Re-SPARK Program (Supporting Partnering for Advanced Research Teamwork)

Building on Purdue’s longstanding SPARK Program, Re-SPARK is an updated internal funding initiative that places greater emphasis on proposal refinement, resubmission strategy, and team development for major, center-scale funding opportunities. Priority is given to teams seeking to resubmit a proposal that was previously reviewed but not funded; teams pursuing a center-scale opportunity for the first time are also eligible if they can demonstrate a compelling case for readiness and competitiveness. Prior participation in SPARK is not required. The program provides funding and internal resources to support project strategy, teaming, and proposal development, with the explicit goal of helping teams directly address the feedback they received and substantially strengthen their competitiveness for resubmission.

As in the original SPARK Program, a “large center” target opportunity is defined as any project with anticipated total external funding value of ≥$7,000,000 (including indirect costs) over the course of the award. The priority path is open to teams whose prior submission requested at least $7,000,000 in anticipated total external funding and was reviewed by the sponsor and not selected for funding. First-time applicants must be targeting a center-scale opportunity of $7,000,000 or more and make a rigorous, evidence-based case for readiness.

Synopsis and Key Dates

Up to three (3) Re-SPARK awards will be made. Each award provides up to $150,000 in internal funding, distributed through two installments of up to $75,000, with the second installment contingent upon satisfactory completion of Phase 1 deliverables.

• Applications are due by 5:00 pm ET on September 28, 2026.
• An internal selection committee will screen all applications to select a subset for development into oral presentations. Based on this selection, oral presentations will be solicited in October 2026.
• Selected applicants will be notified of funding in December 2026.

Program Format for 2026–2027

The Re-SPARK Program will support Purdue-led research teams seeking to strengthen and pursue a large-scale, center-scale external proposal. Priority is given to teams resubmitting a previously reviewed but unfunded proposal; exceptional first-time teams are also eligible at a higher bar. The ceiling on funding for each team is $150,000. The individual budget is at the discretion of the proposing team, although it is anticipated that the funds will be used for the activities described during each Re-SPARK Phase listed below. If prospective teams have questions about permissible budgets, they can contact sparkresearch@purdue.edu.

For 2026–2027, the priority path is open to teams whose prior large-award submission (≥$7,000,000 in anticipated total external funding) was reviewed and declined, and who intend to pursue a resubmission, whether to the same solicitation, a successor solicitation, or another comparable large-scale funding opportunity. Teams pursuing a center-scale opportunity of ≥$7,000,000 for the first time are also eligible and must make a compelling, evidence-based case for readiness and competitiveness. Public-private partnerships are encouraged when they strengthen a team’s overall funding strategy. The proposed Re-SPARK team should demonstrate continuity with the original submission but may reflect changes in personnel, institutional affiliations, roles, expertise, or team composition that strengthen the competitiveness of the resubmission.

It is expected that the selected Re-SPARK teams’ targeted funding opportunity will have a submission deadline between October 2027 and October 2028.

Phase 1: Assessment and Resubmission Strategy

Funding

Teams selected for Re-SPARK will be notified of funding decisions in December 2026. Following award setup, the first installment of funding (up to $75,000) will be distributed as soon as possible.

Purpose

The focus of Phase 1 is to help teams refine or develop their scientific vision and develop a clear, evidence-based strategy for a successful submission. Activities should emphasize understanding and responding to sponsor feedback for a resubmission, assessing the current funding landscape, strengthening the team as needed, and developing a roadmap toward resubmission.

Funds may be used to support activities such as strategic planning meetings, workshops, sponsor engagement, team-building activities, external consultation, and faculty summer salary.

Deliverable 1: Reviewer Feedback Analysis and Competitive Positioning Assessment — due March 1, 2027

This deliverable should include:

• A structured analysis of reviewer feedback from the prior submission
• Identification and prioritization of major weaknesses, gaps, and concerns
• Assessment of win differentiators and strengths identified during the review
• Analysis of changes in the sponsor landscape and competitive environment since the original submission
• Recommended actions to strengthen competitiveness

First-time teams (no prior sponsor review) submit an equivalent Center-Readiness and Competitive Positioning Assessment in place of the reviewer-feedback analysis: evidence of center-readiness absent a prior review (e.g., prior collaboration, preliminary results, external engagement), a rigorous assessment of the competitive and sponsor landscape, and the specific gaps the team must close to be center-ready.

Following review of Deliverable 1, the team will meet with Strategic Interdisciplinary Research to discuss findings and next steps.

Deliverable 2: Resubmission Strategy Package — due June 1, 2027

This deliverable should include:

• A concept paper suitable for discussion with program officers or sponsoring agencies
• A detailed work plan and timeline
• A point-by-point response strategy describing how the team intends to address substantive reviewer comments and concerns
• Any proposal refinements to project scope, leadership structure, partnerships, or team composition
• Identification of the target resubmission opportunity

Following review of Deliverable 2, the team will meet with Strategic Interdisciplinary Research to assess readiness for execution activities and approval of transition to Phase 2.

Phase 2: Proposal Development and Resubmission

Funding

Following satisfactory completion of Phase 1, teams may receive a second installment of funding (up to $75,000). At this stage, teams will submit an updated budget outlining planned use of Phase 2 funds.

Purpose

Phase 2 focuses on executing the resubmission strategy and developing a highly competitive proposal. Activities may include:

• Proposal development and revision
• Updated generation of targeted preliminary data or analyses
• Strategic refinement of team structure and partnerships, including public-private partnerships, which are encouraged where they strengthen the funding strategy
• Governance and management planning
• Proposal project management support, editing, and graphic design

Deliverable 3: Proposal Development Package — due September 1, 2027

This deliverable should include:

• Revised proposal outline
• Writing assignments and proposal development schedule
• Preliminary budget framework
• Governance and management structure
• Organizational chart and partner engagement plan
• Summary of progress made in addressing reviewer concerns

Following review of Deliverable 3, the team will meet with Strategic Interdisciplinary Research to review progress and identify any remaining gaps requiring attention before submission.

