2025/26 S2P RFP

Science to Practice (S2P)

2025/2026 Request for Proposals

Overview

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.

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:

1. 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;
2. 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.

Submission Process

Full proposals must be submitted as outlined in the proposal requirements by 11:59 pm on September 5, 2025, via  InfoReady

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.

Please direct any questions regarding your proposal to Gretta Tritch Roman, Director of Research Development and Initiatives (gst118@psu.edu).

Proposal Requirements

The required components are outlined below with page limits and guidelines for the required content.

Proposal information entered into InfoReady fields:

A. Project Participants

1. Designate only the research principal investigator and the extension principal investigator who will co-lead the project. Refer to the eligibility requirements stated above. Applicant in InfoReady may be either Research or Extension lead; include the other project lead in the Co-Applicant field.
   • Must include the active Hatch or Smith-Lever project for each applicant.

B. Application Title

C. Summary (300 words maximum)

1. Summarize the integrated project, including the primary stakeholders standing to benefit or who will be affected by the project, a brief statement of the goal(s), and the integrative strategy.

D. Proposal Type

1. Indicate "New Proposal" or "Renewal."
2. If renewal, indicate "S2P" or "S2P Impact+" track. All new proposals will be considered under the S2P track.

E. Research and Extension Budgets

1. Enter the total amount requested for each function: research and extension.
2. For renewal projects:
   • Provide the total remaining funds (research and extension) to date. You may use the budget narrative of the written proposal to provide justification for these remaining funds.
   • Provide the total amount you anticipate being able to expend (processed and cleared) by September 30.

Unified PDF uploaded to InfoReady must contain all the following components:

F. Title and Proposal Narrative

Four (4) pages maximum for new proposals / Five (5) pages maximum for renewal proposals; does not include team roles, budget and justification, or references

1. Research Component (included in page limit)
   • What is the research problem, defined in the context of a field of research or discipline?
   • What are the gaps in data or knowledge that make this project significant?
   • What is the potential for this project to impact the advancement of knowledge in a particular research field/discipline/area?
   • Identify research-specific activities required to advance the integrative strategy outlined below, including defined research-related deliverables (e.g., publications, grant applications, etc.) and expected outcomes and impacts.
   • Renewals only: Describe how extending the project for another year will further the research goals and increase the impact of the project.
2. Extension Component (included in page limit)
   • What are the learning objectives that will deliver the science-based knowledge generated through the research component?
   • What is the significant public benefit of this project?
   • Who will benefit from or be affected by this project?
   • Identify education-specific activities required to advance the integrative strategy outlined below, including defined extension-related deliverables and expected outcomes and impacts.
   • Renewals only: Describe how extending the project for another year will further the extension goals and increase the impact of the project.
3. Integrative Strategy (included in page limit)
   • What is the strategy that combines the generation, translation, and transfer of technology and knowledge into practical applications or practices?
   • How do the research and extension components complement one another?
   • Why does this project require an integrated approach and interdisciplinary team to create societal value through research-based education that is relevant to the needs of identified stakeholders?
   • How will the identified stakeholders be engaged in the research and extension activities?
4. Project Timeline (NOT included in page limit)
   • Outline significant benchmarks along the timeline of this project that can illustrate the team's vision and trajectory during and beyond the timeframe of this proposal (including proposed and planned renewals). The benchmarks should align with the objectives described above in the research, extension, and integrative strategies.
   • Identify all approvals that will be required to complete the project (e.g., IRB, IACUC, etc.) and the timeline for obtaining them. See the Office for Research Protections for more information.
   • This may be presented as a diagram or table.
5. Team Roles (NOT included in page limit)
   • Briefly describe the roles and expertise of the research and extension PIs.
   • Include a coordination plan for integrating team members across college functions and units as well as university and external partners.
   • List all team members with their affiliations. Describe the role and responsibilities of each member, including how the expertise of each will contribute to the research, extension, or integrated activities. A balanced team representing both research and extension is important.
   • For projects requesting funds to support students, include the student roles and planned education and training outcomes.
   • Renewals only: If the previous grant opened new collaborations and partnerships, please briefly report the outcomes of those relationships here.
6. Budget Justification (NOT included in page limit)
   • Provide a detailed budget justification with a brief description and explanation of need for costs associated with project activities.
7. References (NOT included in page limit)

Suplemental Documents

G. Budget

1. Upload the proposed budgets for Research and Extension using the Excel template provided in InfoReady
2. Successful S2P projects will be awarded up to $10,000 and one S2P Impact+ will be awarded up to $20,000. The funding period will begin on October 1, 2025.
   • All budgets for S2P new and renewal should be constructed so that up to $5,000 in expenses support research activities and up to $5,000 support extension activities.
   • All budgets for S2P Impact+ renewals should be constructed so that up to $10,000 in expenses support research activities and up to $10,000 support extension activities.
   • Please note that submissions to this internal competition do not require the budget to be created through the College's Grants and Contracts Office.
3. Funds used to pay part-time wage-payroll must be for activities outside of any job description currently paid for by Penn State Extension or the College of Agricultural Sciences, or it must support work on a new activity.
   • Part-time wage-payroll must be paid through the University system (funds cannot be transferred to county systems).
4. All other project costs typically allowed by federal extramural sponsors are allowed in this program.
5. Funds cannot be used for the following:
   • Faculty salaries (including supplemental) or standing appointment salaries
   • Travel to professional meetings
   • Out-of-country travel
   • Equipment purchases exceeding $5,000
   • Support of personnel NOT in the College of Agricultural Sciences
6. Funds to support personnel outside the College of Agricultural Sciences must be obtained from other units and require a letter of commitment from the non-CAS unit, submitted with the proposal as a supplemental document.
7. Budgets are constructed for a maximum of 1 year and must be expended by September 30, 2025. No carry over is allowed.
8. Funded projects can be competitively renewed up to two times, for a total of 3 years of support; unexpended funds in one year will not carry over. Extensions for unexpended funds are not allowed for non-renewed projects.
   • Additional fields are included in the InfoReady form for renewals requesting remaining funds to date and anticipated expenditures through the end of the period of performance.

H. Additional Supporting Documents (not required)

1. You may upload any supporting documents for your proposal (e.g., letters of commitment from other units if expenses are outside the College of Agricultural Sciences, support letters from collaborators).

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, including education and training outcomes for participating students
• 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
• Defines both research and extension deliverables and provides clear benchmarks for achieving 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 broaden participation are especially encouraged

Reporting Guidelines

The period of performance for S2P grants will begin October 1, 2025, and terminate September 30, 2026. Projects may be renewed for up to a total of three years of support. Proposals for renewal can be submitted in the next cycle for the S2P grants. An interim report for all awarded proposals will be due on March 31, 2026. Final reports will be due October 15, 2027. Report assignments and reminders will be sent through the InfoReady system.