UW Research

Strategic Faculty Recruitment & Retention Initiative

Purpose

On behalf of the Provost, the Office of Research provides start-up funds to assist in hiring faculty at the UW Seattle campus. These funds are reserved for recruiting and retaining faculty whose research contributes to interdisciplinary research of strategic importance. The priority is tenure-track faculty in STEMM disciplines (broadly defined).

Requests can be for a maximum of 1/3 of total startup to a maximum Provost contribution of $500,000. The funding may be used for any research-related purpose, including faculty salary.

Process for Applications

  • Currently accepting applications for FY26 and beyond. FY25 funds are already committed.
  • Applications should be made at the point in the recruitment process when you are ready to make an offer. We are committed to providing rapid turnaround on decisions.
  • Fill out the Provost Strategic Initiative Startup Form.
  • The dean’s office is responsible for signing the request form and forwarding the form, the candidate’s CV, and optionally the candidate’s diversity statement to ORFunds@uw.edu (cc: vpresearch@uw.edu) with the subject line: STEM Startup Request for [add name of candidate].

Procedures Upon Approval

  • Approval of requests will be officially documented through an Office of Research commitment letter signed by the Vice Provost for Research. This letter provides the details of the commitment, as well as an official reference number to be used by the Dean’s office when claiming the funds through BGT. An electronic copy will be mailed to the School/College Dean(s). This will serve as the formal notification of the commitment.
  • Receipt of Startup Funds is contingent upon the faculty member accepting the job offer.
  • Contact ORFunds@uw.edu to arrange transfer of the funds.

FAQs

1. How does this initiative fit within the Provost’s Faculty Diversity Initiative?

The STEM faculty recruitment initiative builds on the ongoing recruitment initiative within the Office for Faculty Advancement and is an early part of the Provost’s Faculty Diversity Initiative.

2. How do I decide whether I should apply for faculty recruitment funds from the Office for Faculty Advancement, or from the Office of Research?

If the candidate is in a STEM area, broadly defined, is expected to carry out externally funded research, and typical recruitments in the program involve significant startup packages (in the hundreds of thousands of dollars), then the request should go to the Office of Research STEM Faculty Recruitment Initiative webpage. All other recruitments should contact the Office for Faculty Advancement.

3. For these STEM-related start-up funds, what are the restrictions?

  • Funding is likely not available in the same FY as the request due to prior commitments, so prepare requests as far in advance as possible.
  • Priority is tenure-track faculty.
  • Request can be for a maximum of 1/3 of total startup to a maximum Provost contribution of $500,000.
  • Funding may be used for any research-related purpose, including faculty salary.

4. Are faculty at all three campuses eligible?

This is an initiative funded by the Seattle campus only and is therefore available only to recruitments at the Seattle campus.

Contacts

Mari Ostendorf, Vice Provost for Research