Utilizing Internal Funding Resources to Develop Successful Grant Proposals

1. Utilizing Internal Funding Resources to Develop Successful Grant Proposals SSP Core Facility September 17, 2008

2. Survey, Statistics, and Psychometrics Core Facility • The mission of the SSP Core Facility is to promote and enhance the quality of social and behavioral science research at the University of Nebraska. • Provide consultation, referrals, and workshops • Long term goal is to support the increase in external funded research grants at the UN.

3. SSP support for internal proposals • Developing ideas for effective uses of seed funding • Designing a pilot study and identifying resources to help conduct pilot (data collection, etc.) • Feedback on writing internal proposal

4. SSP support after internal award • Analyzing and interpreting pilot data • Overall research design, sampling, etc. for external grant proposal • Incorporating pilot data into grant proposal • Feedback on writing external proposal

5. The problem in obtaining external grant support • Early career and new investigators are at a competitive disadvantage in the grant review process • Until you have demonstrated that you can actually carry out a research project, it is often difficult to get funded, even with the new investigator funding supports

6. The solution… Internal Funding • The basic notion is that it provides funds to start a research program that will become self sufficient over time • Thus, there is a clear expectation that this funding will lead to externally funded grant proposals

7. Internal grants help build case for external grant • Establish the need, the relevance of the proposed research • Demonstrate the feasibility of the methodological approach • Support that the investigator can carry out the proposed data collection

8. UNL Internal Funding • Office of Research Awards • Layman Awards • Minority Health-related Research • Research Council • Faculty Seed Grants • Interdisciplinary Research Grants • Grants-In-Aid

9. Office of Research Awards (Layman/Minority Health) • Important dates: • Faculty Forum on October 1, 2008 • Applications due November 13, 2008 • Awards announced Spring, 2009 • Funding runs July 1, 2009 – June, 2010 • Final report due August, 2010 • Submit external proposal by June, 2011

10. Office of Research Awards (Layman/Minority Health) • Eligibility • UNL faculty member on a continuous appt., a research professor, or senior lecturer • Limitations on funding allocation (e.g., no faculty salary) • Requirement to submit an external funding proposal within two years • include external opportunities in proposal

11. Layman Grants • For pilot projects, prototype development, faculty development and preliminary educational or public service programs that will enhance ability to obtain external funding • Maximum $10,000 award • Priority to non-tenured tenure-track faculty, projects consistent with national funding priorities, importance of Layman to success • Reviewed by panel, Dean, VCR

12. Minority Health-related Research Projects • To support research regarding disparities in health outcomes among diverse populations, differences in disease prevalence, and systematic variations in behavioral processes that contribute to disease and burden • Maximum $50,000 award • Preference given to collaborative work and research areas with known external funding opportunities • Reviewed by panel, VCR

13. Research Council Funding • Important dates: • Applications due October 10, 2008 • Awards announced December, 2008 • Funding runs January 1, 2009 – December 30, 2009

14. Research Council Funding • Eligibility • faculty member on a continuous appt. • research professor • senior lecturer • other UNL appt’s with research responsibilities* • Limitations on funding allocation (e.g., no faculty salary) • Reviewed by Research Council (12 faculty serving 3 year terms)

15. RC Faculty Seed Grants • For projects that encourage and enhance research, creative and scholarly activities, and enhance the prospects of obtaining outside, competitive support • Maximum $10,000 award • Priority to non-tenured tenure-track faculty, those attempting to develop a new research direction, and those without RC funding in past 2 years • Expectation to submit a grant proposal within one year of completion

16. RC Interdisciplinary Research Grants • Supports new initiatives in interdisciplinary research, creative and scholarly activities to increase competitiveness of groups in applying for external funding and could also serve as ideas for future development for strategic initiatives • Typically up to $20,000 award, but can request more (may be renewed for one year) • Expectation to submit a grant proposal within one year of completion

17. RC Grants-In-Aid • More broadly funding scholarship, unlike Layman and seed grant program, no subsequent grant submission requirement (although it is encouraged) • Up to $6,500 individual, $10,000 for a joint proposal

18. Submission Process http://research.unl.edu/facultyresources/annual_competitions.shtml • Download and complete the appropriate application form by clicking link on website • Obtain signatures from your chair and dean • Scan the entire application form into one file • E-mail the scanned file, along with an electronic copy of the proposal (in a single Word or pdf file), to unlresearch@unl.edu

19. SSP Core Contact Info Mindy Anderson-Knott 107 Benton Hall 472-7218 mandersonknott2@unl.edu http://ssp.unl.edu/