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October 2011 Grants Office Newsletter
On Becoming An NIH Reviewer
It is crucial to develop insight into every stage of the proposal development, review, and funding continuum. One of the best ways to build insider knowledge is to serve on review panels. So when the National Institutes of Health (NIH) established the Early Career Reviewer (ECR) program over a year ago, GRC (Grants Resource Center) members responded.
Linda Freed, co-chair of the GRC Health Research and Education Task Force and director of the Office of Grants and Faculty Development at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, was delighted to connect GRC with a faculty member who has just returned to campus after serving on her first NIH review panel. The experience was overwhelmingly positive, especially in its illumination of what drives the review discussions and how project impact is evaluated.
The UW Oshkosh researcher graciously shared the letter of interest she submitted to the NIH Center for Scientific Review in response to the ECR opportunity. In an e-mail titled “Happy to be Considered an NIH Reviewer,” she provided the following information:
- Confirmed that she is active in her field of research, is a past Academic Research En-hancement Award (AREA) awardee, and has had her AREA-funded research published in two peer-reviewed journals;
- Discussed how reviewers from less research-intensive universities help NIH broaden its reviewer pool to include people with experience balancing research and high teaching loads;
- Argued for the benefits for the novice NIH reviewer to have broader exposure to sub-mitted proposals and learn the elements of successful proposals by critically evaluating them;
- Listed her research areas of expertise in detail;
- Identified the specific types of proposals she was interested in reviewing;
- and Attached her biosketch.
One of the main purposes of the ECR program is to enrich the existing pool of NIH reviewers by including scientists from less research-intensive institutions. The requirements for being an ECR include having an active research program and a track record publishing in high-impact journals. NIH states that the opportunity is not limited to individuals with NIH or equivalent funding. To be considered under the ECR program, forward a statement of interest, biosketch, and descrip-tion of expertise to the Center for Scientific Review at CSREarlyCareerReviewer@mail.nih.gov.
Index
Tidbits
HOW TO: Defining Your Research Questions and Hypotheses
The advice in this Defense Department article is based on the understanding that "good research plans provide a detailed map for the conceptual and logistical frameworks that serve as the support structure for your research project."
Strategy for NIH Funding
To secure funding for an NIH grant, you'll need sound guidance and a solid strategy. The Strategy takes you through all the steps from qualifying for NIH support to staying funded. Even more, it gives you specific "to do's" so you're prepared at every stage.
Perspective On Peer Review
The consulting firm Miner and Associates discusses variations in the ways reviewers are instructed to score proposals:
"When reviewers score grant proposals, there is as much art as science in the process. Consider, for example, how points are assigned to proposals. There are three predominant approaches used by reviewers:
- Top down - proposals start out with perfect scores of 100 (an 'A+') and lose points for weaknesses, bringing the final score down.
- Bottom up - proposals start out with 0 points (an 'F-') and earn points for strengths, bringing the final score up.
- Somewhere in between – proposals start out with 70 points (a 'C'), and earn points for strengths or lose points for weaknesses, bringing the final score up or down.
In our experience serving on review committees, the 'top down' and 'somewhere in between' approaches are used more frequently than 'bottom up.'
However, in the case of the U.S. Department of Education, new guidance may shift that in the other direction. As part of reviewer training, some programs are now explicitly directing, "Write from the mindset that the application starts at zero and must earn each point, not that they start at 100 and have points withheld."
In the past, it was up to the review panels themselves to agree on what approach to scoring would be used for U.S. Department of Education proposals. This year, the reviewer training materials specified the approach for them. It‟s not clear why this change was made and whether it is a one-time experiment or will be the new status quo.
One possible explanation for the change is that too many review panels were giving too many excellent scores, thus there was a mathematical compression of the range. That is to say, a score of 98 out of 100 points could be high enough to get funded but a score of 97 might not. Seemingly, scores of 97 and 98 are both a strong 'A.' But when every proposal earns an 'A' there still needs to be some type of differentiation to determine who will receive funding and who will not. This new guidance may force reviewers to work harder to justify points, thus producing a broader range of final scores."
