Limited Submissions
Limited Submission funding opportunities are programs in which the sponsor restricts the number of applications that an institution may submit. The Research Development Office manages the internal selection process to determine which investigator(s) will be authorized to submit to the sponsor.
Northwestern uses the InfoReady Funding & Awards Portal to manage all federal and foundation LS opportunities. A valid NetID login is required to apply.
View LS Opportunities and Apply
If you identify a limited submission opportunity that is not in our list, please contact us as soon as possible.
Recurring Opportunities
To assist with planning, Research Development maintains a compiled list of recurring Limited Submission opportunities. Please note that this list is not comprehensive, and both internal and sponsor deadlines are subject to change based on updated sponsor guidelines. Archived competitions are also available for reference (VPN required when off-campus).
RECURRING LIMITED SUBMISSION PROGRAMS
Limited Submission Process
The majority of Limited Submission funding opportunities are distributed via targeted emails to relevant faculty and featured in the biweekly Research Development Insight newsletter. If you are not receiving these emails and would like to, please contact us to be added to the distribution list.
A small number of the opportunities (which Research Development does not anticipate being relevant to Northwestern research community) are not distributed, but only published on the Research Development LS website . For these opportunities, LOIs (Letter of Intent) will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI)
- The announcement will indicate whether an LOI is required.
- For some opportunities where we expect interest to exceed the institutional limit, we may still request a brief LOI to help assess demand and plan for internal review.
- A limited number of opportunities are managed on a first-come, first-served (FCFS) basis, as noted in the announcement.
Submitting an Internal Proposal (IP)
- If an internal competition is required, PIs who submitted LOIs will receive an email notification with instructions to submit a full Internal Proposal (IP) through InfoReady. The IP application will open after the LOI deadline has passed.
- If no internal competition is necessary, eligible PIs will be notified directly that they are assigned the institutional submission slot. No pre-proposal or additional materials will be required.
The Limited Submission Advisory Committee (LSAC) is composed of senior faculty from Northwestern and is charged with identifying nationally competitive candidates. Ad hoc reviewers, including faculty who are past awardees, are invited to join the meeting. In addition, ex-officio members from Foundation Relations or Corporate Engagement guide the panel by providing information about sponsor missions, priorities, and the review process. Following the panel discussion, the LSAC votes for the recommended candidate(s). The vice president for research reviews the committee’s discussion and recommendations and nominates the institutional nominee(s).
Once the vice president approves the nominee(s), the applicant is notified and authorized. The applicant’s department chair, associate dean for research, and Sponsored Research grants officer are also notified. Investigators who are not selected also are notified.
Applicants must adhere to all posted deadlines and may not apply for a Limited Submission funding opportunity without institutional authorization from Research Development. Nominees are expected to submit a timely application, barring serious, extenuating circumstances. Should nominees wish to decline a nomination, they are required to notify Research Development as soon as possible.
FAQs
I just became aware of a limited submission funding opportunity. What should I do?
Please check the Limited Submission Opportunities page to determine whether the opportunity has been announced to the Northwestern community. If the opportunity is not listed, please contact Research Development as soon as possible.
What do I need to submit for a particular limited submission funding opportunity?
Each limited submission announcement includes the deadlines (date and time), description of the required internal components, and the process for submitting the application electronically.
I missed the internal letter of intent deadline. Can I still apply for the opportunity?
Applicants must adhere to all posted deadlines to participate in the limited submission process. If you missed the deadline, you may communicate your interest for a particular opportunity to Research Development.
I am a research administrator. How can I get limited submission funding opportunity announcements?
Please send an email to Research Development and request to be added to our list.
Can I contact Limited Submission Advisory Committee members for feedback on my proposal review?
No. Please contact Research Development if you would like to receive proposal feedback.