CORE Project Funding Support

CORE Voucher Program

CORE serves as UMaine’s central repository for major research equipment and facilities, for the purpose of advancing research and development and providing hands-on learning experiences.  

Graduate and undergraduate students enrolled within the University of Maine System are eligible to apply for up to $150 in CORE Voucher funding that may be used on any CORE service.  Each applicant needs to include a faculty advisor as a contact on their application who can verify the applicant’s project plan if needed.

A list of CORE services can be found HERE and are available to students studying in any discipline. 

Funding is made available by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, Experiential Programs Innovation Central (EPIC), and the Hunter Family Fund.

Students, with the support of a faculty advisor, may request up to $150 to fund a project proposal.  Applications are accepted at the beginning of the fall and award funds are available for the academic year.

Funding can be applied to a variety of CORE services:  training, equipment usage, space reservation, and project consultation.  Students from any course of study may apply. 

There are few restrictions on criteria for acceptable projects: 

  • Funding can only be applied to services and equipment usage offered through CORE with the exception of consumables purchased through the Freezer Program (see lab and facility pages for more information).
  • Project activity needs to be demonstrably academic in nature (this could include research, experiential learning, and co-curricular activity that are independent of coursework)
  • Retroactive requests, reimbursements, and extensions will not be considered.
  • Awards are non-transferable.
  • One application per applicant per academic year.

Student applicants must complete the CORE Voucher Program Application by the deadline for consideration: 

  • Awards are made on an academic year basis
  • AY25/26 Application window has closed but will reopen in September 2026.
  • Awarded funds will be available from 10/13/25 – 5/31/26

Applicants are asked to supply the following information:

  • responsible faculty member (research advisor, course instructor, etc.)
  • description of the CORE services needed, and how the requested service will impact a project
  • approximate dates the service will be needed
  • approximate budget, and a source of supplemental funding if budget is exceeded

Requests will be reviewed and approved by a committee of CORE and EPIC team members.  The committee will fund as many eligible proposals as the CORE Voucher budget permits.  

To ensure priority consideration of your application, please make sure that your application is complete, accurate, and demonstrates how a CORE Voucher is the best fit for your project needs.

Approvals will be announced by the following date: 

  • AY25/26 Applications: October 10, 2025

View the online CORE Voucher Application

For questions about services, lab access, or budgeting contact the lab staff indicated on the relevant lab’s feature page (UMaine CORE Facilities and Services).

For questions about the CORE Voucher Application or review process, email um.core@maine.edu.

• Undergraduate Students may consider the CUGR Undergraduate Research Fellowships (https://cugr.umaine.edu/fellowship-opportunities/)


• Graduate Students may consider the Graduate Student Government’s Grants Program (https://umaine.edu/gsg/grants/)

Faculty seeking internal support for their research may consider the UMaine Faculty Research Funds Program administered through the Office of Research Development (https://umaine.edu/research-development/funding/internal-funding/).