Anthropological Research
WENNER-GREN FOUNDATION FOR ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS
DUE: DEC 1 JUN 1
WEB: http://www.wennergren.org/programs/conference-and-workshop-grants
Conference and Workshop Grants are for amounts up to $20,000. In accordance with the mission of the Foundation, priority is given to events that foster the creation of an international community of research scholars in anthropology and advance significant and innovative anthropological research.
CONFERENCES are defined as public events that are comprised primarily of oral and poster presentations to a larger audience of anthropologists. Priority is given to major conferences sponsored by large international anthropological organizations (e.g., the European Association of Social Anthropologists, European Anthropological
Association, Pan African Anthropological Association, and Latin American Anthropological Association) that serve as their annual or periodic meetings. The majority of the funds granted to such conferences is expected to be used towards expenses for international scholars who are making presentations at the conference and would not otherwise be able to attend.
WORKSHOPS are defined as working meetings that focus on developing and debating topical issues in theoretical anthropology. Workshops involve a small group of scholars who meet for a sufficient period of time to deal intensively with the topic. Priority is given to those workshops that devote the majority of time to discussion and debate rather than to the presentation of papers. It is expected that workshops will result in a publication.
Poetry
WITTER BYNNER FOUNDATION FOR POETRY GRANTS
DUE: DEC 31, letters of intent
WEB: http://www.bynnerfoundation.org/
E-MAIL: info@bynnerfoundation.org
Through a bequest from Witter Bynner in 1972, The Witter Bynner Foundation for Poetry perpetuates the art of poetry. The foundation promotes poetry in American culture and encourages grant proposals that expand awareness of the positive effects of poetry on society.
ELIGIBILITY: Grant support is provided to non-profit, tax exempt organizations. Foundation staff reviews applications before they are submitted to independent reviewers for additional evaluation. Reviewers rotate each year and are selected from professionals in the field, including former grant recipients. The Board of Directors review selected applications and make the final determination of annual programming. Reviewers' comments are not available to applicants.
FUNDING: Organizations may apply for grant support from $1,000 to $10,000 for a maximum of three years.
Philosophy
American Philosophical Society Franklin Research Grants
DEADLINE: December 1, 2011 for a March 2012 decision for work in April through December
ELIGIBILITY: Applicants are expected to have a doctorate or to have published work of doctoral character and quality. The society is particularly interested in supporting the work of young scholars who have recently received the doctorate. American citizens and residents of the United States may use their Franklin awards at home or abroad. Foreign nationals must use their Franklin awards for research in the United States.
ABSTRACT: Since 1933 the APS has awarded small grants to scholars in order to support the cost of research leading to publication in all areas of knowledge. The Franklin program is particularly designed to help meet the costs of travel to libraries and archives for research purposes; the purchase of microfilm, photocopies, or equivalent research materials; the costs associated with fieldwork; or laboratory research expenses.
URL: http://www.amphilsoc.org/grants/franklin
STEM Travel
Burroughs Wellcome Fund Collaborative Research Travel Grants
Deadline: December 1, annually
Link: http://www.bwfund.org/pages/487/CRTG-Program-Application-%28Pre-Award%29/
This program provides support for researchers from degree-granting institutions to travel either domestically or inter-nationally to a laboratory to acquire a new research technique, to facilitate/begin collaboration, or to attend a course. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. or be studying for a Ph.D. in mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, statistics, or engineering and be interested in investigating research opportunities in the biological sciences or interested in working with physical scientists, mathematicians, engineers, chemists, statisticians, or computer scientists to incorporate their ideas and approaches to answering biological questions.
Award amount not stated, but past awards have totaled up to $5,000. Indirect costs may not be charged against the grant. Up to $500 of the travel grant may be used to cover costs at the host's lab.
Venetian History
GLADYS KRIEBLE DELMAS FOUNDATION GRANTS FOR INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ON VENETIAN HISTORY AND CULTURE
DUE: DEC 15
WEB: http://www.delmas.org/guidelines/v_ir_a.html
The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation announces its 2012-2013 program of grants (predoctoral and postdoctoral) for travel to and residence in Venice and the Veneto. Grants will be awarded for historical research specifically on Venice and the former Venetian empire, and for study of contemporary Venetian society and culture. Disciplines of the humanities and social sciences are eligible areas of study, including (but not limited to) archaeology, architecture, art, bibliography, economics, history, history of science, law, literature, music, political science, religion, and theater.
