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Konneker Fund for Learning and Discovery

Request for Proposals: Academic Year 2026 cycle

Deadlines

  • February 15, 2026: Deadline for preliminary discussion with Dean of University College
  • March 15, 2026, 4:00 p.m.: Deadline for proposal submissions

Background

Ohio University alumnus and biomedical scientist Wilfred R. Konneker, in collaboration with former professors Joseph Jollick and Thomas Wagner and then President Charles J. Ping, founded Diagnostic Hybrids (DHI) in 1983 with the goal of developing innovative laboratory equipment to diagnose and treat diseases. The Trustees of the Ohio University Foundation chose that same year to invest approximately one million dollars in DHI. At the time of acquisition of DHI by Quidel for $130 million in 2010, DHI had become a market leader that employed more than 230 people and served over 700 customers in North America. The company reported $51 million in revenue in 2009 and a three-year compounded annual growth rate of 20 percent.

In addition to the Foundation’s investment in DHI, which resulted in a significant return for the Foundation, Mr. Konneker made a gift of shares of DHI to the Foundation. A portion of the funds generated from these gifted shares, as per Mr. Konneker’s wishes when he made the gift of stock to the Foundation, will support the Cutler Scholars Program and the Kennedy Museum of Art. Another portion of those funds will be used to create a quasi-endowment fund to be called the Konneker Fund for Learning and Discovery that will be dedicated to supporting innovative initiatives designed to enhance Ohio University’s academic mission.

Konneker Fund Program Goal

The Konneker Fund’s general purpose is to support undergraduate learning as well as research and graduate education. Its specific purpose is to support innovative initiatives that will have university-wide impact and advance Ohio University’s efforts (a) to realize its vision of becoming the nation’s best transformative learning community and (b) to achieve material progress on the Four Fundamentals that define its academic mission:

  1. Inspired teaching and research dedicated to students’ academic success and focused on the connection between student learning and the advancement of knowledge and creative activity.
  2. Innovative academic programs that draw on the best traditions and practice in liberal arts, professional, and interdisciplinary education.
  3. Exemplary student support services committed to helping students fulfill their academic promise.
  4. Integrated co-curricular activities that foster a diverse environment of respect and inclusivity and facilitate students’ development as citizens and leaders.

Proposals to the Konneker Fund must address how the proposed project will:

  • have university-wide impact,
  • be transformative for students and faculty,
  • contribute to continued institutional progress on the Four Fundamentals, and
  • align with best practices documented in national research

Proposals to the Konneker Fund may request up to $100,000, which must be spent within two years of notification and account establishment.

Eligibility

Faculty and staff from all campuses are eligible to submit proposals. Collaborative proposals are strongly encouraged. Previously declined proposals may be resubmitted in subsequent award cycles.

Guidelines

These guidelines supersede previous versions. Please review the guidelines before submitting a proposal. Very meritorious proposals often are not funded because these guidelines are not followed, and the information needed to make an informed, objective decision is not available. Many review committee members feel that the care with which a proposal is prepared indicates the care with which the work will be done by the applicant(s).

The Konneker Fund provides support for up to two years following notification and account establishment. Funds cannot be used to reimburse expenditures prior to account establishment dates.

Questions concerning the proposal preparation process should be directed to Dean of University College, David Nguyen. Applicants are required to meet with the Dean to discuss their proposal idea prior to submission.

Proposals to the Konneker Fund must include the following sections, and pages should be numbered to facilitate the review process.

  1. Cover Page
    1. Use Konneker Fund Cover page form. Signatures must be obtained by the applicant and are required on the submitted proposal. The cover page must be the first page of the proposal. If needed, applicants may submit cover pages with electronic signatures or multiple cover pages for individual signatures.
  2. Checklist
    1. Prepare and sign the checklist. The goal of the checklist is to affirm that all the sections have been included and are compliant with formatting guidelines.
  3. Abstract (Limit: 100-word maximum) 3 On a separate page, include the proposal title and a brief 100-word maximum abstract that is a clear and concise summary of the more detailed proposal. The abstract will be used to publicize funded proposals and should be a stand alone description of the proposed project and written in lay language.
  4. Narrative (Limit: 5 single-spaced pages) The narrative component must include:
    1. Project Description: Describe the project in sufficient detail, including project goals, to provide for a fair assessment of the proposed activities.
    2. Konneker Program Goals: Describe how the project addresses at least one of the Four Fundamentals. Also, describe how the project will address each of the following: (1) university-wide impact, (2) be transformative for students and faculty, and (3) align with good practices documented in national research.
    3. Evaluation: Specify how progress on project goals will be assessed.
    4. Sustainability: The Konneker Fund provides support for up to two years. Explain how the project or project’s purposes will be continued or maintained following Konneker funding. This description should address both activity and funding continuation (as applicable), as well as how the results of the activity will be shared with internal and external audiences.

