Limited Submission Process Overview

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) is pleased to announce this limited submission funding opportunity/award. Limited submission programs restrict the number of applications an institution may submit to the sponsor.

All interested PIs must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) through the UConn Quest Portal by the deadline listed below to be considered.

Important: Nominations must be submitted by faculty advisors for eligible postdoctoral scientists. Any postdoc that submits a self-nomination will not be considered for selection.

After the NOI deadline, OVPR will determine whether an internal competition is needed based on the number of NOIs received. If the number of NOIs does not exceed the sponsor’s limit, eligible PIs who submitted an NOI by the deadline are typically approved to move forward without an internal competition. If no NOIs are received, the opportunity may remain open on a first-come, first-served basis until all available slots are filled or the sponsor deadline passes, whichever comes first (see full process on our website).

Deadline

Date/Time

Notes

Internal NOI Deadline

Monday, 8/10/2026 by 12 noon

Required

Internal Pre-proposal Deadline

Monday, 8/17/2026 by 12 noon

Only required if an internal competition is needed.

Sponsor Full Proposal Deadline

11/1/2026

Item

Details

Program Link

https://www.warrenalpertfoundation.org/awards/ 

Quest Portal Link

https://quest.uconn.edu/prog/WAF-DSA_FY27 

Award Details

$200,000

Number of UConn Applicants Allowed

1 Total

Eligibility Requirements

• Must have an MD, PhD, or both
• Must hold a post-doctoral research position at a United States medical school, research institute, or academic institution.
• Minimum of 3 years and no more than 6 years of a post-doctoral fellowship by July 1, 2027
• Research focused in the field of Neuroscience
• Commitment of a minimum of 75% effort

Program Description

The Warren Alpert Foundation postdoctoral program was established in 2019 to advance neuroscience training as a bridge towards developing a career trajectory in academia, industry, or governmental science.  This highly competitive national program has been awarded to 5-7 individuals each year providing two years of support in a setting that permits independent scholarships to advance career development.

Question

Answer

What happens after the NOI deadline?

After the NOI deadline, one of three outcomes typically applies.

1. If the number of NOIs received exceeds the sponsor’s limit, OVPR will conduct an internal competition. 
2. If the number of NOIs does not exceed the sponsor’s limit, eligible PIs who have submitted an NOI by the deadline are typically approved to move forward without an internal competition. 
3. If no NOIs are received by the deadline, the opportunity will remain open on a first-come, first-served basis until all available slots are filled or the sponsor deadline passes, whichever comes first.

Only PIs selected and approved by OVPR are eligible to submit to the sponsor.

What are the pre-proposal requirements?

If an internal competition is necessary, pre-proposals should include:

1. Maximum two-page summary describing the project and demonstrating how it will fulfill the program/solicitation criteria and contribute to meeting the research/education goals of the institution (if applicable).
2. A brief budget overview and justification, 1-2 pages.
   • Indirect costs of up to 15% can be included.
3. Biosketches or CVs for all key personnel.

Please see the sponsor’s guidelines for details about program goals and application components.

What happens after the pre-proposal is submitted? 

1. Pre-proposals are reviewed by an ad hoc faculty committee with expertise in grant submission and relevant research areas. External reviewers may be involved when necessary.
2. After selections are made, all applicants will receive notification of the results (and reviewer feedback, when available) at the conclusion of the review.
3. Selected investigators will be approved to complete and submit full proposals according to the sponsor’s guidelines.

Where can I find more information?

For more information about the limited submission process, please visit our FAQ page.

For additional assistance, please contact us at research@uconn.edu.

How can I stay connected with UConn Research?

Follow UConn Research on Instagram & LinkedIn for all the latest information.