Limited Submissions

Limited Submissions (LS) are funding opportunities awarded by outside agencies or sponsors — federal, state or foundations — for which USC can only submit a limited number of proposals. Prior to submission of a LS proposal to the sponsor, applicants must first obtain approval from Research Initiatives and Infrastructure (RII). Importantly, if you have identified a Limited Submission opportunity not listed below, you must still contact RII to obtain approval to apply.

Please note that applicants are only allowed to submit one application per limited submission opportunity per cycle.

Application Process for Limited Submissions:

LS applications go through an internal review and selection process by RII. RII application deadlines are typically at least one to two months in advance of the sponsoring agency’s own deadlines to allow time for the internal review process. Opportunities may be posted online with shorter turn-around times when the it is announced by the sponsor with little advanced notice. If you are interested in renewing an existing limited submission grant, please contact us as soon as possible.

EFFECTIVE 2/6/2023: Change in Limited Submissions application process:

We have changed our application process to allow up to two pages in your proposal to apply for a limited submission opportunity; applicants are requested to use our new proposal template (click here to download). The expanded 2-page template aims to standardize and increase the transparency of the review process of USC’s research award programs. 

Application Portal:

Applicants must submit their proposal application as a Limited Submission through the RII Application Portal. Click here to log in (or create an account for yourself), using your USC email address. The proposal submission process requires contact information about the PI/Co-PIs, as well as the 10-digit USC ID#, gender, and ethnicity. Please have this information prior to beginning your application.

Materials to submit include:
(1) Two-Page Proposal Summary (1” margins; single-spaced; standard font type; 11 pt). Page limit includes references and illustrations. Information provided that exceeds the page limit will be excluded from review. Use the template provided here: RII Limited Submission Applicant Template
(2) PI/co-PI CV(s).

Deadlines noted below with “Contact RII” under the “Currently Accepting” tab below are for Limited Submissions for which slots are still available (beyond the internal application deadline). If you are interested in applying to any marked as such, please contact us as soon as possible at rii@usc.edu. Good luck on your submission!