Ignite COVID-19 Flash Grants: Now Accepting Research Proposals

The School of Data Science (SDS) and UNC Charlotte’s Research and Economic Development are thrilled to announce the Ignite COVID-19 Flash Grants utilizing Twitter data associated with the global pandemic.

SDS partnered with Twitter to acquire a data stream containing more than 50 million tweets per day, with the purpose of addressing research questions targeting the COVID-19 pandemic and in support of the public good. The COVID-19 Flash Grants are intended to support and incentivize stronger, collaborative relationships among University researchers from different colleges and disciplines with the goal of positioning teams to be able to respond to new, external funding opportunities related to the coronavirus.

This one-time grant opportunity provides up to $10,000 per award. Teams that engage with a University Business Partner will be eligible for an additional $5,000 in funding. Researchers interested in seeking external support to utilize this new resource are encouraged to submit a proposal to the Ignite COVID-19 Flash Grant program. Flash Grant proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis between May 1 and September 1, 2020.

Areas of research that might be considered include, but are not limited to: transmission, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19, implementation of educational models for distance/remote learning, effects of the pandemic on educational outcomes in K-12 students, and the development of new technologies with the potential to positively impact the nation’s ability to respond to the COVID-19 crisis.

For more information regarding the ignite COVID-19 Flash Grants, submission requirements and deadlines, click here.

Questions regarding the program can contact Lesley Brown, Director of the Center for Research Excellence.