ELIGIBILITY: Applicants must (i) be citizens or permanent residents of the United States, (ii) have experience in advanced research at the graduate level or equivalent, and (iii) if graduate students, have fulfilled all doctoral requirements except completion of the dissertation (but including acceptance of dissertation proposal) by December 15, 2011.
FUNDING: Applications will be entertained for grants up to a maximum of $19,900 for a full academic year. Grants for the maximum amount are rarely awarded, and successful applicants are frequently awarded less than the amount requested. Funds are granted primarily for research in Venice and the Veneto only, and for transportation to, from, and within the Veneto.
Humanities
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES
COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH GRANTS
DUE: DEC 8
WEB: http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/collaborative.html
Collaborative Research Grants support interpretive research undertaken by a team of two or more scholars, for full-time or part-time activities for periods of a minimum of one year up to a maximum of three years. Support is available for various combinations of scholars, consultants, and research assistants; project-related travel; field work; applications of information technology; and technical support and services. All grantees are expected to communicate the results of their work to the appropriate scholarly and public audiences.
Eligible projects include:
(a) research that significantly adds to knowledge and understanding in the humanities;
(b) conferences on topics of major importance in the humanities that will benefit scholarly research;
(c) archaeological projects that include the interpretation and communication of results (projects may encompass excavation, materials analysis, laboratory work, field reports, and preparation of interpretive monographs); and
(d) research that uses the knowledge and perspectives of the humanities and historical or philosophical methods to enhance understanding of science, technology, medicine, and the social sciences.
These grants support full-time or part-time activities for periods of one to three years.
FUNDING: Awards normally range from $25,000 to $100,000 per year. Successful applicants will be awarded a grant in outright funds, matching funds, or a combination of the two, depending on the applicant's preference and the availability of funds.
Peace
United States Institute of Peace Annual Grant Competition
DEADLINE: October 1, 2011
ELIGIBILITY: American and foreign individuals and nonprofit organizations may apply. When applicants are employed by an eligible institution, such as a college or university, USIP requires that grants be made to the institution rather than to the individual. Unsuccessful applicants of previous Grant Program competitions may not submit the same application unless it has been substantially revised.
ABSTRACT: The annual competition (1) supports innovative peace-building projects involving research, the identification of promising models and effective practices, the development of practitioner resources and tools, the development and delivery of education, training and dialogue programs, and the production of films, radio programs, and other media; and (2) funds projects focused on preventing, managing, and resolving violent conflict and promoting post-conflict peace-building in settings outside the borders of the USA. Awards support activities that apply across a broad range of relevant disciplines, skills, and approaches. USIP welcomes proposals of an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary nature.
Topic areas of interest to USIP include, but are not limited to: conflict analysis and prevention; mediation and conflict resolution; post-conflict peace and stability operations; religion and peacemaking; women and girls in conflict and peace-building; rule of law and transitional justice; economies and conflict; social, psychological, and physical impacts of war and conflict; and media and conflict. Projects that lead to policy recommendations for governments, international organizations, or nongovernmental organizations are welcome, even encouraged.
URL: http://www.usip.org/grants-fellowships/annual-grant-competition
Law & Aging
Borchard Foundation Center on Law & Aging Academic Research Grant Program
DEADLINE: October 15, 2011
ELIGIBILITY: This program is open to all interested and qualified legal, health sciences, social sciences, and gerontology scholars and professionals. Two or more individuals in the same institution or different institutions may submit a collaborative proposal. Grant recipients must be U.S. citizens or legal residents of the U.S. and must be affiliated with a U.S.-based institution or organization.
ABSTRACT: The center underwrites this program to further scholarship about new or improved public policies, laws, and/or programs that will enhance the quality of life for the elderly. The center recognizes the need for further research and scholarship about new or improved public policies, laws and/or programs that will enhance the quality of life for the elderly (including those who are poor or otherwise isolated by lack of education, language, culture, disability, or other barriers). The center expects grantees to meet the objectives of the grant program through individual or collaborative research projects that (1) analyze and recommend changes in one or more important existing public policies, laws, and/or programs relating to the elderly; or (2) anticipate the need for and recommend new public policies, laws, and/or programs for the elderly necessitated by changes in the number and demographics of the country's and the world's elderly populations, by advances in science and technology, by changes in the health care system, or by other developments. Scholars in the fields of health, law, medicine and sociology have been awarded grants.
