From: The Academy of Data Science
The Academy of Data Science is now accepting proposals for the 2026-27 Academy of Data Science Discovery Fund (ADSDF) and is open to all faculty members, including collegiate and research faculty.
The ADSDF was established to support pilot studies, data collection, or data analysis that will enable eventual application for external interdisciplinary research funding. The research areas of focus for the ADSDF are broadly defined to include projects that require advanced data collection methods, leverage scientific computing for complex datasets, and advance the development of data science methods including areas related to AI/ML, statistical analysis, national security, modeling, cyber security, etc.
The ADSDF award is for a period of one year, with maximum amounts of $10,000 for an individual investigator and $20,000 for multiple investigators. While not required, cost-matching by departments and/or other sources is encouraged.
Examples of appropriate requests include equipment, materials, supplies, GRA support for a summer or semester, key software, and travel critical to research activities (including hosting collaborators or potential collaborators at Virginia Tech). Faculty summer salary and conference travel are not generally appropriate. Additionally, faculty with startup funds must explain why those funds cannot support the proposed effort.
While the award is available to faculty from any college or department at Virginia Tech, ADSDF PIs from the last three years are ineligible to apply.
Submissions are due by Friday, April 3, with awards expected to be announced in early April. Further information about the award, including proposal format, is available on the submission website.
For questions regarding the Academy of Data Science Discovery Fund, please contact Associate Dean for Research John Morris at morris@vt.edu or Academy of Data Science Director Eric de Sturler at sturler@vt.edu.