  5. Budget and Justification (No page limit)

    Proposals to the Konneker Fund may request up to $100,000. The proposal should include a detailed budget that documents the relationship between expenditures and project goals and activities. Without sufficient justification, items may be eliminated.

    Categories of Budget Items include:

    1. Consumable Supplies: Enter dollar amount of requested funds. Provide adequate detail so that a person knowledgeable in the field of the proposed project can assess the request. If the budget item is a common consumable supply generally available in most laboratories, offices, or studios, please justify the purchase with Konneker funds.
    2. Equipment: All major items of equipment, including computers, to be purchased with 1804 funds should be listed with the estimated cost of each item and components of each item, if applicable. Any equipment purchased with Konneker funding is Ohio University property.
    3. Faculty Stipend: The committee considers academic-year release time a low priority, but requests will be considered under certain circumstances. As with all categories of support, a careful justification should be written that supports the need for release time. To calculate an academic year release time request, the amount should be based on the overloads and teaching rates. Fringe benefits should be calculated on the salary, as appropriate.

    4. Student Wages: Student hours and pay rates should be justified based on the nature of the work being done. Include the following information in this section: hourly wage to be paid to the student and the number of hours to be worked; amount of semester stipend and percentage of effort (for graduate stipends); and the method for determining the hourly rate of pay. Extraordinary rates of pay will not be funded without a detailed justification.

      The role and task of any personnel on the project should be defined in the justification and/or the discussion section. This explanation is particularly important for graduate students employed on the project.

      **Please Note: Under no circumstances does support for graduate student wages or stipends include or “trigger” a tuition waiver.** 

    5. Travel: Travel should be calculated according to the rates and policies outlined in university policy (41.121). Travel should be delineated as ground transportation, airfare, parking, and other related expenses. Applicants should show the total cost and cost per unit (e.g., hotel cost x number of nights). Without sufficient details, funding may be reduced.

      Students who are traveling beyond 100 miles of their Ohio University campus or to another state must register with the Office of Global Opportunities: Travel Registration | Ohio University.

      For more support on domestic and international travel, risk ratings for destinations and planning an international experience, students are encouraged to contact the Office of Global Opportunities.

    6. Other: Enter the dollar amounts and description of any other costs that are not included in the above-listed categories.

      Funds cannot be used to reimburse expenditures prior to account establishment dates.

      Proposals that request funding for course releases or for graduate student lines typically will not be supported.

  6. Appendices (No page limit)
    1. Konneker funding history: List previous Konneker Fund awards received by the principal investigator/project director within the past five (5) years. Provide proposal title, award date, amount awarded, how funds were used, and outcomes achieved as a result of the award; or attach copies of the final reports.
    2. Letters or memoranda of commitment from ALL offices or units whose collaboration is required for the successful completion of the project.

    3. Biographical sketch(es): Submit a short biographical sketch (no more than two (2) pages) for the principal investigator and all key co-principal investigators.

      The biographical sketch should include:

      1. Current position/rank
      2. List of up to five (5) publications or funded grants closely related to the proposed project and five (5) other significant publications, including those accepted for publication.
      3. Other professional activities, awards, and accomplishments that are closely related to the proposed project.

Proposal Submission

A preliminary meeting by February 15 with the Dean of University College is required prior to proposal submission.

An electronic copy (.PDF format) of the proposal must be submitted by the deadline to the application portal.

Electronic copies must be submitted as a single file in Adobe Acrobat format (Mac users must include the file extensions .pdf in the file name).

Questions concerning the proposal preparation process should be directed to David Nguyen.

Proposal Review Process

Proposals to the Konneker Fund will be reviewed by a committee composed of a representative from Deans Council, the Vice Provost of Regional Higher Education and Partnerships, the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Vice President for Research and Creative Activity and Dean of the Graduate College, the Vice Provost for Student Success, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Dean of University College. This committee, which will be chaired by the Executive Vice President and Provost, will review the proposals and submit recommendations to the President for their review and endorsement.

During the spring meeting of the Ohio University Foundation Board, recommendations will be presented to the Ohio University Foundation. Konneker Awards will be announced following the funding decisions.

Dissemination Requirements

All funded proposals are expected to disseminate the results of their project with the university campus as appropriate.