We are thrilled to announce the next round of the 3Cavaliers (3Cavs) program! Based on valuable feedback, we’ve made a few updates, but the core of 3Cavs remains as you know it. We hope you’re as excited as we are to participate in 3Cavs 3.1 (please note that 3Cavs 3.0 was not funded). 

Program Guidelines for 3Cavs 3.1:

• Funding Levels: $80K - reviewed projects and $15K - randomly selected projects.
• Review of Projects: $80K projects will be reviewed, each submission will submit under a topic area. We will have a review committee for each area, the executive committee will review the top ranked projects for funding.
• Topic Areas: This is to help with the review process, we are not picking specific number from each topic area.
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Biotechnology
  • Clean Technology
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Health and Wellness
  • Humanities, Social Science, and Arts
  • National Security & Defense
  • Quantum Information Science & Applied Science
• Matching Funds: Funding is provided by the President's Office, Provost Office, and VPR office with a "match" by the Dean's office of the participating PI. There is no cost to the individual PI to participate.
• Centralized Fund Allocation: All funds, both central and matching, will be pooled in a single account. Lead PI departments will create account for each award and draw funds directly.
• Multi-Year Application Window:  We will accept applications each fall for the next four years.
• Grant Eligibility:
  • Awards are open to all faculty, at least one of whom is eligible to submit external grants.
  • Applicants may only be on a total of ONE submission per year. (this includes $15K & $80K)
  • Must not be the exact team (three members- must have at least one new member) of any previously funded 3Cavs project.
  • Project PIs must be across at least two different units/schools. Note: except A&S where you must be from separate divisions.
  • Make sure you see the school specific rules below!

Finance Guidance for 3Cavs 3.1:

For detailed guidance on the 3Cavs 3.1 funding model, award structure, charging expenses, reporting, and financial management, please visit the Award Funding and Finance Information FAQ page.

Application Reminders:

Please note that the submission period for 3Cavs 3.1 has closed. 

To Apply:

Follow these links to see full list of questions you will need to answer on the Qualtrics application:

• See questions you will answer on the Qualtrics survey for the $80K Submission
• See questions you will answer on the Qualtrics survey for the $15K Submission

IMPORTANT:  Use above word document to review the questions in advance that you will be asked in the survey. The Qualtrics survey does not save or allow you to step back through your answers.

Once you have submitted the survey you will see the below message on your screen. If you do NOT you have not submitted your project. PLEASE NOTE: YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE AN EMAIL CONFIRMATION ONCE YOU SUBMIT YOUR SURVEY.

"Thank you for submitting your 3Cavs 3.0 project! Your submission will be processed and announcement of selected projects is planned to be announced on or near March 2, 2026."

Submission Links:

Apply for $80K Apply for $15K 

The application period for 3Cavs 3.1 is now closed. The next round of funding, 3Cavaliers 3.2, will open in Fall 2026. Please visit our "3Cavaliers 3.2" webpage for more information.

Projects Funded for 3Cavs 3.1:

Please visit our funded projects page for details on the projects funded for 3Cavs 3.1.

FAQs for 3Cavs 3.1:

What are the eligibility requirements? 

• New idea (no prior internal or external funding).
• New team (i.e., the team of three has not received prior 3Cavaliers funding, must have at least one new member).
  • If the three of you were a 3Cavs team in any previous round of funding, you must trade out at least one member
  • It is fine if you were funded in a previous round of 3Cavs, just cannot be exact same team.
• At least one of the members is from a different school/unit. *Note A&S specific rules apply
• Awards are open to all faculty, at least one of whom is eligible to submit external grants.
• You can only be on ONE submission (total of one, not one of each $80/$15K)
• Each School/Unit may add additional requirements or restrictions - SEE full list of "Specific School Requirements" included BELOW.

What are the "Specific School Requirements" for $80k awards?

80K Eligibility and Expectations by School

College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (A&S)

• If all three participants come from A&S at least two of the three must be from different A&S divisions.
• There is an expectation of submission for sponsored program funding within two years of receiving funds.

Darden School of Business

• Funding must be used to generate and publish peer-reviewed research.

Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy

• Projects should be submitted to conferences and workshops.
• A draft manuscript should be prepared for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.

McIntire School of Commerce

• Funding is expected to support the generation and submission of peer-reviewed research and/or submission for sponsored program funding.

School of Architecture (SARC)

• Participants are expected to apply for a sponsored award, submit a manuscript, or both.

School of Data Science (SDS)

• Participants are expected to prepare and submit an external funding proposal (with full IDC) for a total award amount of at least 4X the 3Cavs award value (e.g., $60k for the $15k awards; $320k for the $80k awards) within 3 months of the 3Cavs period of performance end date. Alternatively, awardees may opt to submit multiple proposals where the total combined award value exceeds 4x the 3Cavs award value.

