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Research Discovery Workshop and Seed Funding

The Office of the VCR is organizing a Research Discovery Workshop focusing on climate and the environment. The workshop will consist of brief, five-minute talks and research poster presentations by SIU faculty. Faculty who participate and build partnerships to pursue external funding will be eligible to compete for VCR seed funding. This document provides preliminary details of the workshop. More information on the workshop with date, time, location, agenda, registration link, etc., as well as details of the seed funding program, will be provided.

 

SIU Technology & Innovation Expo

The 2023 SIU Technology and Innovation Expo (TIE) on October 5 will welcome SIU alumni, faculty and staff from the technology, business and medical sectors; corporate and industrial partners; representatives from capital investment communities; decision-makers from state and federal governmental and regulatory spheres; and key media partners as we share the impact of SIU’s researchers and inventors on the future. To register for this free event or for more information, click here.

 

Save the Date for Let's Talk Research Series

The Office of Research Compliance will host several workshops and talks during the fall semester. These events are part of the Let’s Talk Research series, sponsored by the Vice Chancellor for Research and Dean of the Graduate School. The research compliance focused sessions provide an opportunity for faculty, researchers and students to learn and engage in educational discussions about compliance topics. Mark your calendars, and we will send out more information regarding each session as the dates get closer. See the full schedule here. The workshops with details available:

The 3 R's in Wildlife Research

September 28, 2023
1 to 2 p.m.
Agriculture Building Room 170

How I Learned to be a Mentor

October 12, 2023
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Zoom Link TBD

A conversation of faculty experiences in mentoring students. This session may be used to partially fulfill NIH RCR requirements.

 

Jefferson Science Fellowships Application Now Open

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine is pleased to announce a call for applications for the 2024 Jefferson Science Fellowships (JSF). These fellowships serve as an innovative model for engaging the American science, engineering and medical communities in the U.S. foreign policy and international development process through a one-year immersive experience at the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The application is open now, with a deadline of October 17, 2023. Click to learn more.

 

Requirement to Use SciENcv for NSF Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support Documents

The mandate to use SciENcv for preparation of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support documents will go into effect for new proposals submitted or due on or after October 23, 2023.

We strongly encourage investigators to create their SciENcv account and begin generating NSF-compliant Biosketches and Current and Pending Support documents by September 1, 2023.

Background

NSF has partnered with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to use SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae, which enables researchers to assemble their professional information, including expertise, employment, education and professional accomplishments, to generate NSF-compliant personnel documents. Adoption of this single, common profile system for federal grants reduces administrative burden for researchers.

Using SciENcv

This job aid will assist you in creating your SciENcv account and creating the required documents.

Using your ORCID iD with SciENcv

Researchers are encouraged to obtain an ORCID iD (Open Researcher & Contributor ID) to help them prepare NSF documents using SciENcv. An ORCID iD is a free persistent digital identifier that distinguishes you from every other researcher. ORCID is a space to collect all of your scholarly works, from traditional articles to art works and dance performances to datasets and more.

Register for an ORCID iD.

Linking your ORCID account in SciENcv will import your profile information and publication data into your SciENcv profile. See the job aid for more instructions.

Quick Links

 

Limited Submission Opportunity National Science Foundation: Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI)

Limited Submission Internal Deadline: July 21, 2023 (see below for requirements)
Selection of Applicants for full proposal submission: August 11, 2023
NSF Submission Window: October 16, 2023 – November 15, 2023

The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program serves to increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training. An MRI award supports the acquisition or development of a multi-user research instrument that is, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs. MRI provides support to acquire critical research instrumentation without which advances in fundamental science and engineering research may not otherwise occur. MRI also provides support to develop next-generation research instruments that open new opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering research. Additionally, an MRI award is expected to enhance research training of students who will become the next generation of instrument users, designers and builders. An MRI proposal may request up to $4 million for either acquisition or development of a research instrument. Each organization may submit no more than two submissions in Track 1, no more than one submission in Track 2 and no more than one submission in Track 3.

•Track 1: Track 1 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,000 and less than $1,400,000.
•Track 2: Track 2 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $1,400,000 up to and including $4,000,000.
•Track 3: Track 3 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,000 and less than or equal to $4,000,000 for requests that include the purchase, installation,operation and maintenance of equipment and instrumentation to reduce consumption of helium.

•Complete and Submit a Proposal Notification
•Submit a complete Pre-Proposal consisting of:
o A project description describing the scope of the project, including at least five to seven major users and their research subsections.
o Project budget, including an equipment quote and a plan to support personnel to maintain the instrument;
o Three-page biosketch for each PI/co-PI; and
o If the proposal is a resubmission, provide reviewer comments as well as a response to comments.

Incomplete Pre-Proposals will not be considered. Please see MRI Town Hall PowerPoint for additional information.

