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Dear Arts & Sciences Faculty,
Our spring semester newsletter brings new opportunities and new resources to support your research endeavors. We also clarify the timeline and process for external proposal preparation to bring us in line with new OSP guidance. We hope you find this issue helpful!
~ Amy Adamson, Associate Dean for Research
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New OSP program offers free proposal assistance
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Proposal development services now available for UNCG faculty
OSP is partnering with Hanover Research Services to provide proposal development services to UNCG faculty -- at no cost to you or your unit. Hanover can assist with prospecting, proposal revision, and proposal review. Lead times for requested services vary from 1-4 weeks. Instructions and details are on the Project Request Form. Email completed forms to Kelsey Okoro (ckokoro@uncg.edu) and cc OSP (research@uncg.edu). Learn more >>
Indirect cost reduction / waiver request form
UNCG's federally negotiated indirect rate of 45.5% is typically applied to all external proposals, unless the sponsor has an explicit policy that dictates another rate. Sometimes a sponsor has no clear indirect cost policy. In this case, principal investigators (PIs) must request a reduction or waiver of indirect (F&A) costs, or the full rate will be applied. PIs should submit the form at least 2 weeks before sponsor deadline. Get the form>>
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| Understanding OSP's 5-Day Deadline
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If finalized less than 24 hrs before the sponsor deadline, proposal is considered a "Red Zone submission."
The graphic above assumes the sponsor deadline is Friday, Week 2, at 5 PM.
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Finalize Full Proposal 5 Business Days Before Deadline or Risk the "Red Zone"
To ensure timely review of an external proposal, UNCG's Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) should receive the completed proposal at least 5 business days before the sponsor deadline. (If UNCG will be a subrecipient, the "sponsor deadline" is determined by the lead institution.)
In terms of Cayuse routing, this means the "internal processing form" (or IPF) must reach "OSP GS Review" status 5 days prior to the scheduled submission date. This also means all proposal components, including the narrative and references, should be finalized and uploaded to Cayuse and the sponsor platform. If a proposal is finalized /uploaded less than 24 hrs before the sponsor deadline, OSP considers it a Red Zone submission, which could be submitted without review.
Submitting a proposal without OSP review increases the risk a proposal is "returned (by the sponsor) without review." It also puts the project at risk of significant or unworkable problems in the post-award phase. Learn more>>
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| Clarifying CAS OOR Proposal Process
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Recommended CAS Timeline
Given OSP's 5-day deadline, the CAS Office of Research has developed new guidelines to ensure grant proposals receive proper review and timely submission. The internal timeframe below is in relation to the sponsor deadline.
- 6 weeks prior to sponsor deadline (recommended): tell CAS OOR a proposal is coming by completing the intent to apply form, then begin work with CAS Pre-Award.
- 10 business days prior - provide finalized "business documents" to CAS Pre-Award for review (budget, budget justification, personnel docs, equipment, letters of support, etc.)
- 8 business days prior - upload all documents & route Cayuse IPF
- 5 business days prior - upload finalized project narrative and references
Complicating Factors
When complicating factors are present, a longer lead time is advised. Such factors include: incoming or outgoing subawards, consultants, UNCG co-investigators who are outside the College, and international partners.
Submitting the IPF and Sponsor Application: Basic Steps
The PI and CAS Pre-Award admin work together to prepare the Cayuse IPF and sponsor application. Learn more by reviewing Start A Proposal on our website, or see below.
- Create the Cayuse IPF - Either the PI or CAS OOR can create the IPF. We prefer to create the IPF for the PI, and then add the PI to the IPF so they can access. If the PI creates the IPF, the PI should add the Pre-Award admin as a "Proposal Editor."
- Start the Sponsor Application - Depending on the sponsor, either the PI or Pre-Award admin can start the sponsor application. For NSF proposals, for example, the PI must begin the proposal but then ca add the Pre-Award admin.
- Upload Required Documents & Proposal Elements - Finalized documents are uploaded to the Cayuse IPF and/or sponsor application. Either PI or Pre-Award admin can upload docs. Some docs -- like the course buyout form - are internal docs that belong in Cayuse but not the sponsor application. The Pre-Award admin can advise.