School of Education and Human Development (EHD)

• Both tenure-track and AGF faculty are eligible to participate.
• Participation may not impact load for AGF faculty.
• Recipients of the $80K awards are expected to submit a proposal for external funding to an agency for a total award amount exceeding $500,000 within two years of receiving funds.

School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS)

• Both tenure-track and AGF faculty are eligible to participate.
• Participants are expected to submit a proposal for external funding within two years of receiving funds.

School of Law

• Selected participants may draw on their own research and RA budgets for matching funds.
• No additional restrictions apply.

School of Medicine (SOM)

• Participants are expected to submit for external funding (e.g., NIH R01, P-, or U-level application, or equivalent) within two years of receiving funds.
• SOM faculty are not eligible to apply for the $15K awards.

School of Nursing (SON)

• Recipients of the $80K awards are expected to submit a proposal for external funding to a federal agency (with full IDC) within two years of receiving funds.

UVA’s College at Wise

• Eligible to submit.
• No additional restrictions.

Can I submit the same proposal we submitted for FY25 (3Cavs 3.0 -- paused, not funded)?

Yes! You may use the same team and same proposal to submit for FY26.

How do I submit my team's application for 3Cavs?

You must use the Qualtrics survey to submit the information for your application. We will not accept a word document.

Please see the following word documents that includes the questions you will be asked to answer.

• $80K Questions
• $15K Questions

Apply for $80K Apply for $15K

Can I be on more than one project?

No. You can only be on ONE project. Regardless of rather you are the lead or co-PI.

• It does not matter if you’re the lead or co-PI

• It does not matter if it is a 15 K versus an 80 K.

You can be on only ONE submission.

Note: funds will be set up in lead PI department 

How will be project proposals be reviewed?

• $15K—Award = No review 3Cavs original model (semi-random selection)
• $80K—Award = Interdisciplinary research review committee to select awards

What are the review criteria for the proposals? 

$15K     

• Alignment with an outcome appropriate to in the field 

$80K 

• Significance
• Innovation
• Expected impact/outcomes
• Alignment with external funding agency’s/organization’s priorities, an external outcome for your field such as a peer reviewed article, and/or otherwise raise the visibility of UVA
• Qualifications of the team
• Budget justification

What are additional program expectations? 

Requirements:

• Complete the work as planned in a timely manner. If work is not completed, departments agree to return prorated amounts to OVPR.
• No PI salary can be charged to the project.
• Follow all of the UNIT requirements- see list.
• Use Huron Tag “3Cavs” for any sponsored project submission related to this funding so we can track outcomes.
• Submit a final report describing the results of the project and related products.
• Present about your project – in person event to showcase the projects. Dates for event and template for poster TBA. At least one of the three members must attend event.
• Follow-up reporting to document follow-on submitted and funded external proposals.
• Failure to submit a final report within 30 days of completion of the project and follow-up information within the following grant cycle (maximum one year) will result in a request from OVPR to departments to refund the support. 

Preferences: 

• Research Projects should have a detailed plan for how successful completion of the proposed work would enable outcomes with societal impact

What are the important dates associated with this current round (3Cavs 3.1)?

3.1 Important Dates (FY25):     
19 Nov 2024 - Application Opens
15 Jan 2025 - Application Closes
Review Process
2 Mar 2025 - Awards Announced
1 Jul 2025 - Award funding begins
31 Dec 2026 - Awards End
30 Jun 2027 - NCE ends

What is the total length of each project?

Funding starts July 1, 2026 (3Cavs 3.1) - for 18 months, up to 6 month no cost extension. Total 2 years.

Why might I apply for the $15K award instead of the $80K award?

$15K will be randomly selected - NO REVIEWS.

$80K will be reviewed and selected based on criteria (included above).

$15K—Award = No review 3Cavs original model (semi-random selection).
$80K—Award = Interdisciplinary research review committee to select awards.

What can the award funds be used for?

3Cavaliers funds are intended to support research activities only. The following guidelines are intended to ensure that funding is directed toward advancing early-stage research and supporting trainee development. In general, funds may be used for most research-related expenses, with a few key restrictions:

• Faculty salary is not permitted, including course buyouts
• Funds may not be used for course development, teaching initiatives, or student programming
• Salary support is limited to individuals in trainee roles (e.g., graduate students or postdoctoral researchers); funds may not be used to support administrative or permanent staff (e.g., lab managers or fiscal personnel)

This program is meant to be flexible and support early-stage research projects. If you have questions about allowable expenses, please reach out to us and we will do our best to help make it work.

NOTE: All funds must be spent here at UVA. 

Who do I contact with questions?

Please reach out to Cheryl Wagner at [email protected].