Pilot research is a critical step in the research process, enabling scientists to test hypotheses while refining methodologies prior to embarking on larger-scale projects. With increasing competition for federal research dollars, pilot funds are essential to ensure that our researchers are well-prepared to conduct meaningful and important research to compete for external funding. We want to support pilot studies that are cross-disciplinary, drive discovery and innovation, and enhance our ability to pursue research that advances the frontiers of knowledge. 

By demonstrating the feasibility of new ideas, we can attract major funding agencies and external partners, better positioning us to secure substantial external grants and investment to grow our research enterprise and ensure that our students are involved in world-class research, equipping them to excel in competitive job markets. 

This new fund will enable UNM to support a diverse range of pilot studies across the university and strengthen our capacity to contribute to the betterment of society and the future economic security of New Mexico. 

$1 million of philanthropic funding will realize this pioneering initiative.

UNM proudly champions the creation and operation of multi-disciplinary centers that unite visionary experts from diverse fields. This collaborative approach fosters an environment ripe for innovation and problem-solving, enabling a dynamic exchange of ideas that addresses the complex challenges of our time.  

Multidisciplinary Centers of Excellence integrate researchers from different colleges, backgrounds, and expertise to focus on areas of study that demands interdisciplinary collaboration. These centers and institutes elevate UNM’s research profile, enabling us to recruit and retain researchers who accelerate scientific discovery, attract additional research funding, transform our understanding of the world and contribute to the state’s economic well-being. 

In the past few years, UNM has launched two new multidisciplinary centers: 

• The Accelerating Resilience Innovations in Drylands (ARID) Institute focuses on the resilience of communities, ecosystems, and the economy in New Mexico drylands and drylands worldwide by building capacity for novel research and innovations to improve water quality and protect biodiversity. 

• The Quantum New Mexico Institute (QNM-I) is a joint research institute involving the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering, and Sandia National Laboratories. It convenes leading researchers to conduct basic and applied research to advance the science of quantum information and transform the startup ecosystem through strategic technology transfer and business development support. 

These new Multidisciplinary Centers of Excellence join an existing array of centers that span more than 40 years, focusing on a wide range of topics including photonics and nanoscience, substance abuse, economic, business, and population studies to support decision-making by government and business leaders. 

This key priority may include funding for endowments to provide general operating funds; fellowships and scholarships to support and prepare students to become scientific leaders; and funding for state-or-the-art facilities and equipment for faculty and student research. 

$2.5 million of philanthropic funding will fund these new Multidisciplinary Centers of Excellence.

Launched by UNM President Garnett S. Stokes in 2019, the UNM Grand Challenges Program is strategically designed to promote interdisciplinary research tackling the most important challenges faced locally, nationally, and globally. The program was launched as a way of engaging researchers, students, and community members more broadly in fostering strong, interdisciplinary research, thereby attracting external funding and retaining outstanding faculty and students.  

Funding for Grand Challenges is needed to cover a variety of programmatic needs: 

• Establishing new Grand Challenges Program initiatives and funding the emerging research costs. 

• Providing undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships to help attract top talent to the university and enable students to focus on research and learning, engage in specialized training, and develop as future leaders. 

• Creating post-doctoral fellowships to attract the best new talent to UNM, bringing expertise that enhances our capacity to craft and submit highly competitive research proposals. 

• Attracting new outreach and community engagement specialists to ensure that the Grand Challenges are grounded in the real, sustainable needs and capacities of communities.

$5 million of philanthropic funding will help us expand the Grand Challenges Program.