Vanderbilt faculty across the university are launching new research directions, strengthening proposals for major grants and moving quickly on timely opportunities with support from the latest round of internal research funding awards.
The university recently announced the fall 2025 recipients of the Seeding Success, Scaling Success and Rapid-Advancement MicroGrant Program internal awards, all managed through the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation.
“These awards give faculty the flexibility to try something new, gather the data they need and move their work to the next level,” said Elizabeth Zechmeister, senior associate provost for research and development and interim chief research officer. “Often, early support is what turns a good idea into a competitive external proposal.”
Begun in 2022, the internal award programs invest in projects at pivotal stages, helping scholars test ideas, build momentum and compete for larger support from federal, foundation and industry sponsors.
Seeding Success grants help launch promising new lines of inquiry. Scaling Success supports teams as they grow established projects into larger, externally sponsored efforts. RAMP awards provide rapid, targeted funding so faculty can act quickly to pilot a concept, travel for collaboration or advance creative work.
The fall 2025 recipients are pursuing projects across a wide range of disciplines and stages of development. Award recipients include:
Seeding Success awards
- Matt Day, assistant professor, physics and astronomy, College of Arts and Science, “Replacing the VINSE Lithography Workhorse”
- Kristen Granger, assistant professor, special education, Peabody College, “Examining Stress Contagion in Classroom Social Networks of Students with or at Risk for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders”
- Anthony Menicucci, research assistant professor, earth and environmental sciences, College of Arts and Science, “Acquisition of a Next Generation ICPMS for Advancement of EES Student and Faculty Environmental Research”
Scaling Success awards
- Nicole Creanza, associate professor, biological sciences, College of Arts and Science, “Using cooperation and competition in birdsong as a model for the evolution of communication”
- Guilherme Gualda, professor, earth and environmental sciences, College of Arts and Science, “The Last Gasp – The nature and impact of the final volcanic eruptions of the Paraná Magmatic Province in Southern Brazil”
- Ethan Lee, professor, cell and developmental biology, School of Medicine Basic Sciences, “Investigating Fibroblast-Driven Signaling in Thyroid Cancer Progression”
- Richard Sando, assistant professor, pharmacology, School of Medicine Basic Sciences, “The function of Adhesion GPCR Latrophilins in striatal circuit assembly, ADHD and substance abuse”
Rapid-Advancement MicroGrant Program (RAMP) awards
- Adam Blandin, economics, College of Arts and Science
- Jason Chow, special education, Peabody College
- Ibby Cizmar, theatre, College of Arts and Science
- Nicole Creanza, biological sciences, College of Arts and Science
- Raheleh Filsoofi, art, College of Arts and Science
- Aniruddha Gokhale, computer science, College of Connected Computing
- Richard Haglund, physics, College of Arts and Science
- Jared Hauser, woodwinds, Blair School of Music
- Jessie Hock, English, College of Arts and Science
- Lucie Kalousova, medicine, health and society, College of Arts and Science
- Claire King, communication studies, College of Arts and Science
- Richard McGregor, religious studies, College of Arts and Science
- Kimberley McKinson, anthropology, College of Arts and Science
- Catherine McTamaney, teaching and learning, Peabody College
- Amy Needham, psychology and human development, Peabody College
- Vesna Pavlović, art, College of Arts and Science
- Jacob Sauer, anthropology, College of Arts and Science
- Doug Shadle, music, Blair School of Music
- John Stromme, economics, College of Arts and Science
- Tiffiny Tung, vice provost for undergraduate education
- Katherine Wen, medicine, health and society, College of Arts and Science
- Eric Wong, viola, Blair School of Music
- Dan Work, civil and environmental engineering, School of Engineering
- Denis Zhernokleyev, German, Russian and East European studies, College of Arts and Science
Through these programs, Vanderbilt continues to invest in faculty ideas at the moments they matter most, helping turn strong concepts into funded projects and lasting research impact.
