Get Your Research off the Ground: WiSys Spark and Universities of Wisconsin Ignite Grants for Applied Research for FY26
Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 1 PM
A presentation by Dr. Tony Hanson, WiSys’ Manager of Intellectual Property and Licensing, about two WiSys grant programs that can jumpstart your research activity. Spark Grants advances small-scale, proof-of-concept research projects; while Ignite Grants fund applied research projects that support economic development in Wisconsin.
Grants 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started with Grants
Tuesday, October 16, 2025 at 11 AM
This webinar is aimed at faculty and staff who are new to the grant seeking process and want to learn about how to get started. WiSys’s Research Development Manager, Dr. Carla Molloy, will give you an introduction to the world of grants, including types of funders and grants; where to find funding opportunities; how to use PIVOT-RP; and building a timeline for proposal development.
The Newer Faculty Member’s Guide to Connecting to an Innovation Ecosystem
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 12 PM
Getting external research funding can be especially daunting when you are an early career researcher. In this panel discussion, Dr. Grace Lewis (Food Science, UW-River Falls), Dr. Liz Glogowski (Materials Science and Biomedical Engineering, UW-Eau Claire), and Dr. Jen Wenner (retired, Geology, UW-Oshkosh) will share how they successfully connected into an innovation ecosystem and secured external research funding.
The Ins and Outs of Interdisciplinary Collaborations
Friday, December 5, 2025 at 11 AM
Interdisciplinary collaborations appeal to many funders and are a great strategy for making your proposal stand out from the crowd. In this panel discussion, Dr. Tina Lee (Anthropology, UW-Stout), Dr. Adam Diller (Film Production, UW-Oshkosh), and Dr. Theresa Castor (Vice Provost, UW-Parkside) will discuss their experiences of being part of interdisciplinary teams that successfully procured external funding.
Funding Focus: Private Foundations
Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 11 AM
Federal funding uncertainties have resulted in increased interest in private foundations. While private foundations are a significant source of funding for research and other projects of interest to higher education, they require a different approach from federal agencies. WiSys’s Dr. Carla Molloy will share some strategies for success based on her experience as a grant writer for organizations targeting private foundation funding.
Funding Focus: The Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership
Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 1 PM
Join Dr. Carla Molloy from WiSys Research Development and Dr. Alex Tahk from the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership for a discussion about applying for funding opportunities at the Center. The Tommy G. Thompson Center offers grants across the Universities of Wisconsin to support research that advances public leadership and policy challenges in Wisconsin.
Saying it with Numbers: Building Budgets and Budget Justifications
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 12 PM
Budgets and budget justifications not only demonstrate your project’s scope and establish credibility, but are an important storytelling tool. In this webinar, we demystify budgets and budget justifications, and give you strategies for using them to help make a compelling case for your project.
Funding Focus: Wisconsin Sustainable Ag Funding Opportunities
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 1 PM
Program officers from the Dairy Innovation Hub, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and North Central SARE will discuss funding opportunities in sustainable agriculture and ag innovation. Faculty and staff from the Universities of Wisconsin, as well as Forward Ag partners, are encouraged to attend.
Smart Grants: Leveraging AI Tools for Grant Writing
Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 1 PM
This webinar will explore how to use AI tools effectively to save time and strengthen your proposals. It will cover elements such as effective prompts; different applications of AI in proposal development; and sponsor policies regarding the use of AI.
Teamwork: Building Partnerships for Grant Success
Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 11 AM
Carla Molloy will be joined by Blane Huppert (Sponsor and Partnership Associate at WiSys), who was instrumental in developing the partnerships that were central to Forward Agriculture’s NSF Engines application. Blane will share his insights into developing external partnerships that can open up new and exciting funding opportunities.
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