Interested applicants must submit the following information to ospa@siu.edu no later than close
of business on Friday, July 21, 2023:

Complete and submit a Proposal Notification consisting of:
o A project description describing the scope of the project, including at least five to seven major users and their research subsections.
o Project budget, including an equipment quote and a plan to support personnel to maintain the instrument;
o Three-page biosketch for each PI/co-PI; and
o If the proposal is a resubmission, provide reviewer comments as well as a response to comments.

 

Changes to Approvals for Sponsored Projects

Sponsored projects administration is a shared effort between the principal investigator (PI), fiscal officer (FO) and the university. The PI is responsible and accountable for the management and administration of their award within the constraints imposed by the sponsor and in accordance with university policy. Along with the PI and FO, the university is legally and financially responsible and accountable to the sponsor for the performance and proper use of funds for the award, and relies on the oversight of the PI and FO in fulfilling its stewardship role.

All costs charged to a sponsored project must be in conformance with the award terms and conditions of the sponsored project, the Uniform Guidance in the case of federal sponsored projects, federal and state law, and university policy.

Effective July 1, 2023, OSPA approval is no longer required on travel vouchers for domestic travel or purchases of  $9,999.99 or less, processed via an invoice distribution form (excluding equipment and furniture). For more information detailing the updated approval process for these transactions as well as a reminder of transactions that do require OSPA prior approval, click here.

Please check with OSPA Grant Assignee before charging any expenditures not included in the approved sponsor budget.

If you have questions or concerns regarding these changes, please contact your OSPA Grant Assignee.

ORAU Innovation Partnerships Grant

ORAU Innovation Partnerships Grant Program (Formerly Events Sponsorship Grant Program)

https://www.orau.org/university-partnerships/member-grant-programs/events-sponsorship.html

As previously announced, the ORAU Events Sponsorship Grant Program has been restructured and is now called the ORAU Innovation Partnerships Grant Program. For the remaining months of this fiscal year, the program will be open to all member universities regardless of if the member has received prior grant funding. The Innovation Partnerships Grant completion date is September 30, 2023.

Applications must be focused on one or more of the FY23 ORAU core focus areas (see below) and an ORAU subject matter expert will serve as a collaborator with the university PI submitting the grant application. 

FY23 Innovation Partnerships Grant Focus Areas and Example Topics:

  • Climate and Environment - sustainability, environmental justice, clean energy, resilience to climate hazards, emerging technologies, measurement and impact assessment, diversity and inclusion, policy and data science and analytics.
  • Health Equity - telemedicine, telehealth, health literacy, health communication, behavioral and mental health, health disparities, diversity and inclusion, policy and data science and analytics.
  • Future of the STEM Workforce - new ways of teaching and learning (K-16), transformative workforce development and mentoring, diversity and inclusion, policy, data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

The goal of this grant program change is to drive new opportunities for university consortium members and ORAU experts to formulate meaningful collaborations.

Funding is currently available for FY23 awards so consider applying today! 

 

VCR Funds to Upgrade Equipment

The Vice Chancellor for Research Office is announcing a program to support faculty to purchase, replace, repair or upgrade research equipment. 

The distribution of indirect funds (F&A) now has seven percent being returned to an account for “Research Facility Support.” These funds are placed into a separate BP and are dedicated to research instrument maintenance, repair or replacement of major shared research equipment, and the purchase of research equipment.

Since the expected funds will be limited, the Research Committee of the Graduate Council has agreed to evaluate requests on a quarterly basis. The Research Committee will rank the requests and the VCR will determine which can be funded based on the actual availability of funds. These decisions will be communicated to the requesters and they will have the opportunity to appeal the decision to the VCR.

The application information for this fund is on the VCR website under https://vcresearch.siu.edu/research-support/EquipmentSupportFund.pdf. 


VCR Travel Funds Program

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research announces a program to provide partial funding to assist researchers with travel to funding agencies, program offices, industry or foundations to explore sponsored program opportunities.

The applicants must hold the academic rank of Assistant Professor or higher and be employed on a full‐time basis in a tenured or tenure-track position; or hold the rank of Research Assistant Professor or higher and be employed on a full‐time basis.

Travel grants are for up to half of total travel costs, to be matched by centers, schools, colleges or the traveler. A faculty member may receive up to $1,000 each academic year under this program. Funding is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis based on available funds. Total funding is limited and awards are not guaranteed.

Details of the program and the application form: 


NIH Updated Version of Application Forms for Deadlines on or after January 25, 2023

In response to their new Data Management and Sharing Policy, NIH has announced an updated version of their application forms, for use with opportunities with deadlines on or after January 25, 2023. When initiating an NIH application in ASSIST, please be sure to select the appropriate set of forms for your application; see the full text here:  https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-22-195.html. 

An important change to note is the ability to include “Data Management and Sharing Costs” in both the Modular and R&R Budgets. This will require an Additional Narrative Justification for the Modular Budget, but will be a separate line item within the R&R Budget and will include a brief Data Management and Sharing Justification.

If you have questions about the new Policy or Forms, please contact our office at ospa@siu.edu.