Seed Grants forTransitional and Exploratory Projects

STEP Grant Program Website www.siue.edu/funding/internal-funding/step.shtml

STEP Proposal Library◦ email Lisa Lawrence for an appointment, llawren@siue.edu

Program basics

Review Criteria

Application Sections

Budget Planning

Time for Questions

Deadline: Thurs. October 6, 2016, 4:30 p.m. (on the dot!) by email

Internal School/Unit deadlines throughout the month of September

SUBMIT IN ONE FILE, PDF FORMAT to siueresearch@siue.edu

July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018

Seed Grants for Transitional and Exploratory Projects (STEP) provides seed funding on a competitive basis to SIUE faculty and staff to support research and creative activities. Seed funding is used to jumpstart junior faculty research or encourage to the initiation of new research directions. Seed grant funding is not intended to sustain or supplement current research programs.

For junior faculty - Projects must: help undertake pilot projects that will aid in establishing careers as independent investigators

and enable successfully applying for extramural funding;

applicants in the pre-mid-term review stage of their career may submit proposals to revise dissertation material. However, applicants must make a strong argument for how the STEP project may propel the applicant’s career in a significant and lasting research direction.

For established faculty - Projects must: perform transitional and exploratory research (particularly on novel or pioneering ideas), to

determine project feasibility, and to develop preliminary data to support extramural applications.

demonstrate how the STEP project represents a significant transition in their research as opposed to previous activity. Successful proposals by established faculty will outline specific differences between the STEP project and previous scholarly activities, including publications and conference presentations, so that an educated lay reader is able to discern the new direction of the proposed project.

Faculty development (including conference travel)

Institutional research

Public service and consulting

Departmental or curriculum development

Full-time continuing members of the faculty

Research staff members on continuing appointments who have served as an investigator or co-investigator on an externally sponsored grant

All PIs and Co-PIs must have completed final reports and fulfilled the terms and conditions of previously SIUE funded research before they are eligible for this program. This includes submission of final reports and external grants.

Primary Investigator (PI) Co-PI Key Personnel (include c.v., does not have to

meet requirements) G.A.s and student workers

Just remember that personnel tends to be the most expensive budget portion.

Up to $16,000: awards average $5,000 -$10,000

Annette and Henry Baich award: $1000 for best STEP application in sciences (disciplines covered by Sigma Xi)

Step 1. Subpanels according to five disciplinary categories

◦ 1: Life Sciences; 2: Biomedical (Nursing, Pharmacy, Dental Medicine); 3: Physical Sciences and Engineering; 4: Social Sciences, Business, Education;5: Arts and Humanities

◦ University Research and Development Committee members as subpanel leaders

◦ Other panelists recruited on ad hoc basis according to proposal topics in the panel

◦ You can make suggestions for expertise on Cover Sheet, and we get as close as we can

Step 1. Subpanels according to five disciplinary categories

◦ Subpanelists provide scores and comments as individuals

◦ Then they meet as a group to discuss

◦ They have a chance to edit scores and comments after discussion

◦ Subpanel agrees on a final overall score for the proposal

◦ Subpanel creates a Review Summary Statement that expresses the tenor of the discussion and overall proposal score

Is it a new direction for an established faculty member?

Is the budget aligned with request and timeline? (Summer Salary when all work during Academic year)

Do they meet criteria as detailed in the Reviewer Rubric? The rubric is available on STEP website (details the criteria, content expected in each category)

Step 1. Subpanels according to four disciplinary categories

◦ Scoring by subpanelists: scale of Poor (1), Fair (2) , Good (3), VG (4), Excellent (5)(VG and E considered in the “fundable” range)

◦ Applicants get scored under each criterion and then get an overall score of P – E

◦ Scoring Rubric posted on STEP website

Step 2. Research and Development Committee final review and funding decisions

◦ Committee members report on subpanel findings

◦ Final funding recommendations made and comments on budgets provided to the Graduate School

The alignment of the project with the STEP purpose (25%)

The originality/creativity and significance of the proposed research or creative activity (20%)

The clarity and appropriateness of the research design and procedure (30%)

The research proposal’s potential for external funding (25%)

The appropriateness of the budget and strength of the budget justification (comments only)

Cover Sheets ◦ Includes Abstract (150 wds), Budget numbers, IRB and other

compliance, reviewer suggestion space, chair and dean signature

Narrative/Project Description◦ 10 double-spaced , numbered pgs, TNR 11 or Ariel 10 font External Funding Potential Form: to be included in your packet

Budget Justification◦ (2 double-spaced pages)