- Route the Cayuse IPF - Once all required info is entered into the Cayuse IPF and all documents are attached, the IPF is routed by either the PI or Pre-Award admin. We prefer to route the IPF so that we can double-check the info one final time. After the IPF is routed, only OSP can alter the info on the IPF form or delete an attachment.
- Certify the IPF and Complete COI - When the IPF is routed, the PI receives a system-generated email reminder to certify the proposal and complete a research-based COI disclosure. UNCG Co-PIs listed on the IPF must also certify and complete COI, but UNCG Co-Investigators need only complete COI. This step can be a bottleneck that keeps the proposal from moving forward.
- Department and Unit Approvals - Departments and units in the routing chain must approve the IPF, and the COI office must approve the disclosure before the IPF can rearch OSP review. This is another potential bottleneck.
- OSP Budget Review - The OSP budget reviewer examines internal and sponsor budget documents and brings questions or concerns to the Pre-Award admin. The Pre-Award admin consults with PI if significant budget revisions are needed.
- OSP Grant Specialist Review - The OSP Grant Specialist reviews the complete, final sponsor application, including proposal narrative and all business documents, against the NOFO guidelines. When this review is complete, the Grant Specialist confirms the PI is ready to submit. If a proposal does not reach this stage until the "Red Zone," it may be submitted without review.
- Application Submission - Depending on the sponsor, either the PI or authorized organization representative (AOR) submits the final application. When UNCG is seeking a subaward, the Pre-Award admin can send requested docs to the lead institution. The final version of the application and submission confirmation are uploaded to Cayuse.
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NSF releases NEW version of PAPPG, effective May 20, 2024.
NSF has released the new version of its Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG, aka "the Papp Guide.") Among the changes, applicants will no longer include "Synergistic Activities" in the Biosketch, and a Mentoring Plan will be required for proposals that include funding graduate students and/or postdocs. Learn more >>
NIH requires all Senior/ Key Personnel to have eRA Commons ID
In April 2021, NIH announced that persons listed as Senior/Key Personnel must have an eRA Commons ID. Beginning in January 2024, applications may no longer be submitted without providing an eRA Commons ID for every listed senior/key personnel. If you need an eRA Commons ID, or you are new to UNCG and need to update your ID, please contact OSP by emailing research@uncg.edu. Learn more >>
NIH clarifies allowable costs related to participation of Human Subjects
How can investigators enhance inclusion, recruitment, and retention of research study participants? How about using NIH funds to provide childcare, gift cards, or meals? These are examples of allowable costs, according to a new NIH one-pager. Learn more >>
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Scholars Travel Fund
STF awards provide up to $750 (with a $375 match)! Tenure-stream faculty may apply for one award per fiscal year to support domestic travel to present scholarship at an academic conference. Apply Now >>
Proposal Preparation Program (P3)
Provides up to $3,000 to help faculty members prepare an external funding proposal. Funds can be used to collect or analyze pilot data, purchase equipment, travel to archives, or other activities that will lead to a funding proposal. Apply at least 6 months before your deadline. Learn more >>
Funding from other units...
Publication & Exhibitions Subsidies are available from ORE to support publication expenses (including indexing), page charges, exhibition charges, etc. Faculty can seek up to $1000 per academic year. Learn more >>
Kohler Awards are administered by the International Programs Center to support international teaching, research, student programs, or special projects. The next Spring 2024 application deadline is March 15. Learn more >>
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| Training, Events, and Other Opportunities
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Post-Award Grant Administration Virtual Round Table
Feb. 6 @ 11 AM. A one-hour discussion to address best practices for establishing a grant award in your department, including understanding terms and conditions, setting up a grant folder, personnel actions, procurement, and reporting. Led by Contract & Grant Accounting. RSVP here >>
Post-Award Grant Management: Contracts vs. Grants
March 18 @ 1 PM. This session will concentrate on the differences between contract management and grant management, including such topics as: Terms & Conditions, Cost Reimbursement vs Fixed Fee Agreements, Budget Management, deliverables, and closeout. Hosted by Contract & Grant Accounting. RSVP here >>
- “APA and Inclusive Language” by Amy Harris Houk, Thursday Feb. 8 @ 1pm (Sign-up)
- “Alternatives to Scopus” by Candace Jacobs, Thursday Feb. 15 @ 11am (Sign-up)
- “Bullet Journaling and Research” by Jenny Dale, Tuesday March 26 @ 11am (Sign-up)
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For Students!
