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November 4, 2021

In This Issue ...

Announcements
Research Development in Practice
Funding Resources & Limited Submissions Opportunities
Events & Workshops

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Deadlines approach for Bold Challenges

Bold Challenges, a new cross-campus initiative to grow interdisciplinary collaborations around six pressing global challenges, is currently accepting applications from U-M faculty and teams to participate in the program's research accelerator. OVPR leadership presented a webinar last week outlining goals of the initiative and its research support mechanisms; the recording and slides are now available on the site.

Two phases of the research accelerator program will kick off in January 2022:

  • Incubation: This phase provides an opportunity for existing teams working on Bold Challenges themes to learn how to articulate the value, impact and urgency of their proposed research to a variety of stakeholders. Interested teams should apply by November 17.
  • Pollination: This phase provides opportunities for any U-M faculty member to meet potential collaborators and external partners and to brainstorm research solutions around six Bold Challenges topics. Interested faculty should apply by December 1

Contact Bold-Challenges@umich.edu with questions.

RFP opens for OVPR Large-Scale Planning Grants

The second cycle of OVPR’s Large-Scale Center and Initiative Planning Grants is open; applications are due January 10, 2022. PI-eligible faculty from all three U-M campuses are eligible to apply. These grants aim to promote impactful interdisciplinary research (that are not related to the Bold Challenges themes) and provide multi-unit teams with support for preparing and submitting competitive large-scale grant proposals in the range of $5M or more.
Submit your application
Learn more about the first cohort of grant recipients

Foundation Relations unveils new website


U-M Foundation Relations (FR) has launched a redesigned website for the research community, focused on helping faculty identify and apply for foundation funding. The site houses more than 100 open foundation grant opportunities at any time, in a sortable database, and offers insight on how to apply for funding from dozens of the largest U.S. foundations. The FR team also can help researchers connect with program officers at foundations who invite proposals through a closed process.

The website provides resources for documents commonly needed for preparing grant applications and general advice on writing proposals using foundation-friendly language. The FR team can support needs for finding funding, developing proposals, improving grant-writing skills and collaborating with foundations to secure funding for projects.

A second external-facing website, foundationrelations.umich.edu, promotes the outstanding work of U-M faculty and is intended to target program officers. The site features faculty success stories, announcements of foundations awards, and contact information for the FR team.  

Apply for Public Engagement Faculty Fellowship

Together with campus partners, the Center for Academic Innovation invites applications for the 2022 cohort of the Public Engagement Faculty Fellowship. Applications are due December 1.

The program is designed for faculty who are interested in reflecting deeply on past and future public engagement efforts and is most appropriate for individuals who are interested in experimenting in or leveling up their public engagement practice. All levels of experience, as well as interests in any form of public engagement, are welcome.

U-M faculty from all schools and colleges on the Ann Arbor campus are encouraged to apply to the PEFF program—including tenured and tenure-track faculty, research faculty, curatorial faculty, clinical faculty and lecturers.

Learn more

Apply for mini-grants for anti-racism digital research

The U-M Library, LSA Technology Services, and National Center for Institutional Diversity’s Anti-Racism Collaborative have announced a pilot initiative to support digital scholarship that advances work in the areas of anti-racism and social justice. The Anti-Racist Digital Research Initiative is a mini-grant program providing funding to help develop research project prototypes and provide planning support for the entire life-cycle of a project, from conceptualization through planning for preservation. This pilot initiative will award up to 6 grants of $5,000 each, with a reserve of $1,000 to cover migration costs for contingent faculty or graduate students. Applications are due November 19.

Learn more

Explore RD with 'fireside chats'

The U-M Research Development Community of Practice (RDCP) will host a virtual "fireside chat" from noon-1 pm on November 16. This is a great opportunity for any member of the U-M community who is interested in learning more about RD as a field and/or as a career path. Participants will hear how colleagues came to RD, what RD entails and how to incorporate RD strategies into unit activities to support researchers. Panelists include Kate Kusiak Galvin (Civil & Environmental Engineering), Meagan Ramsey (Michigan Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care), Chris Tiffany (School of Education) and Jocelyn Webber (School of Information); Jill Jividen (OVPR) will moderate.

Research Development is a broad field encompassing proposal development, grant writing and editing, funding expertise, team science, science communications, research impact and more.

Colleagues also are invited to join the RDCP on Slack, to learn about events, network and share best practices.

