Stanford C-ShaRP
c-ShARP Community of Shared Advanced Research Platforms .

C-ShaRP Experiential Learning Program FY26

Purpose

The Community of Shared Research Platforms (C-ShaRP) spans all scientific disciplines across Stanford’s Schools, as well as VPDoR and SLAC, and is an essential community for researchers who work at and utilize Shared Research Platforms (a.k.a. Shared Facilities) at Stanford. C-ShaRP welcomes collaborative proposals for educational efforts that leverage Stanford’s shared research facilities to enrich scientific learning journeys with hands-on experiences, facilitating research progress and promoting real-world skills to prepare scientists for successful careers at Stanford and beyond. These proposed educational efforts may include shared facilities access in support of registered academic coursework, teaching workshops using hands-on research techniques, preparation of high-quality online learning materials that support in-person experiences, and other similar efforts that benefit from shared facility participation in disseminating educational curricula and community building. All proposals should aim to provide experiential-based (hands-on) education and training through our shared research facilities to Stanford researchers, and also reach a wider community where mutually beneficial.

Experiential learning through access to Shared Research Platforms is crucial for enhancing academic courses and equipping students with practical research skills. High costs associated with accessing these resources can present a significant barrier to educational activities. To overcome this barrier, C-ShaRP Experiential Learning funding helps to subsidize expenses, enabling Stanford courses and training programs to access Shared Research Platform resources.

This funding is provided to support Shared Research Platforms staff, instrument use, and materials costs involved in the development and execution of educational experiences. It is not to be used to replace existing funding from other sources nor for existing activities pre-dating C-ShaRP.

Program Priorities

The C-ShaRP Experiential Learning program aims to create a dynamic and interdisciplinary learning environment via usage of our facilities and close interaction with staff, particular areas of interest in the FY26 cycle:

  1. Encourage a wide range of faculty members across Stanford’s campus to develop and offer new experiential learning courses for graduate and undergraduate students, or to enhance existing lecture-based courses with hands-on components, with the support of Shared Research Platforms.
  2. Offer hands-on training opportunities to the interdisciplinary research community through the Shared Research Platforms to build a more skilled, innovative workforce ready to tackle real-world challenges.
  3. Incorporate new instruments and technologies in experiential learning activities, especially those funded through the C-ShaRP Instrumentation & Enhancement Program.

Proposal Categories

Proposals should target one of the following 5 categories; proposals will be compared and ranked with others within the same category:

A. Curriculum Track 

Experiential learning through access to Shared Research Platforms is crucial for enhancing Stanford academic courses, enabling students to access cutting-edge technologies, bridging the gap between theory and practice, fostering deeper understanding and engagement, and equipping students with research experience for impactful scientific discoveries. The C-ShaRP Experiential Learning funding lowers access barriers of shared facilities and creates equitable opportunities for instructors and students.

The Curriculum track aims to provide funding to new and existing Stanford academic courses for the training of undergraduate and graduate students:

  • Pilot new Stanford courses to incorporate experiential learning curriculum from inception (Pilot)
  • Support the addition of experiential/hands-on components to existing lecture-based courses (Exploration)
  • Enhance courses which currently involve hands-on components (Enhancement)

These courses are typically led by faculty members or instructors, with teaching and support by Shared Research Platform staff. Participation of one or more Shared Research Platforms in an application is required. Shared Research Platform staff are required to provide a letter of support detailing the contributions of their facility to the course.

Each Stanford course taught by the same instructor(s) is eligible to receive Pilot funds only once. If the instructor of a course changes, please contact the Program Manager to discuss the potential for reapplying. A course cannot apply for new Experiential Learning funding until all existing Experiential Learning funds relating to that course have been fully utilized. Cost-sharing with departments or programs is strongly encouraged.

B. Non-Curriculum Track

Experiential learning through access to Shared Research Platform research facilities is crucial for training effective scientists, engaging and equipping researchers to pave the way for impactful scientific discoveries. C-ShaRP Experiential Learning funding increases accessibility for learners at all levels to gain practical hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies applied to modern research applications, ultimately producing a more skilled, innovative workforce equipped to solve real-world challenges.

The non-curriculum track aims to provide funding to workshops and similar hands-on learning opportunities for the training of students and scientific staff, particularly to enhance utilization of C-ShaRP-funded instrumentation:

  • Pilot new experiential learning-based experiences (Pilot)
  • Enhance and further develop existing experiences, particularly with an eye toward self-sustaining operation, e.g. via registration fees (Enhancement)

Open to the broader research community, these workshops are typically not listed in the Stanford course catalog. Shared facilities are encouraged to work together to design interdisciplinary cross-training programs that span multiple technologies and involve collaboration among various Shared Research Platforms, which will enhance the breadth and depth of the learning experience. A workshop cannot apply for new Experiential Learning funding until all existing Experiential Learning funds relating to that workshop have been fully utilized. Cost-sharing with industry, departments, or programs is strongly encouraged.

Eligibility

All Stanford faculty, instructors, and Shared Research Platform staff may apply. Refer to Stanford Research Policy Handbook 2.1 "Principal Investigator Eligibility and Criteria for Exceptions" for guidelines on PI eligibility.

  • Academic Council faculty and Medical Center Line faculty
  • Course instructors
  • Shared Research Platform staff

Budget

The total budget of any submitted proposal should not exceed the award limit of $25K. 

Unspent funds remaining at the end of the award period will revert to the C-ShaRP Experiential Learning funding pool to support future awards.

Funding Period

Funds are intended for expenditures within the awarding fiscal year.

No-cost Extensions

While no guarantees of funding beyond the initial award period can be made, awardees may request up to two 1-fiscal year extensions of the funding period by submitting a clear explanation of the extenuating circumstances leading to the need for the extension and a proposed new timeline for completion of the award. Unspent funds remaining at the end of the extension period will revert to the C-ShaRP Experiential Learning funding pool to support future awards.

Reporting & Participation Requirements

The PIs of the funded proposals will be required to deliver a brief report on use, budget, and outcomes and to assist in collecting feedback from participants in the learning experience. Photos and short videos of the experience in action are also highly encouraged. PIs also agree to participate in periodic outreach events and are expected to be reviewers for future rounds of C-ShaRP Experiential Learning funding.

Key Dates

  • Wednesday, March 5, 2025 - call for proposals issued
  • Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - proposals due
  • July 2025 - decisions sent

Contact

Yang Bai, Sr. Program Manager, email ybai3@stanford.edu, office number 650-497-9454.

Application

Proposals should be submitted online at seedfunding.stanford.edu; follow the link below to the opportunity listing for Experiential Learning: https://seedfunding.stanford.edu/opportunities/c-sharp-experiential-learning-program-fy26