Webinars Worth Watching
This annual competition for UNCG graduate students provides a chance to win cash prizes for the most effective research presentation (10 minutes). Competition will be held February 19-21, with final round on February 23. Learn more >>
Undergraduate Research and Creativity Award (URCA)
The URCA helps faculty and students partner in meaningful projects to advance their field of study. Use funds for research supplies, travel, or student stipend. URCA provides up to $3000 for the student and $500 for faculty.
Deadline for Summer 2024: Feb. 11, 2024
Deadline for Fall/Spring 2024-2025: April 14, 2024 | Learn more >>
Community URCA
The community-based research initiation grant supports proposals that represent collaborative partnerships among community partner, student, and faculty teams. Funding is available for project expenses (up to $1500), for an undergraduate researcher stipend (up to $3000), and/or for a graduate researcher stipend (up to $1000).
Deadline for Fall/Spring 2024-2025: April 14, 2024 | Learn more >>
Thomas Undergraduate Research and Creativity Expo
Carolyn & Norwood Thomas Undergraduate Research and Creativity Expo is the campus-wide celebration of undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activities. All students engaged in faculty-mentored scholarly inquiry are encouraged to participate. Students are eligible to compete for program recognition, including monetary awards.
Submission due by Feb. 28, 2024 | Expo to be held April 10, 2024 | Learn more >>
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| External Funding Opportunities
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NC Biotech Flash Grant Cycle 3
Up to $27,000 (including a $7000 intern supplement) to help turn innovative research ideas into high-potential life sciences technologies. Deadline: March 20. 2024.
NEH Fellowships
Up to $60,000 to individual scholars pursuing projects that embody exceptional research, rigorous analysis, and clear writing. Applications must clearly articulate a project’s value to humanities scholars, general audiences, or both. Deadline: April 10, 2024.
Russell Sage Foundation
The foundation seeks to strengthen methods, data, and theoretical core of the social sciences as a means of diagnosing social problems and improving social policies. LOIs for funding in its core programs and special initiatives are due April 16, 2024.
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Chunjiang Zhu (Computer Science) and three CS faculty colleagues received a $372,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for an REU proposal, “Graph Learning and Network Analysis: From Foundations to Applications.” The project will provide research training to 10 undergraduates per year over the next 3 years. Faculty members Qianqian Tong, Jing Deng, and Minjeong Kim are also part of the project. Read the abstract.
Ayalew Osena (Biology) received two grants recently! The National Science Foundation has awarded him an $818,000 grant for a 3-year project: "TRTech-PGR: PlantTransform: Boosting Agrobacterium-mediated transformation efficiency in the orphan crop tef (Eragrostis tef) for trait improvement." Read the abstract. Osena also received $30,000 in USDA funds from NC A&T State University for the project "Enabling Farm Resilience Using Indigenous and Niche Vegetables: Production and Plant Health, Bioactive Compounds, Food Transformation and Profitability."
Art Murphy (Anthropology) has been awarded $1,043,000 from the NC DHHS Division of Child and Family Well-Being to continue the long-running "Recipe for Success" project. Recipe for Success provides direct nutrition, social marketing, and policy, systems, and environmental change programs (PSE) to SNAP eligible and/or receiving individuals and households in Guilford, Rockingham, Randolph, Davidson, Stokes and Forsyth counties. Learn more.
Susan Keane (Psychology) received a grant from the federal Health and Human Services administration for the project "Recruiting, Retaining, and Supporting the Training of Clinical Psychologists from Disadvantaged Backgrounds to Enter Primary Care Settings and Medically Underserved Communities." The $467,000 award is part of a $2.1 M total grant first secured in 2020. The project provides scholarships to high-achieving students with demonstrated financial need who are pursuing a graduate degree in clinical psychology at UNCG.
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A new mileage reimbursement rate went into effect on January 1, 2024: 67 cents per mile. This rate is approved by the NC Office of State Budget and Management, and it is the business standard mileage rate set by the IRS. Employees can be reimbursed at this rate when using their personal vehicle for state business. (The previous rate was 65.5 cents per mile.) Find more info about travel reimbursement in the University Travel Manual, available here.
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