I³R Launches Watershed Grants Program to Catalyze High-Impact Research Partnerships

The Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I³R) is launching the I³R Watershed Grants Program, a new funding opportunity designed to spark interdisciplinary collaboration, accelerate translational research and position U of A researchers for competitive external funding.

Developed in partnership with Bumpers College, the College of Education and Health Professions, the College of Engineering, the Division of Agriculture, Fulbright College and the Sam M. Walton College of Business, the funding program will support projects that bring together expertise from disciplines across all academic units to address complex societal challenges. The Watershed Grants Program also reflects I³R's commitment to fostering a collaborative research culture across the university.

"The University of Arkansas is home to exceptional talent and expertise across every college and discipline," said Provost Indrajeet Chaubey. "I³R provides a unique platform for connecting people, ideas and capabilities in support of our land-grant mission, and its Watershed Grants Program is an excellent opportunity to spark a new level of interdisciplinary collaboration."

The program is organized around the concept of a watershed. Headwaters Grants support the formation of new research teams and working groups where innovative ideas originate. Confluence Grants support collaborative research projects that generate preliminary data and proof-of-concept results. Delta Grants help researchers advance promising discoveries toward commercialization and real-world application.

"The Watershed Grants are about bringing people together to do what none of us could do alone," said Hugh Churchill, I³R interim director. "By funding teams that span our colleges and schools, the Division of Agriculture and partners beyond campus, we're backing collaborations that turn good ideas into real results. These early investments are designed to germinate larger efforts that will draw national funding and deliver outsized impact for Arkansas's economy and people's lives."

Projects are encouraged in areas aligned with I³R's evolving research priorities, including health and well-being, food and nutrition, robotics and immersive technologies, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and related interdisciplinary fields. Researchers are encouraged to frame their work around significant societal challenges and opportunities for impact.

In addition to funding, the program is designed to strengthen connections among faculty, industry partners, community organizations and I³R's growing portfolio of research facilities. Participating teams will have opportunities to engage with I³R expertise and infrastructure, including advanced manufacturing and prototyping, wet lab space, imaging capabilities, metabolic research resources and other emerging facilities.

"The broad availability of I³R's unique capabilities to researchers across the university is a game-changer for U of A researchers," said Margaret Sova McCabe, vice chancellor for research and innovation. "By connecting faculty with advanced facilities, technical expertise and new collaborators, the Watershed Grants Program will help accelerate discovery, strengthen interdisciplinary partnerships and position our researchers for greater success and impact. I am excited to see the projects and success that come from this program."

Eligible applicants include U of A faculty and research staff from all colleges and schools, Division of Agriculture faculty and staff, industry partners, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and interdisciplinary teams spanning multiple sectors. Projects will be funded for a one-year period beginning Aug. 15, 2026.

Proposals are due by 5 p.m. Monday, July 13, through the university's InfoReady system.

Visit i3r.uark.edu for updates, including details for an upcoming Proposer's Day on June 30 and office hours. For more information, contact Philip Sambol, project manager for I³R, at psambol@uark.edu.

About the Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I³R): Established through a $194.7 million gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, the University of Arkansas Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I³R) serves as a hub for research innovation, technology development, and industry engagement. By bringing together interdisciplinary expertise, advanced facilities, entrepreneurial support, and strategic partnerships, I³R accelerates the path from discovery to deployment. The institute supports groundbreaking research, workforce development, technology commercialization, and collaborative solutions that strengthen Arkansas' economy and improve lives worldwide. Learn more at i3r.uark.edu.