Deliverable 4: Proposal Resubmission — due upon proposal submission

The final deliverable is submission of the revised proposal to the target funding opportunity. Teams will also provide a brief summary describing:

• Major changes made in response to reviewer feedback
• Key enhancements relative to the original proposal
• Submission date and funding opportunity

Eligibility

The Re-SPARK team may include tenure/tenure-track faculty, research faculty, or clinical faculty from Purdue Main Campus (West Lafayette, Indianapolis), Purdue Fort Wayne, and Purdue Northwest.

• Priority path (resubmission): the team must have previously submitted a proposal requesting at least $7,000,000 in anticipated total external funding that was reviewed by the sponsor and not selected for funding and must include that reviewer feedback with the application.
• First-time center-scale teams: teams pursuing a ≥$7,000,000 center-scale opportunity for the first time are eligible at a higher bar, and must make a rigorous, evidence-based case for center-readiness (e.g., demonstrated team collaboration, relevant preliminary results, and competitiveness against the current landscape) in place of prior reviewer feedback.
• The majority of team members must demonstrate evidence of existing collaboration — through the prior submission for resubmission teams, or through prior joint work, preliminary results, or other documented collaboration for first-time teams.
• No faculty may serve as the lead PI on more than one Re-SPARK application per cycle, and no faculty may be a PI or co-PI on more than two applications per cycle.

Application Process and Evaluation Criteria

Resubmission applicants must include the full reviewer feedback received on the team’s prior submission (e.g., summary statement, panel summary, written critique, or equivalent sponsor documentation). First-time applicants must instead include a rigorous case for center-readiness and competitiveness. The following categories are required as part of the application process and will be used to evaluate the 2-page Re-SPARK application (see Cover Page):

• Merit and Impact. Describe what high-level challenge is being addressed and how this effort will target a significant gap relative to other current efforts. Describe how the proposed research will alter the foundational landscape of the field of study. What is the significance/broad societal relevance of this work? Detail the complementary or unique nature of the proposed center relative to any existing external centers that would be seen as competition.
• Response to Prior Review or Team Center-Level Readiness. Summarize the feedback received on the team’s prior submission and identify the specific reviewer concerns that Re-SPARK funding will be used to address. Note any changes already made to the team, approach, or scope since the prior submission. For first-time applicants, present evidence of the team’s readiness for submitting a competitive center-level grant.
• Project Approach and Management Plan. Provide details on the approach to addressing the problem specific to the funding solicitation. Additionally, provide details on the center organization and management envisioned.
• Team Strength. Provide rationale for team composition and leadership and describe any history of working together productively, including through the prior submission. If team composition has changed since the prior submission, explain why and how this strengthens the team. Describe any specific external partners that have been, or will immediately become, engaged with the core Purdue team.
• Appropriateness of Funding Opportunity. State whether the team intends to resubmit to the same solicitation, a successor solicitation, or a comparable large-scale funding opportunity, and briefly explain why it remains (or is newly) suitable for the team’s technical vision. Please verify your eligibility for the funding opportunity.
• Impact on Existing Purdue Resources and Budget. Explain how, if funded, the proposed team fits within the existing Purdue research enterprise without duplicating current efforts on campus. Explain what the Re-SPARK funding will enable your team to accomplish that would not be possible otherwise. Provide a Re-SPARK rough order of magnitude (ROM) budget; Sponsored Programs Services should not be involved at the pre-proposal stage.

Administrative Burden

To minimize administrative workload, no letters of support will be considered for the application submission stage; however, it is strongly recommended that the proposing investigators informally discuss their applications with their unit heads and ADRs before submission. Teams that are invited for oral presentations need to work with their unit heads and ADRs to have documentation that the unit and college are supportive of this endeavor, especially in the context of the proposed budget.

Support, Expectations, and Evaluation of Progress

In addition to the internal funding provided by the award, selected Re-SPARK teams will be prioritized for Office of Research proposal preparation services (team strategizing, grant writing, and graphic design support), and a pre-award specialist experienced in large-scale center funding mechanisms will be assigned to the team. If the targeted funding opportunity is a limited submission, as defined by the specific federal agency, the Office of Research will run a limited submissions process once the funding solicitation is released. The Re-SPARK team will be required to go through the limited submission process.

Re-SPARK teams will provide the stated deliverables for each phase and meet with Office of Research leadership to ensure the team is being supported fully and is making appropriate progress toward its resubmission goals. Teams will be expected to meet with Office of Research staff at the end of each phase. Deliverables should be e-mailed to sparkresearch@purdue.edu by 5pm on the stated due dates. Any failure to meet these expectations will result in funding being revoked.

Project expenditures will be reviewed relative to the approved budget. Changes in personnel or redistribution of funds among budget categories or project partners require prior approval through standard university processes.

Application Submission Procedures

Applications must be submitted through InfoReady using the button below.

The deadline for submission is 5:00 pm ET on September 28, 2026. Applications will only be accepted through the InfoReady portal. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Guidelines for preparation of the body of the application:

• Use the application cover page.
• Please address all the required sections/evaluation criteria in a document, including the ROM budget. The document should be single-spaced and not exceed two (2) pages in length when using 1-inch margins on all sides and with 11 pt font.
• Include a copy of the prior submission’s reviewer feedback. Sponsored Program Services should not be involved at the application stage.

Questions?

Contact sparkresearch@purdue.edu.

FAQs