Announcements

Researcher/Scholar of the Year Award
DEADLINE: TBA

The annual Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services
Researcher/ Scholar of the Year Award recognizes an individual’s outstanding research/scholarly contribution(s) within the prior five years. The award is
presented at the Spring College Awards Ceremony, and the recipient
receives $500 for professional development.

Nomination Information and Criteria

 

New Seed Grant Programs

FALL COLLEGE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS WILL BE
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009, 5:00 p.m.

SPRING COLLEGE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS WILL BE MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2010, 5:00 p.m.

In February, 2007, the Vice President for Research assembled a committee with broad-based representation and charged it to identify opportunities and best practices for growing sponsored research at Utah State University. The efforts of this committee have now been compiled into a Strategic Plan for Growing Sponsored Research, a summary of which is available online at: http://research.usu.edu/htm/grants_funding

One of the key recommendations to emerge from this report was that existing seed grants should be restructured toward more targeted programs with specific missions/goals and expected outcomes. To satisfy this recommendation, the Research Office announced the availability of three new seed grant programs in 2008. These programs include:

Grant-Writing Experience Through Mentorship (GEM).

GEM is a new seed grant program that will provide I-year funding of up to $5,000 to enhance the professional development of junior researchers through one-on-one research and grant-writing interaction with successful research mentors. The purpose of this program is to build the University's research capability and increase extramural funding for scholarly activities by enhancing the proposal development skills of junior researchers. Eligibility is open to all USU tenure-eligible assistant professors and non-tenure track research assistant professors or research professionals with no more than four (4) years in rank. Information about applying for this grant can be found at: http://research.usu.edu/htm/grants_funding/gem.

Please be sure to include all necessary forms listed below.

• GEM Proposal Cover Sheet,
• GEM Budget Summary form,
• Two-page (max.) vita for PI and mentor,
• One-page (max) mentorship plan written by mentor,
• Specific information related to the full program announcement or RFP(s) for the agency to which a proposal will be developed and submitted, including the anticipated submission date,
• USU Conflict of Interest form,
• Identification of any Special Requirements form,
• List of current and pending support for PI and any co-PIs form, and
• One-page description of any current or pending projects that are related to the proposed seed grant project.

Research Catalyst (RC).

The RC is a new seed program that will provide I-year funding of up to $20,000 to help applicants develop new initiatives or directions in their discipline that will lead to new externally funded grants. The purpose of this program is to build the University's research capability and increase extramural funding for scholarly activities from government agencies and private sources. Eligibility is open to all tenured, tenure eligible, research faculty, or other USU research professionals regardless of rank. Information about applying for this grant can be found at: http://research.usu.edu/htm/grants_funding/rc.

Please be sure to include all necessory forms listed below.

• RC Proposal Cover Sheet,
• RC Budget Summary form,
• Vita information (2-page maximum per person) for the PI and any co-PIs,
• Scope of work summaries for all key personnel,
• Specific information related to the full program announcement or RFP(s) for the EFG to which a proposal will be developed and submitted, including the anticipated submission date. If a current version of the program announcement or RFP is not available, then the most recent published version should be provided, along with correspondence from a cognizant program director to indicate that a similar announcement will be issued in the near future.
• USU Conflict of Interest form,
• Identification of any Special Requirements form,
• List of current and pending support for PI and any co-PIs form, and
• One-page description of any current or pending projects that are related to the proposed seed grant project. This description must include an executive summary and list of specific objectives for the project.

Seed Program To Advance Research Collaboration (SPARC).

SPARC is a new seed program that will provide I-year funding of up to $35,000 to catalyze development of large interdisciplinary research teams and projects that involve scholarly research in more than one department, research center, college or institution. The purpose of this program is to enhance the success of USU researchers in securing new, large-scale, interdisciplinary externally funded grants. Eligibility is open to all tenured, tenure-eligible, research faculty, or other USU research professionals regardless of rank. Information about applying for this grant can be found at: http://research.usu.edu/htm/grants_funding/sparc.

Please be sure to inclue all necessary forms listed below.

• SPARC Proposal Cover Sheet,
• SPARC Budget Summary form,
• Vita information (2-page maximum per person) for the PI, co-PIs, and any other key personnel,
• Scope of work summaries for PI, co-PIs, and any other key personnel,
• Letters of endorsement from each responsible unit head or director. This letter should also include any commitments of funds or other resources that unit will contribute to the project in order to promote success in preparation of the EFG,
• Specific information related to the full program announcement or RFP(s) for the EFG to which a proposal will be developed and submitted, including the anticipated submission date. If a current version of the program announcement or RFP is not available, then the most recent published version should be provided, along with correspondence from a cognizant program director to indicate that a similar announcement will be issued in the near future,
• USU Conflict of Interest form,
• Identification of any Special Requirements form,
• List of current and pending support for PI and co-PIs form,
• One-page description of any current or pending projects that are related to the proposed seed grant project. This description must include an executive summary and list of specific objectives for the project.

Additional information on each program, including links to full RFPs, has been posted on the VPR website at: http://research.usu.edu/htm/grants_funding/all-programs.

PLEASE NOTE: The Office of Research Services will review and critique drafts of proposals for all programs on an as needed basis. ANYONE interested in submitting a proposal should contact Jim Dorward, the Associate Dean for Research at 797-1471 or jim.dorward@usu.edu as soon as possible!

The Vice-President is requiring each College to submit proposal rankings for the initial competition, CONSEQUENTLY, THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS OF SEED PROGRAM FUNDING WILL BE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009, 5:00 p.m. Proposals will be submitted to Wendy in the Office of Research Services, CEHS, room 453.