Science-to-Practice (S2P) Grant Program

The College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS) Office for Research and Graduate Education, in partnership with Penn State Extension, invites proposals for the FY2026 Science-to-Practice (S2P) Grant Program. This internal funding opportunity supports new and renewal projects that integrate research and extension to address complex, real-world challenges. Proposals may be submitted under one of two tracks: S2P and S2P Impact+.

The S2P Grant Program is designed to foster the formation and development of interdisciplinary teams that explore innovative methods, structures, and projects to translate research into practical outputs for dissemination and implementation. The program prioritizes applied, research-based activities that build collaborative networks across CAS research faculty, extension faculty, and educators—while also engaging external partners such as practitioners, decision-makers, and thought leaders.

• The S2P track provides grants of up to $10,000 for one year, with the possibility of renewal for up to three years (pending available funding). This track supports early-stage or newly formed teams working to integrate research and extension in novel ways.
• The new S2P Impact+ track offers up to $20,000 for one year to support renewal proposals from teams that have previously received S2P funding. This track is intended for high-performing teams that have demonstrated strong research-extension integration, expanded stakeholder partnerships, and measurable impact. Priority will be given to teams applying for their first or second renewal, though teams completing a full three-year cycle may also be considered. This track is supported through the generosity of an anonymous donor to the College of Agricultural Sciences.

Please note:

• Remaining funds from previous awards do not carry over.
• New budgets must be constructed for each renewal request.
• Additional criteria for renewals are outlined in the proposal guidelines.

The period of performance for S2P grants will begin October 1, 2025, and terminate September 30, 2026.

Eligibility

For both tracks, the team must be composed of a research leader and an extension leader, both of whom will serve as the principal investigators co-leading the project. Team leadership must meet the following criteria:

• Research PI must be a faculty member (tenured, tenure-track, or non-tenure-track) with a research appointment in the College of Agricultural Sciences and an active Hatch project;
• Extension PI must be full-time personnel (e.g., faculty member with an extension appointment, research associate and/or educator).

Additional participants are encouraged and may be from CAS, from other units at Penn State, and from outside the university. However, all funds must be used to directly support CAS activities and personnel. Funds cannot be used to support graduate students, employees, or other persons not employed by or not enrolled in a CAS program.

Proposal Requirements

The full proposal will be submitted online through the InfoReady system. The required components are outlined below with page limits and guidelines for the required content.

View 2025/26 S2P RFP
Access to the latest RFP for the current funding cycle

Download 2025/26 S2P RFP
Printable RFP includes proposal requirements for all levels of support, review process, and reporting guidelines.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated and scored on the following criteria:

• Identifies outcomes that are easily measurable and scalable
• Contributes to the knowledge base through distribution of results that benefit other efforts
• Presents a clear plan for building or supporting an interdisciplinary team
• Demonstrates the potential for effective strategies to integrate research and extension activities
• Proposes activities that help to initiate, advance, and strengthen teams and projects to obtain extramural support
• Provides clear benchmarks for achieving defined deliverables and expected outcomes and impacts
• Incorporates audiences traditionally not targeted
• Projects that demonstrate considerable opportunities to grow the mission of the College, Extension, and our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion are especially encouraged

Submission

Full proposals must be submitted as a single PDF by 11:59 pm on September 5, 2025, via InfoReady linked below.

Submit a Proposal

Review Process

Proposals will be evaluated by program administrators within the CAS Office of Research and Graduate Education and Penn State Extension. Applicants will be notified of decisions in advance of the start of the performance period.

Questions

Please contact Gretta Tritch Roman, Director of Research Development and Initiatives, with questions about this competition.