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OSU RESEARCH
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

GENERAL RESEARCH FUND (GRF)


Current Solicitation

SPRING TERM 2007-08

Request for Proposals (notice in OSU Today and OSU This Week): Friday, December 28, 2007

Proposal Deadline: Monday, February 11, 2008**Please note: proposals must be submitted electronically. See application procedures for details. **
Award Announcement: Approximately Friday, April 4, 2008

  

Contents

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Description

Funds from the General Research Fund (GRF) are awarded to faculty for research that is not otherwise supported by organized or directed programs. The intent of the GRF is to enable faculty to carry out scholarly, creative work that should lead to the pursuit of other funding sources, or promote the development of scholarly activities. Projects funded through the GRF could include: pilot research, emergency funding, emerging research opportunities, new research field or new research field for investigator, developing research laboratories, or centrally-shared research resources.

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Eligibility

Faculty with the rank of instructor and above are eligible to serve as Principal Investigator. The Research Office does not restrict Research Associates from serving as Principal Investigator; however, some colleges do. Therefore, approval by the dean of the unit must be received prior to submission of a proposal to the program. Faculty with courtesy appointments may serve as Co-Investigator only.

The Research Council is interested in supporting new faculty. However, new faculty with uncommitted Research Office start-up funds are not eligible for consideration.

Principal Investigators may receive an award from the GRF only one time in a 24-month period. Principal investigators who reapply after the 24-month period are only eligible if the required final report from the previous award was submitted. (see Other Requirements)

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Award Information

Maximum award is $10,000. The Research Office has budgeted approximately $50,000 for the Spring 2007-08 solicitation.

Applicants will be notified via email of award decisions by the announcement date listed at the top of this page. For a detailed list of prior awards see OSU Incentive Programs: Funded Proposals.

If a faculty member submits two proposals simultaneously, as Principal Investigator on one proposal and Co-Principal Investigator on another, and both proposals are ranked high enough for funding, then only the proposal with that faculty member as Co-Principal Investigator would receive funding, so as not to disadvantage other investigators.

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Matching Funds

None required for this program.

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Use of Funds

Budget Items ELIGIBLE for support

  • Student hourly wages (Graduate students are required to submit a statement that this work is not a part of a thesis.)
  • Salaries/wages for research support personnel (e.g., technicians, postdocs, clerical)
  • Travel to conduct research or visit libraries/archives
  • Laboratory animal care
  • Equipment
  • Supplies
  • Services

Budget Items NOT ELIGIBLE for support

  • Investigator salaries
  • Faculty release time
  • Graduate assistantships
  • Graduate tuition
  • Bridging funds
  • Travel to meetings/conferences (includes related fees, lodging and travel expenses)
  • Expenses related to curriculum development, administration, instruction or training
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Application Procedure

The GRF application form is available in MS Word format. If you are unable to access this form, contact the Research Office at 737-8390.

  1. Download the MS Word file and complete all sections of the application form.
    • Complete items 1-8 within the space provided.
    • Item 9, Research Compliance: Due to the regulatory compliance requirements inherent in research the PI must submit the proper forms and receive approval from the appropriate compliance committee(s) prior to the start of the research. A complete application will include marking the appropriate boxes in the regulatory compliance section.
  2. Include the following supporting documentation for a complete proposal packet.
    • Items 11-12
    • Items 13-14, limit to approximately 200 words each to provide the information requested.
    • Item 15, limit to 5 additional pages (double-spaced, 12 pt. font, 1 inch margins) to provide the information requested.
    • Item 16, limit resume to 5 pages for Principal Investigator and 2 pages for each Co-Principal Investigator.
    • Item 17, use the layout format provided when detailing major budget categories. Itemize and justify the requested budget.
    • Item 18, "letters of endorsement" from individuals (non Co-PIs) who are in unique positions to comment on the merit of the proposal (optional).
  3. Obtain signatures from the Principal Investigator, Department Head/Chair and College Dean.
  4. Submit the completed proposal packet.
    • Email the completed PDF or MS Word file with supporting documentation (no signatures required) to debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu by 5:00 P.M. on the deadline date.
    • Print 1 original copy of the complete proposal packet with signatures and deliver to the Research Office, A312 Kerr Administration Building by 5:00 P.M. on the deadline date.

Incomplete proposal packets will not be considered for funding.

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Deadlines

All application materials, PDF or MS Word file and printed copy (including supporting documentation), must be received in the Research Office, A312 Kerr Administration Building, by the deadline indicated at the top of this page.

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Review Procedure

The Research Office reviews all proposals for eligibility. Those requests that qualify are given to the Research Council for competitive review and evaluation. The Research Council will provide a prioritized list of recommendations for funding to the Vice President for Research, based on the quality of the proposals as reflected in the review criteria. The Vice President for Research will make award decisions based on recommendations and available funds.

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Review Criteria

The Research Council is composed of faculty members appointed by the Faculty Senate Executive Committee who represent the diversity of the University's research enterprise. Proposals that describe the science and equipment needs to this general audience, providing clear explanations of the purpose, importance and methodologies of the proposed topic, and avoiding the use of jargon and unexplained acronyms, will fare better than those written to reviewers from a highly focused discipline perspective.

The Research Council evaluates each proposal using the following criteria: (Not in Order of Importance)

Scholarly Merit

  • Does the proposal provide a compelling argument for the research?
  • Will the proposed work significantly expand or diversify the investigator's artistic or scholarly base?
  • Does the proposed project represent a significant contribution to the investigator's field of study? If so, how?
  • Does the proposal have the potential to significantly affect areas outside of the investigator's field?
  • Is there a probability of publication or public dissemination?
  • Who is the audience for the proposed work, and why will they value it?

Nature of Proposal

  • Does the proposal provide a clear statement of overall project objectives?
  • Are the proposed methodologies appropriate and accurate?
  • Does the proposal provide clear and specific budget information? (for example, price quotes for specific models or quotes for repair)
  • What is the likelihood of definitive results and conclusions?
  • Is the text of the proposal well-written?
  • Is the requested personal data well-prepared?

Leverage

  • Will the project lead to further scholarly activity?
  • Does it improve chances for funding from existing sources?
  • Does the project offer opportunities for funding from new sources?
  • Does it allow researchers to change directions towards work that is likely to be funded?
  • Does the project help build research networks with potential industrial clients?

Reporting

  • If the investigator(s) has received previous funding from the Research Office, have all required reports been appropriately completed? (see Other Requirements)

Other Considerations

  • Is the investigator a new faculty member, or faculty trying to make a significant shift in their research focus?
  • Does the proposed work have real-world significance?
  • Is there a need for personal encouragement?
  • Does the investigator's college/department have limited research support?
  • Does the project have local relevance?
  • Is the project designed to help the investigator network more broadly within their field?
  • Are there contributions from other sources?
  • Is the timeline and budget proposed feasible?
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Other Requirements

From investigators receiving awards, a final report will be due 18 months after initiation of the project. The report should contain a brief summary of activities performed using GRF support. It should also state any additional scholarly activities the funding has made possible for the investigator(s). The report must list all external funding requests. (i.e. proposals) that have been developed and submitted as a result of this funding. Please submit the report electronically to Debbie Delmore, Coordinator of Special Programs at debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu.

Recipients who fail to submit the required report will be ineligible to receive future funding from the Research Office Incentive Programs.

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For More Information

Contact Debbie Delmore, Research Office at: | debbie.delmore@oregonstate.edu | 737-8390

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