Interdisciplinary Action Groups
2026-2027 Interdisciplinary Action Group (IAG) Grant Call for Proposals: Horizons
Overview
In a period marked by economic uncertainty, political volatility, and rapid social change, this call invites collective, interdisciplinary action. The Interdisciplinary Action Group (IAG) seeks collaborative projects that advance USF’s mission of equality, justice, and social responsibility while contributing to a more equitable and sustainable future.
Focus Areas
Proposed projects should align with the USF Horizons initiative and address one or more of the following themes:
- Climate and Sustainability
- Health and Well-Being
- Artificial Intelligence and Technology
- Innovative proposals on other topics that advance USF’s commitments to diversity, inclusion, and social justice are also encouraged.
Eligibility
- Open to members of the academic research community, including faculty, librarians, and staff.
- Teams must include members from at least two different departments and/or schools
- Consistent with the Horizons emphasis on mentorship and experiential learning, student involvement, in the form of research assistance or other related project needs is encouraged and will be prioritized for a select number of grants.
Project Description
Teams will propose a 3–12 month project with clearly defined deliverables and high-impact outcomes. Projects should demonstrate a multidisciplinary and intersectional approach that advances participating fields and deepens understanding of urgent social issues.
As part of the grant, teams will contribute a written piece to a special issue of the Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Scholarship, an open-access journal hosted in Gleeson Library’s Scholarship Repository. Submissions may take the form of a research article, an op-ed–style piece or a reflective essay emerging from the collaboration.
Award Information
- Up to six grants of up to $2,000 each
- Awards will be made in late Spring 2026
Proposal Guidelines
Submit a 2–3 page, single-spaced proposal (excluding cover page and references) addressing the following criteria:
Urgent Theme or Issue
Identify the Horizon theme(s) or other urgent issue and explain its significance.
Project Description
Describe the project’s goals, methods, and strategies. Explain how the work advances understanding of the issue and contributes to relevant scholarly and/or creative fields.
Timeline
Provide a monthly or quarterly timeline with key tasks and milestones expected in your 3-12 month project.
Outcomes and Deliverables
Beyond the article submission to Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Scholarship due at the end of January 2027, specify other proposed outcomes (e.g., policy brief, book proposal, community presentation) and their anticipated impact on the university, community, and discipline.
Team Composition
Describe the team’s collective expertise and perspectives. Individual bios are not required. If students are involved, please include the student(s) as part of the team narrative.
Budget
Provide a clear budget with a breakdown of proposed expenditures.
Submission and Review
- Submit proposals by email to: CRASE@usfca.edu
- Deadline: Friday, March 6, 2026
- Proposals will be reviewed by the CRASE director and board members from across the university based on the stated criteria.
Information about previous award winning teams can be found here. For any questions, feel free to contact us at CRASE.
2025-2026 IAG Grant Recipients
AI Coaching for Health & Well-Being
Alark Joshi and Kelly L’Engle
In this project, we explore the possibility of using AI-based solutions to provide health coaching for students. Coaching is an evidence-based intervention commonly implemented to help people achieve health and well-being goals. We are building a prototype from past coaching transcripts as training data for an AI-based chatbot to provide supportive, encouraging, and warm responses to the participants as they converse with the chatbot. We plan to pilot test the chatbot with students in public health or computer science courses in the Spring 2026 semester to identify strengths and areas of improvement for the next version of the chatbot.
CogSim
Johnathan Cromwell, Mana Azarm, and Research Assistants Nicolas Barsi-Rhyne and Andrew Hoang
CogSim is a scientific platform for psychology-based researchers. It enables researchers to design and simulate cognitive processes across defined study groups, and to generate high-fidelity synthetic data that closely represents data collected from human participants. By rapidly accelerating study cycles, CogSim provides a low-stakes environment where researchers can rapidly test, refine, and pilot different study designs before advancing to more costly, time-intensive and large-scale research.
On-Site Barbershops, Belonging, and Well-Being: Evaluating the USF Clip, Cut, Connect Program
Jenny Lee, Evelyn Y. Ho, Hsiu-Lan Cheng, Joyce P. Yang, and Research Assistants Ailin Abdon and Catalina Do
The Clip, Cut, Connect program is an on-campus initiative that addresses mental health equity for BIPOC students at USF through a partnership with ClipDart — a national organization that provides culturally competent, on-site hair care to underserved communities. The program provides responsive, culturally grounded support through barbers and stylists, creating inclusive spaces that reduce stigma and expand access to mental health resources at USF. Alongside this initiative, research is being conducted to understand how programs like Clip, Cut, Connect impact student well-being, sense of belonging, and access to care. By participating, students contribute to building knowledge that will shape more inclusive mental health resources on campus and beyond.
Building Community and Connection One Mahjong Tile at a Time
Sherise Kimura, Genevieve Leung, Wei Yang Menkus, and Nicholas Tay
Our project aligns with the Horizon Initiative’s theme of Health and Wellness by building community and connection among students through the game of mahjong. By creating spaces for shared play and conversation, we aim to reduce social isolation and encourage meaningful engagement. These interactions not only enhance well-being and foster a sense of belonging, but also promote cultural awareness, support learning, and help build a more inclusive and connected campus community.
Experiences of Sexual Violence, Resource Utilization, Bystander Intervention Among University Students
Katrina Garry, Natalie Townsend, Marie Claude-Couture, and Research Assistant Lily Stringfellow
Our project aims to assess the prevalence, mental health impact, and resource utilization related to sexual violence among University of San Francisco students. By expanding the National College Health Assessment with tailored questions, the team will analyze the relationship between sexual misconduct and mental health outcomes while identifying gaps in reporting and support services. The findings will inform institutional policies, prevention strategies, and community education efforts. Ultimately, the project seeks to strengthen USF’s commitment to student safety, equity, and well-being through data-driven action and collaboration.
Implications of Generative Artificial Intelligence
Nicole Gonzales Howell, Virginia Ramos, and Freddie Seba
"The project “Implications of Generative Artificial Intelligence” explores how AI tools are transforming higher education, with a focus on pedagogy, ethics, and policy. It aims to equip faculty with practical resources and frameworks for responsible integration of AI in teaching, including curated AAC&U materials, sample assignments, and privacy/disclosure guidelines. The project also addresses institutional considerations such as ethical use of detection software and the development of departmental best practices. Ultimately, it seeks to foster informed, critical, and creative engagement with generative AI across disciplines."