University of Montana Office of Research and Creative Scholarship Newsletter

From the Office of the VPR

Research Outlook for the Academic Year

UM’s research community has faced substantial upheaval and uncertainty over the past few years. Despite this, we continue to meet the challenges and excel. This fiscal year, new grant awards and proposal volume demonstrate the resilience and drive of our faculty, staff, and students.

In July and August 2026:

• UM researchers received $43.5 million in new competitive research awards, an increase of 65% over last year.
• Proposal volume exceeded $100 million, an increase of more than 300% over last year.

Proposals and awards are leading indicators of research productivity in the years ahead. Strong numbers in these categories mean that UM’s research funding will continue to support growth, discovery, and impact.

While delays in grant processing last year shifted some awards into the current fiscal year, the largest contributor to this explosive growth is the proactive response from our research community, quickly realigning to our new reality marked by swift change and short deadlines. Faculty have submitted proposals to a wide range of funders, in some cases on very short notice, and their work is finding support.

To increase our faculty’s success, college and center staff build budgets and organize proposal materials. The Office of Research Development supports research teams, identifies funding opportunities, and provides expertise in competitive proposal development. The team in the Office of Sponsored Programs ensures that proposals are submitted successfully and that each award, from cradle to grave, complies with university, state, and federal regulations.

By keeping our university nimble, UM can effectively respond to changes in the research landscape and continue to thrive.

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