Dairy Innovation Hub seeking applications for 2026 combined trainees and collaboratively mentored research projects
CALS is accepting proposals for trainee research projects that will leverage existing UW–Madison expertise to enhance scholarship and advancement of innovation needed to ensure the future success and resiliency of dairy-related research in Wisconsin.
In 2019, the Dairy Innovation Hub launched with a $7.8 million per year investment by the State of Wisconsin to build a world-class talent pool and enable bold discoveries to ensure that Wisconsin’s dairy community is at the global forefront in producing nutritious dairy products in an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable manner.
The Hub seeks proposals that will fund research to work on innovative and impactful dairy-related research that relates to one of the following priority areas prioritized by the Hub:
- Stewarding Land and Water Resources
- Enriching Human Health and Nutrition
- Ensuring Animal Health and Welfare
- Growing Farm Businesses and Communities
The objective of these funding opportunities are to bring prospective trainees to Wisconsin to increase training capacity to fund novel research projects that benefit the Wisconsin dairy community. Recruiting, developing and retaining top talent remains a major focus for the Hub.
Funding is available to tenure-track faculty with permanent PI status within CALS. Research assistant or associate level candidates do not need to be identified, although inclusion of a top candidate will strengthen the proposal application. Award decisions will be sent to applicants in September 2026 for funding beginning in FY27.
Combined trainee (UW–Madison)
- Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. (CST) on Friday, June 5, 2026
- Application details can be found within the RFP.
- Access the Qualtrics survey to apply for this Hub-funded call.
Collaboratively mentored trainee (UW–Madison & UW-Platteville and/or UW-River Falls)
- Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. (CST) on Friday, June 26, 2026
- Application details can be found within the RFP.
- Access the Qualtrics survey to apply for this Hub funded call
More information and resources may be found by visiting the research funding section of the DIH website.
Questions? Contact Elisabeth Berndt, DIH administrative specialist, at elisabeth.berndt@wisc.edu.