Register for the event

Pitch perfect

Jill Jividen, PhD, Director of Research Development, OVPR
Federal sponsors review tens of thousands of proposals each year, and considering current pay lines, only a fraction of those applications will be funded. When grants are so competitive, what can writers do to make their proposals more persuasive? Some elements are in the language and mechanics of the writing, but others are in your preparation. Here are some tips for crafting a strong pitch for funding: 

Impact statement: Remember that grantmakers will only fund research to support their mission, not yours. Re-familiarize yourself with the funder’s mission, and clearly state how your research supports that mission. Make this connection on your Specific Aims or Project Summary (or equivalent) page. Whether it includes improved health, an invention, advancing a scientific field or other outcomes, it is imperative to describe the potential impact of your work--even (especially) when the payoff may be years down the road.

Assessment: Have you done enough legwork and literature review to ensure that your question is significant? That it fills a gap in knowledge? That it moves your field forward? Have you explained this well enough?

Preparation: Much of persuasion is convincing reviewers that you are the right investigator to do this research. Do you have enough experience in your field or with your chosen methodologies? If there are weaknesses in your expertise, have you chosen collaborators that complement your knowledge and skills?

Sell yourself: Recent changes in biosketch formats deemphasize publication lists and allow investigators to describe other significant activities and outputs. While dissemination of results remains crucial, sections like NIH’s "Contributions to Science" provide an opportunity to showcase experiences and teamwork. 

Learn from others: Read examples of funded proposals to see how others have been successful in persuading sponsors to fund their research. Find the U-M Proposal Library, among other valuable resources, on the U-M Research Development website. 

Get feedback: Always have your proposal reviewed BEFORE you submit. Feedback from peers, mentors and grant editors--with enough time to revise--is essential to success.

Resources:

FUNDING RESOURCES

Internal Funding 

​All currently open U-M campus-wide internal funding programs are posted in Research Commons.

LIMITED SUBMISSIONS OPPORTUNITIES

Following is a select list of Calls for Intent to Submit and Limited Submissions internal competitions, coordinated by the U-M Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and the Medical School. For a comprehensive list of currently open opportunities, visit the OVPR Limited Submissions Homepage
Nov. 15, 2021- Internal Deadline
Dec. 15, 2021- Sponsor Deadline
Funding: $10,000-$50,000
Limit: 1
Dec. 13, 2021- Internal Deadline
May 1, 2022- Sponsor Deadline
Funding: $500,000-$5,000,000
Limit: up to 4 concepts 
Science and Technology Centers: Integrative Partnerships (STC)
Dec. 6, 2021- Internal Deadline
Feb. 1, 2022- Sponsor Deadline
Funding: $30,000,000
Limit: 3
Apply to UMOR
Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award
Dec. 6, 2021 - Internal Deadline
Feb. 2, 2022 - Sponsor Deadline
Funding: $100,000
Limit: 1

EXTERNAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Below are select external funding opportunities. For assistance finding additional federal and private funding opportunities, researchers may access:
NSF Building Research Capacity for New Faculty in Biology (BRC-BIO)
Proposal deadline: Jan. 30, 2022
Funding: Fellows: $450k over 3 years, plus $50K for equipment
NSF Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC)
Proposal deadline: Jan. 20, 2022
Funding: See Program Solicitation

 
Early Career Research Program (DOE)
Proposal deadline: Jan. 20, 2022
Funding: $750K
Program areas:  Advanced Scientific Computing, Basic Energy Sciences, Biological & Environmental; Fusion Energy; Nuclear Physics; Isotope R&D; Accelerator R&D
DARPA Young Faculty Award
Proposal deadline:  Jan. 25, 2022
Funding: $500k over 2 years
Areas of interest: Biological Technologies, Defense Sciences, Information Innovation, Microsystems Technology, Strategic Technology, Tactical Technology
 

EVENTS & WORKSHOPS

Customizing Your Search for External Funding

Institute for Research on Women & Gender (IRWG)
Friday, November 5
3-3:45 pm
REGISTER

Responsible Conduct of Research for K
Scholars

Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research
4 sessions, November 11-December 13
REGISTER

Broader Impacts (BI) Partnerships

Advancing Research Impact in Society
Wednesday, November 17
1-3 pm; $100
REGISTER

Applying for IRWG's Seed Grants

Institute for Research on Women & Gender (IRWG)
Friday, December 3
3-3:45 pm
REGISTER

Introduction to Digital Humanities Projects

U-M Library
Friday, December 3
1-2:30 pm
REGISTER

Broader Impacts Identify

Advancing Research Impact in Society
Thursday, December 16
1-3 pm; $100
REGISTER

K Writing Workshop

Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research
3 sessions, January 26, February 15, March 9
5:30-8 pm
REGISTER
If you would like your event added to the newsletter, please contact UMORblueprint@umich.edu.
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Research Blueprint, produced by the University of Michigan Office of the Vice President for Research, aims to drive awareness of and encourage participation in research development opportunities across campus. If you have news that you would like to share with the U-M research development community, please contact UMORblueprint@umich.edu.
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