2026 Seed for Science
Application Process
Download & Complete
Using Adobe Acrobat, complete the official 2026 Seed for Science Application Package.
Rules and Regulations
- Project proposals must use EMG equipment from Delsys and the Linux API.
- Applications must be written in English.
- To be eligible, you must be a student or post-doc who actively conducts research at a degree-conferring institution of higher learning. You will need to complete your internship at your selected institution.
- Teams must consist of between 2 to 5 members and the lead applicant must be a student or post-doc researcher. Collaborator and team members can include faculty members from within the same or different institutions.
- You are restricted to the space provided in the official PDFs. Do not try to exceed the space provided in any way. You must use the official PDFs we provide.
- An individual may submit multiple applications.
- Multiple students from the same institution may apply.
- he $20,000 is a stipend awarded to the lead student on the project. It will be paid to the institution and relayed to the winner in the form of a stipend. The affiliation may not recover indirect costs from this stipend. The money can be used for any purpose pertaining to the research project.
- If you conduct research at multiple affiliations, you should choose the affiliation at which you intend to conduct your research.
- Fellowships are scheduled to take place over six months. We are willing to offer a no-cost extension if the project is not finished in its entirety at the end of that six-month period; however, there is an expectation that a demo will be provided at ICRA 2027 and we will not be providing additional funding to extend the deadline past the 6 month development phase.
- Applications will close at 11:59PM EST on 10 December 2026
- You may not have your name anywhere within your project pitch or infographic. In general, omit any personal information from the project pitch and infographic.
Instructions
Project Pitch
Download the 2026 Seed for Science Application Package and complete the Project Pitch PDF. No attachment other than the SfS Project Pitch PDF can be submitted. DO NOT include any personal information (name, institution, etc.) in this document.
You will be asked to focus on the following:
- Project Title.
- Innovative Research. Explain how your project is an innovative way to explore how EMG can be integrated with Linux.
- Description. Describe your rationale, goals, and objectives for this project.
- Tools and Measurements. Explain how you will use EMG sensors and Linux to conduct your innovative research.
- Approach. Outline your experimental protocol.
- Supporting Research. Include a note about the existing research and how it supports your project. DO NOT include any references in this document. All references will be uploaded separately as part of your complete list of references.
Project Infographic
Create an infographic for your project. DO NOT include any personal information (name, institution, etc.) in this document. Upload this document as a 1-page Letter (8.5″ x 11″) sized PDF with .5″ margins. Alternatively, use a presentation program to design your infographic in the standard 16×9 ratio and upload the PDF. Your PDF should not exceed 1 page. Your infographic may include the following information:
- Project Title
- Research Topic
- Central Hypothesis
- Proposed Methodology
- Potential Impact
- Drawings/Diagrams of Projected Data Collection Protocol
- Supporting Research
This infographic should be a creative and visual representation of your project proposal; it should not be a simple list of the information above. Here are a few tips to follow when designing your infographic:
- Include data visualizations including charts, graphs, and bars
- Utilize icons to illustrate key points
- Include a minimal use of text
- Draw inspiration for combining visuals with technical applications from Delsys: Creating an EMG driven soft exosuit – Delsys
References
Download the 2026 Seed for Science Application Package and complete the References PDF. No attachment other than the SfS References PDF can be submitted.