what is sponsored research? · • sponsored research is externally-funded work in ... how to write...
TRANSCRIPT
What is Sponsored Research?
And why do you need to know?
Agenda:• Welcome
• Description of sponsored research
• Types of sponsors
• Pre-Award Administration Process
• How to write a good proposal
• Questions?
Welcome
• Cynthia Treacy - Sr. Grants Administrator in
the College of Arts & Sciences at UC
• Pre-Award Services Offices– Review, Approve & Submit proposals for Sponsored Research
– Help find funding for research
– Provide proposal writing & development services
– Assist with creating budget & justification
– Understanding sponsor guidelines
– Mentoring, training, workshops, newsletters & more!
• Just In Time (JIT) and Post-Award assistance
What is Sponsored Research?
• Sponsored Research is externally-funded work in
which a formal written agreement (i.e., grant, contract
or cooperative agreement) is entered into by the
Institution (UC) and the sponsor.
• Conditions of Sponsored Research:
• Statement of work & specified project plan
• Detailed financial accountability
• Line item budget, period of performance, reporting
• Description of properties (deliverables)
• Tangible (equipment, supplies) or intangible (copyrights, inventions)
Who are the sponsors?• Federal
• 35 federal funding agencies (e.g., NSF Doctoral Dissertation
Improvement grants)
• State
• Ohio Board of Regents, State of Ohio, many more!
• Local
• City of Cincinnati, many more!
• Foundation
• Lewis & Clark Fund, Simons, Russel Sage, many more!
• Industry
• P&G, Kroger, many more! (UCRI)
• Other
• Geological Society of America, Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research
(may not need to be approved by institution).
How do you get funded?
• Find the right fit – research opportunities– Ask colleagues, research offices, fellow researchers, etc.
– Work with Pre-Award Services Office
– Read funded projects
• Talk to the Program Officer– They are friendly and want to help
• Submit a compelling proposal– There are many people to help with this too
• Get an award!– If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!
Who does what?(In a university setting)
• PI– Initiates & develops proposal, completes internal requirements, certifies,
accepts responsibility for conduct of project, discloses conflicts of interest.
• Department– Verifies budget items (salaries, etc.), assures budget complies with solicitation,
reviews proposal documents, creates internal file and obtains required
approvals – for Geology, your contact is Kate Cosgrove.
• College– Review proposed scope and budget, provide approval (required).
• Authorized Representative– Review, approve, submit to sponsor.
– Can also help with all aspects of proposal development.
What’s the process?(In a university setting)
• Initial steps:
– Read the Sponsor Guidelines thoroughly
• Study program goals & eligibility, contact program
officer, read previous awards, etc.
– Notify Department/School/College
• Begin internal approval process
– Must have personnel, budget, justification,
abstract, title and dates final (at least 5 days before
submission due date, please.)
What’s the process?(In a university setting) continued
• Put together the budget - things to consider:
– Effort required
– Fringe benefits
– Indirect costs – 58% (federally negotiated rate)
• Some sponsors have limitations on funding F&A
– Equipment needed
– Travel needed
– Tuition
– Cost sharing?
– Make a budget justification ($ in words)
What’s the process?(In a university setting) continued
• Work with your Department and/or College office to
put the proposal package together
• Write the science (more on this in a min)
• Get all required approvals
• Make sure ALL required pieces of proposal are
included in final package
• Send to Sponsored Research Office for submission
• Monitor submission to receive acknowledgement of
submission (funded yes or no)
How to write a good proposal
• Know the sponsor’s mission, speak to it
• Highlight the significance of your research
• Make sure you have an original approach
• Discuss the project’s significant contributions to the field
• Discuss your knowledge and experience in the discipline
• Must have succinct, logical and focused project plan
• Also must have sufficient detail
• Project must be cost effective
• Have colleagues read it, have non-experts read it, get feedback
How to write a good proposal continued
• Always follow format provided by the sponsor!!
• Follow application instructions exactly!!
• Build a compelling argument
• Cite authoritative sources
• Lay out the problem
– Identify importance, summarize current state, describe challenges & benefits
• State solution
– Describe the project’s purpose and establish credibility
• Formulate specific, measurable objectives
• Pay attention to review criteria
Sponsor-centered:
Service attitude
Future oriented:
Work you wish to do
Persuasive:
“Sell” the reader
Personal:
Convey excitement
Team-oriented
Accessible language:
Broad audience
Limited Objective:
Be specific
Grant writing is different from writing published papers:
Different way of writing…
It takes a few times…
• Proposal success rates average 20% - 30% (NSF, NIH,
most private foundations)
• Many are rejected on first reading because:
– Proposal did not match program
– Applicant did not follow directions
• Don’t get discouraged – there are plenty of
resources to help you become successful!
• Fit research and grant writing into your job
• Find a mentor(s)
• Read successful grants; attend workshops
• Find collaborators; network
• Get on a review panel
• Get funding alerts; conduct your own searches regularly
• Think big, think small, think different
• Have others read your work and give feedback
• Submit, revise & resubmit!
Other tips for success…
Questions?
Contact info:
Cynthia Treacy
Sr. Grants Administrator
Pre-Award Services Office
McMicken College of Arts & Sciences
University of Cincinnati
513-556-3533