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Funding Recipients

A guide for researchers applying for funding on ResearchHub

ResearchHub is a platform that allows anyone to directly fund preregistered scientific studies. Our goal is to promote the creation of open, reproducible and impactful research. Our process is much simpler than applying for traditional research grants.

We ask applicants to submit a 2-4 page preregistration (proposal) that includes:

  • Background

  • Hypothesis

  • Experimental methods

  • Plan for statistical analysis

  • Budget

[REQUIRED] In order to receive funds, please ensure your identity is verified and your ORCID account is linked to your ResearchHub profile.

How Does ResearchHub Funding Work?

  1. Browse Funding Opportunities

    1. Find a Funding Opportunity that fits within the expertise of your lab.

    2. If you can’t find a relevant Funding Opportunity, don’t worry! You can still submit a standalone proposal for crowdfunding in the "proposals" tab.

  2. Submit Your Proposal

    1. Click "Submit Proposal" and create a new proposal.

    2. Clearly outline your study using the provided template.

    3. Include relevant topics/keywords to enhance discoverability.

    4. Specify funding goal

      1. Keep in mind, smaller goals are more feasible to crowdfund so we recommend starting with the most essential experiments.

    5. [Strongly Recommended] Select your affiliated institution's foundation to ensure your donors receive a tax deduction!

      1. Include the name of your lab and department so we know who to send the funds to.

  3. Open Peer Review

    1. Peers publicly critique and provide feedback on your public proposal.

    2. Peer review does not determine funding but offers context for potential funders and helps you enhance your study's design and methodology.

    3. Peer Review is completed in under 14 days.

  4. Wait for the Study to Get Funded

    1. Funders and other members of the ResearchHub community can crowdfund the study with ResearchCoin.

    2. The fundraise amount must be met for the funding proposal to complete and have the funds route to your university.

    3. If the funding goal is not met by the deadline, the funds will be reimbursed to the crowdfunders.

  5. Funding Completed

    1. After the proposal has been successfully funded, ResearchHub and our 501(c)(3) non-profit partner, Endaoment, will ensure the funds are transferred to your university as a cash donation to be accessible by your lab.

FAQs

How complicated is it to submit a preregistration?

The process is designed to be simple and straightforward, typically taking only minutes to complete.

If the proposal I post is public, will I get scooped?

The proposals published on ResearchHub all come with a DOI (a digital identifier) and public date to ensure you are credited appropriately. The ideal proposal should have sufficient experimental plans and planned analyses for a third party researcher to independently replicate your work. We understand that some researchers may be hesitant to share this level of detail in the open, and in those cases you should share as much information as you’re comfortable sharing.

Does my proposal have to pass peer review to get funded?

No, peer review on ResearchHub is solely for suggesting improvements for you as the researcher and to provide funders with context from experts in the field. Peer review does not determine funding eligibility. If you find that your peer reviews have particularly helpful suggestions, we encourage you to revise and update your work as you see fit.

Do I have to implement the peer reviewers’ changes?

No, you are not required to implement the suggested changes. However, if the feedback improves the rigor or quality of your work, it’s recommended to consider them. Addressing peer review suggestions is a great opportunity for you to signal rigor to potential funders – however, none of the suggestions from peer reviewers are mandatory to be addressed.

Can I update my proposal if peer reviewers have helpful suggestions?

Yes! We believe that peer review is most useful before experiments are completed, when there’s still time to adjust plans. We encourage researchers to update their experimental plans according to feedback from peer reviewers, as the researchers see fit – none of the suggestions from peer reviewers are mandatory to be addressed. Updating and republishing your proposal will not affect any existing funding contributions, comments, peer reviews, or other interactions.

Does my institution need to be able to handle cryptocurrency?

No. All funds are transferred to your University's nonprofit foundation as a cash donation. Our nonprofit partner, Endaoment, converts the crowdfunded donations into cash which is then transferred directly to your University as a standard gift. Note: International applicants should verify in advance that their institution has a US 501(c)(3) intermediary to receive funds.

How does my institution receive the funds?

Funds are managed and transferred via your University's Foundation, facilitated through our partnership with Endaoment. Endaoment converts the crowdfunded ResearchCoin donations into cash. This funding is then transferred directly to your University as a standard gift, streamlining financial processes and compliance. You will not have to work with your grants office as these funds are sent as donations with the note you provide in your proposal. Note: International applicants should verify in advance that their institution has a US 501(c)(3) intermediary to receive funds.

Are there any reporting requirements?

No, these funds are submitted as gifts meaning that the applicants are not required to provide any specific reporting. We strongly believe that open science practices lead to maximally reproducible research. As such, we provide optional incentives rather than mandatory requirements. Any funded researcher who chooses to optionally share a brief monthly update will receive $50 as a thank you for participating in open science.

Do I have to be in the U.S. to take advantage of the crowdfunding feature?

No. We encourage researchers internationally to submit their proposals for funding consideration.

Who should be the author of the proposal?

Anyone within the lab can be the primary author, and can include other relevant authors.

Can I alter the funding goal while my proposal is live?

Please contact the ResearchHub team for assistance on a case by case basis. We may ask that you share a revised experimental plan and budget if the funding goal needs to be changed significantly. You should tag and notify any funders who contributed to your proposal.

What happens after the proposal deadline?

If successfully funded, your funds will be donated to your University nonprofit as a gift designated for your lab. If your proposal does not meet the funding threshold by the deadline, the funds will be returned to the donors and you are free to submit a new or revised submission.

Who can I contact with questions?

Please contact editorial@researchhub.foundation for any questions.

You may also attend our weekly information sessions to meet with our outreach and editorial team.

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