URL: http://www.borchardcenter.org/academic-research-grant-program/grant-application-process
Technology (3)
TECHNOLOGY GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Cyberlearning: Transforming Education
Deadline: February 15, 2012.
Eligibility: Unrestricted.
Fund uses: To integrate technological advances with advanced understanding of learning styles.
More information: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11587/nsf11587.htm.
Discovery Research K-12
Deadline: November 17, 2011.
Eligibility: Unrestricted.
Fund uses: To enhance teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics by preK-12 students, teachers, administrators and parents. Nov. 17 deadline is for letters of intent.
More information: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=123234&mode=VIEW
Software Infrastructure for Sustained Innovation
Deadline: December 14, 2011.
Eligibility: Nonprofit nonacademic institutions and institutions of higher education.
Fund uses: To advance new computational infrastructure as a priority for driving innovation in science and engineering.
More information: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11589/nsf11589.htm
Aging
AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR AGING RESEARCH AFAR RESEARCH GRANTS
DUE: DEC 15
WEB: http://www.afar.org/research/funding
The major goal of this program is to assist in the development of the careers of junior investigators committed to pursuing careers in the field of aging research. AFAR supports research projects concerned with understanding the basic mechanisms of aging. Projects investigating age-related diseases are also supported, especially if approached from the point of view of how basic aging processes may lead to these outcomes. Projects concerning mechanisms underlying common geriatric functional disorders are also encouraged, as long as these include connections to fundamental problems in the biology of aging. Projects that deal strictly with clinical problems such as the diagnosis and treatment of disease, health outcomes, or the social context of aging are not eligible.
ELIGIBILITY: The applicant must be an independent investigator with independent research space as described in an offer/start-up letter, and must be no more than 10 years beyond start of postdoctoral research training July 1, 2012.
FUNDING: It is anticipated that approximately 15 grants of up to $100,000 each will be awarded in 2012. Applicants may propose to use the award over the course of one or two years as justified by the proposed research. Up to 8% of funds may be budgeted for overhead or indirect costs (not to exceed $7,407). Funding will begin July 1, 2012.
Heart Association
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
NATIONAL SCIENTIST DEVELOPMENT GRANT
DUE: JAN 26
WEB: http://tinyurl.com/3bcllt4
The objective of this program is to support highly promising beginning scientists in their progress toward independence by encouraging and adequately funding research projects that can bridge the gap between completion of research training and readiness for successful competition as an independent investigator. The science focus is research broadly related to cardiovascular function and disease and stroke, or to related clinical, basic science, bioengineering or biotechnology, and public health problems, including multidisciplinary efforts. Proposals are encouraged from all basic disciplines as well as epidemiological, behavioral, community and clinical investigations that bear on cardiovascular and stroke problems.
ELIGIBILITY: At the time of application, the applicant must hold M.D., Ph.D., D.O., D.V.M. or equivalent post-baccalaureate doctoral degree.
FUNDING: Total annual award amount is $77,000. Award duration is four years.
Asian Culture
Asian Cultural Council
Deadline: November 1, 2011
Link: http://www.asianculturalcouncil.org/?page_id=20
Individual Grants
Asian individuals seeking grant assistance to conduct research, study, receive specialized training, undertake observation tours, or pursue non-commercial creative activity in the United States or among the countries of Asia in the visual and performing arts are eligible to apply for fellowship support from the Council. Americans seeking support to undertake activities in Asia are also eligible to apply.
Project & Organization Grants
Arts organizations and educational and cultural organizations are eligible to apply to the Council for support for projects of exceptional importance involving cultural exchange between Asia and the United States or regional exchange among the countries of Asia. As the Council's program resources are concentrated on fellowship awards to individuals, our grants for projects are usually modest in size.
Application Schedule
Applications available: September 1 to October 31, 2011
Application deadline: November 1, 2011
Applicants who will not be considered for the final review will be notified by March 2012. Successful applicants will be notified by late May 2012.
