Obermann Interdisciplinary Research Grants (IDRG) foster collaborative scholarship and creative work by offering recipients time and space to exchange new ideas leading to invention, creation, and publication. IDRG groups work at the Obermann Center for two weeks, usually in July and/or August. Applicants propose work on a project with colleagues from across the University, across disciplines within their own department, or with colleagues from other parts of the country or the world. Projects are intended to result in an important scholarly or creative work.

Each collaborator is awarded $3,000 in research funding for a 2-week residency.

Proposed projects should involve 2-3 collaborators who will work together in residence or virtually during a continuous 2-week period during the summer.

We welcome IDRG applications from artists, researchers, and scholars in any discipline and on any topic. One member of the team must be a UI faculty member whose appointment requires significant research, scholarship, or creative arts practice as a primary responsibility. That team member may be tenure-track or tenured faculty, clinical track faculty, research faculty, or instructional faculty.

In addition, special funds are available to support one or two groups that are working specifically on projects focused on children's learning and development, child welfare, and/or maternal education. These funds are provided by the Laura Spelman-Rockefeller Grant. All aspects of the application process are the same.

Apply by Oct. 7, 2026 (5:00 p.m.): https://obermann.uiowa.edu/interdisciplinary-research-grants-idrg-application-information

Note: this memo was also published on Sept. 16, 2026.