Awards · Seed Awards

MAP Lab Seed Awards

MAP Lab Seed Awards support UVA faculty developing promising research at the intersection of mobile technologies, sensing, AI, and people.

Awards provide access to MAP Lab's research and engineering expertise to help bridge technical gaps, develop and pilot new capabilities, generate preliminary work, and position promising projects for external funding.

What we support

Seed Awards can support projects that:

  • Develop or adapt mobile, wearable, sensing, or AI technologies
  • Build new research tools, interventions, or prototypes
  • Integrate new devices, sensors, or data sources
  • Pilot technology-enabled studies and generate preliminary work

At least one PI must be a UVA faculty member. Awards provide dedicated MAP Lab personnel and access to our software and research infrastructure rather than funds transferred directly to the research team.

What does it cost to work with MAP Lab?

Costs depend on the scope and needs of each project. Contact us to discuss your study and the resources it may require.

Have an early-stage idea without grant support? MAP Lab Seed Awards can help UVA researchers develop promising ideas and build toward larger external grants. Explore Seed Awards →

Tell us about your idea

Have an idea that could benefit from mobile technologies, sensing, or AI? Tell us a little about it. It doesn't need to be fully formed—we'll help determine where MAP Lab can contribute and whether it may be a good fit for a Seed Award.

  1. Submit — share a few details about your idea.
  2. We review — a team member looks at fit within a few days.
  3. We follow up — to schedule a short conversation.

Your name, school, department, or research unit.

Your UVA or preferred contact address.

Briefly describe the research question, problem, or project you have in mind.

What AI, mobile, sensing, software, or other technical expertise or resources could help move the idea forward? It's okay if you're not sure yet.

Where are you now?

Have an idea for working with MAP Lab?

Bring us your research question or early-stage idea. We'll help explore how mobile technologies, sensing, or AI could move it forward.

Start a Conversation Explore Seed Awards