USU faculty who are conducting research in areas fundable by NIH and who have not yet received R01 support as a principal investigator are eligible to apply. Travel to the host institution (University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE) for the two in-person workshops in April and May is required to participate in the cohort. Please refer to the Program Support section below for more information on program expenses.

Applications

All eligible USU faculty are invited to apply for the InterFACE: NIH R01 Academy. To apply, applicants must submit the following as a single PDF file:

An NIH Specific Aims page (one page maximum)
An NIH biosketch
One paragraph describing the project’s significance and one paragraph describing the project’s innovation (one page maximum)
A short statement describing the applicant’s interest in and readiness for the InterFACE: NIH R01 Academy, including details about relevant publications and availability of preliminary/feasibility data (one page maximum)

Applications to participate in the 2026 program are due by Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

Submit Application

Review and Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed internally by Office of Research senior administrators. Application review criteria include:

A clear connection between the applicant’s project aims and level of readiness for program participation (e.g., record of relevant peer-reviewed publications and availability of preliminary/feasibility data).
Alignment between the applicant’s project aims and opportunities for NIH R01 support.

In consultation with senior administrators in the applicants’ colleges/departments, Research Development will make participant selection decisions in late January.

Program Support

The Office of Research will cover the following costs for selected faculty:

Fees for in-person workshops provided by AtKisson Training Group
50% of travel costs to the in-person workshops, held at the 2026 host institution (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
- NOTE: The remaining 50% of travel costs to the in-person workshops must be covered by the faculty member's college/department
Costs associated with individualized proposal mentoring and reviews provided by AtKisson Training Group

Writing a competitive R01 application from an institution without a medical school has been challenge in my field. By participating in the Academy, I learned workable strategies and tips for every document required for an R01 application. Learning from the Academy was truly rewarding and will help my future R01 application.

Anhong Zhou, 2024 Cohort