References (no limit) Previous Funding Form (1 page per grant--internal +

external, last three years) Appendix: vendor quotes; letters of commitment; evidence

you have access to facilities and resources outside SIUE◦ Do not use to include info, graphs that should be in the Narrative

C.V. (max 2 pages)◦ Include items directly relevant to project

SUBMIT IN ONE FILE, PDF FORMAT to siueresearch@siue.edu

Alignment with STEP goals ◦ not same as an abstract, speak directly to program goals

Intro and Background◦ Make an argument for significance, contribution to field◦ Don’t forget lit review

Procedures and Project Plan◦ Methods and why these are the best methods◦ If portions are risky, mention “plan B”◦ Plan needs to be tied to intended outcomes

Facilities and Resources ◦ even if it’s only your office and computer

Timeline ◦ chart format recommended

Anticipated Results◦ Publications and presentations◦ External grants –target specific grants, argue your

competitiveness USE FORM

AGENCY PROGRAM DEADLINE AMOUNT

External Funding PotentialYou must provide a written plan for external funding in the narrative. You will use this chart (pg.11 of the narrative) to list potential funding sources. The programs do not have to be an exact match, but use the section to build the argument that your planned STEP outcomes are supported by the funders' research mission, forecast, trajectories or current funding direction. Include argument for your research and competitiveness for external funding potential. In your discussion, include alternatives if the direction of the funders you list in the table changes.

Most reviewers make their decision in the first paragraph.

Audience: your “smartest undergraduate” or to the New York Times reader

Be straight forward, thorough, succinct: state what you’re going to do; argue why it’s important, say how you’re going to do it; state it again with an outlook to the project’s outcomes and life post-grant◦ Make sure the reviewers can envision every step of the project ◦ But keep in mind: where does this one-year project lead you in the long term?

Follow the guidelines exactly!

Include section headings

Keep the scope a feasible one for the STEP project period.◦ Expertise: Do you need a consultant to fill in gaps?

Itemize costs Show the math and justify why each cost is

included in the budget Salary time, compliments the narrative: why you

need this time over and above regularly assigned research time

The narrative should outline role of students, but this might be additional space to discuss their roles

Always good to include vendor estimates on larger purchases and why you chose that vendor specifically for this project

Allowable cost categories◦ call staff replacement during academic year◦ summer salary◦ student workers (hourly rate); G.A.s (salary)◦ commodities◦ contractual services◦ equipment◦ some telecommunications◦ travel – directly related to collection of data only◦ participant incentives◦ other

Costs related to the “ineligible activities” Salary for collaborators external to SIUE Office supplies and items that should

normally be provided by a department No funds are available for equipment

maintenance or repair Conference travel No funding is available for

telecommunication, except for the purposes of telephone surveys

If the investigator requests academic year assigned time for research, salary dollars are for replacement costs at the call staff rate for released time. Ask your department administrator what the total cost for one class would be.

Summer salary is at the investigator’s base salary ◦ Salary = $5000/mo. Four weeks at 100% effort = $5000

plus cost of living increase◦ Maxes out at $9,000 or one month, the lesser of the two◦ Contact our department regarding any potential

technical overloads.

When calculating salary dollars for summer salary, applicants should consider the typical 3% annual cost of living increase or any anticipated promotions. ($5000 x 1.03 = $5150)

If you wish to hire an SIUE faculty or staff member as a “consultant,” their compensation must be included under the “salary” budget line. ◦ Time for this individual is paid as either summer

time (a portion of the monthly base salary) or academic year assigned time (call staff rate)

Hiring students in summer: students must be enrolled at time of work on grant.

If working with a contractor outside SIUE, be sure to:

◦ Get a quote from this contractor for the scope of work they will perform, include in appendix

◦ International research: hiring citizens of other countries as “contractors” can be somewhat involved. Contact ORP if you are considering this.

No funds are available for travel or related costs occurring outside the project period, July 1 – June 30.

Travel funds are awarded only for non-local travel for the purposes of data collection

no consulting or attending professional conferences

international projects: please contact ORP to discuss your budget and planning

Cost for participant incentives are allowable.

Budget justification should include number and type of payments. Narratives should include a “Plan B” if you don’t get access to a population or number of participants.

Funding for equipment is limited and only for specialized items essential to the nature of the research.

Software is a contractual service.

Feel free to call ORP.

Let us help with budgets and narrative questions.

Have your colleagues read drafts.

Contact your chair and dean about your project, esp. if you budget in course buyout.

Read funded proposals in our STEP library at the Graduate School.

Lisa Lawrence, STEP Program Coordinator◦ llawren@siue.edu, x5887

Teri Gulledgetgulled@siue.edu, x3114

Esther Erkins, Director of Grant Developmenteerkins@siue.edu, x5886