International
International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX)
Individual Advanced Research Opportunities (IARO) Fellowships
Application Deadline: November 16, 2011
Link: http://www.irex.org/project/individual-advanced-research-opportunities-iaro
Click Here for Attachment
The Individual Advanced Research Opportunities Program (IARO), managed by the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX), provides students, scholars and professionals with support to perform U.S. foreign policy-relevant field research in the countries of Eastern Europe and Eurasia. Applicants to the IARO program can propose to do research in up to three countries listed below for up to nine months. As part of the IARO fellowship, participants are provided with visa assistance, international round-trip transportation, a monthly allowance for housing and living expenses, as well as emergency evacuation insurance. IARO fellows also have access to resources available in any of IREX's field offices.
Eligible nations are:
Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan
Global Debates
Open Society Foundations Global Debates
Application Deadline: Rolling, submit at least two months before the event
Link: http://www.soros.org/initiatives/youth/focus/global-debates
Grants will be available for institutions that have either very small debate programs or none at all. Grants also will be made to institutions seeking to promote public debates within the broader communities that they serve and to increase the capacity of young people from marginalized communities to engage in debates concerning controversial issues affecting their lives.
Grant applications are invited in the following areas:
Debate Organized by Consortia of Colleges and Universities supports large-scale debate in national or global contexts. Pairs or small groups of colleges may apply for a maximum of $200,000 to develop, organize, and support debate consortia.
Debate Sponsored by Departments and Schools Within Colleges and Universities supports debate as an extracurricular or co-curricular activity of departments and schools inside a college or university. Academic departments or programs may apply for a maximum of $25,000 to establish a debate program at a college or university where none currently exists, provide teacher debate training or instruction, host debate tournaments and public debates, and/or travel to public debates and debate tournaments.
Debate in Student Clubs and Societies supports debate in student clubs and societies in ways that go beyond competition to encourage authentic civic engagement. Students, faculty, or staff may apply for a maximum of $50,000 to fund the creation of debate clubs or societies where none currently exist, provide student debate training or instruction, host intramural debate tournaments and public debates, and/or travel to public debates and debate tournaments.
Supporting Debate Events provides funding for university debate events — both new and existing — around the world in any language. Not-for-profit groups, including but not limited to public or private not-for-profit universities, private not-for-profit organizations, school debate clubs, or other incorporated or unincorporated groups organizing debates for undergraduate university students as part of their activities, are eligible to apply. Funding of up to $50,000 is available for new events. Funding requested for existing events may generally not exceed 25 per-cent of the total expenses relating to the event.
Concept papers/full proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis until funding has been exhausted. Proposals for debate events should be submitted at least two months before the event.
Discovery Research
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Discovery Research K-12 (DR K-12)
Deadlines:
Letter of Intent (required): November 17, 2011; October 4, 2012
Full Proposal: January 10, 2012; December 6, 2012
Link: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11588/nsf11588.htm
Projects funded under this solicitation begin with a research question or hypothesis about how to improve preK-12 STEM learning and teaching and then develop, implement, and study effects of innovative educational resources, models, or technologies. The DR K-12 program accepts proposals for exploratory projects, full research and development projects, and synthesis projects, as well as for conferences and workshops related to the mission of the program.
Funding types are as follows:
(1) Exploratory projects up to $450,000 with duration up to three years;
(2a) Full Research and Development projects up to $3,000,000 with duration up to four years;
(2b) Full Research and Development projects with a primary focus on learning how to take proven STEM innovations to scale, up to $4,000,000 with a duration of four years;
(3) Conference/Workshop projects up to $100,000 for duration up to two years.
Announcements
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEW FACULTY ORIENTATION
Now that the new faculty are acclimated to campus…
NEW FACULTY GRANTS OFFICE ORIENTATION WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 10 AT 2:30pm.
ALL FACULTY AND STAFF ARE WELCOMED.
DETAILS ARE UPCOMING FROM THE CENTER FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING.
FACULTY LEARNING COMMUNITY
The Innovative Thinking Attracts Money Faculty Learning Community is in the works. Wouldn't you like to participate? Contact Kim Gray if you would. Our next meeting will be the week of October 18.
