Leading a VIP Team: Responsibilities & Rewards

Why Join the VIP Program?

The Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) program at Florida Atlantic University offers faculty a unique opportunity to lead long-term, multidisciplinary research teams composed of enthusiastic undergraduate and graduate students. FAU’s VIP program supports innovative, cross-disciplinary research that contributes to the university’s R1 status and fosters early student engagement in research.

Faculty Benefits

Faculty who lead VIP teams gain:

  • Sustained Research Teams: Students participate for multiple semesters, preserving knowledge and momentum.
  • Enhanced Research Productivity: Increase mentoring capacity, transdisciplinary collaboration, and support for grant submissions.
  • Motivated Student Support: Selection is based on enthusiasm, not GPA, leading to highly engaged contributors.
  • Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Teams are co-led by faculty from different colleges or disciplines.
  • Curricular Integration: Students earn DIR credit; work-study options may also be supported.
  • Professional Growth: Opportunities for mentoring, collaboration, and broader impacts through research.

Note: Limited seed funding (up to $46,500) is available to selected teams through a competitive proposal process annually.

Faculty Expectations

To ensure the success and sustainability of VIP teams, faculty are expected to:

  • Lead a Multidisciplinary Team with at least two full-time faculty from different colleges or disciplines
  • Develop a Sustainability Plan for long-term funding beyond Year 1 seed funding to support team continuity and contribute to FAU’s R1 research mission
  • Ensure Student Registration in the appropriate 0-credit VIP Directed Independent Research (DIR) section each Spring semester
  • Facilitate collaboration by having collaborators maintain a knowledge base for the VIP Team on a shared platform (Canvas, SharePoint, Google Drive)
  • Host Regular Team Meetings every 1–2 weeks, including all members of your team (all PIs), and invite the VIP Associate Director and/or Graduate Assistant
  • Attend Two Annual VIP Meetings (introductory and year-end) for program evaluation and planning
  • Support Student Recruitment and respond to inquiries from interested students
  • Facilitate DIR Credit and Work-Study Opportunities where applicable
  • Participate in Program Assessment by reviewing student notebooks and providing data to VIP program staff
  • Stay Responsive to VIP Communications so we can highlight your team’s achievements and share updates

Interested in Leading a VIP Team?

Each year, up to four new VIP teams are selected through an annual call for proposals. Faculty are invited to submit a proposal outlining their research topic, team structure, and sustainability plan

Form a VIP Team