Call for faculty proposals now open for JMHC Research Breakthrough Awards
The John Martinson Honors College (JMHC) is now accepting faculty proposals for its 2025 Research Breakthrough Awards. This competitive program supports immersive research or creative projects that advance the college’s mission to empower students to be world-ready: to excel in their careers and contribute meaningfully to society.
The application opens May 15, with projects aligned to the continued theme: health and well-being . Proposals are due by July 15. Successful applicants will receive awards of up to $75,000 to fund innovative, collaborative work, including teams of eight to ten undergraduates in the JMHC.
“These awards offer a key opportunity for Purdue faculty to foster transformative and student-centered collaborations that have the potential to advance both scholarly knowledge and real-world outcomes,” says Megha Anwer, associate dean for research and world readiness in the JMHC.
Faculty are invited to attend an informational webinar on Monday, May 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Register for the webinar Zoom link and calendar invite here . The webinar will help faculty navigate the application process and think strategically about how to design projects that are truly immersive and empowering for undergraduate students.
Faculty at Purdue University in West Lafayette and in Indianapolis are eligible to apply. Proposals from all disciplines are welcome, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches that advance real-world impact, scholarship and/or creative inquiry.
The awards aim to help faculty expand the scope of their research, pilot new ideas and prepare for larger external funding opportunities — all while mentoring undergraduates in meaningful, hands-on experiences.
This year’s continued theme, health and well-being, emerged from a survey of students, faculty and staff in the JMHC. The survey revealed strong interest in topics such as mental and physical health, health care, and the revitalization of communities at both the local and global levels.
Leanne Nieforth, a faculty member whose research focuses on psychiatric service dogs and trauma recovery, was one of last year’s recipients of the Research Breakthrough Award. Her project created new opportunities for undergraduate students to engage deeply with hands-on research.
“The Research Breakthrough award has empowered our team to develop and execute a project designed to address a critical gap in the research literature,” says Nieforth. “Empowering students to hold key roles in the implementation of the project has been incredibly rewarding as the students are passionate, motivated and determined to make a real-world impact with the findings.”
Application guidelines and submission materials are available on the Research Breakthrough Awards webpage. Proposals must be submitted by Monday, July 15.
Information on last year’s awardees can be found here .
Shree Balasubramaniyan
Communication Assistant for Teaching and Learning, tlcoms@purdue.edu