Office of Research & Sponsored Programs

February is here, the semester is in full swing, and we’re inching ever closer to spring break. Let us help keep your research momentum going in the meantime!

— Your friends at ORSP

Last month, ORSP convened the first Research Clusters meeting to bring together faculty around a shared goal: strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and positioning SHSU for larger, more competitive external funding opportunities that advance our research enterprise.

During the meeting, ORSP outlined the purpose and structure of the clusters, highlighted how clusters align with institutional priorities, and discussed how they can serve as hubs for idea development, team science, and strategic proposal planning. The conversation emphasized the value of connecting researchers across disciplines, leveraging existing expertise and infrastructure, and creating clearer pathways from early-stage ideas to externally funded projects.

Following the meeting, ORSP has been developing dedicated Research Cluster webpages that provide a central home for each cluster. These pages will include an overview of the cluster’s focus areas, key research themes and objectives, upcoming events, curated funding opportunities, and ways for faculty to get involved or express interest.

More details, including how to engage with a cluster and upcoming opportunities, will be shared soon. We’re excited about the energy and collaboration already taking shape and look forward to continuing this work with faculty across campus.

ORSP is hosting a series of events to help support your research, proposal development, and funding goals throughout the Spring semester. Starting with:

GrantForward Basics: Smart Grant Searching 

GrantForward Basics provides an overview of how to use GrantForward to search for funding opportunities that align with your research interests. This session will emphasize creating, refining, and maintaining an active GrantForward research profile to receive accurate and timely funding recommendations.

Date: February 17, 11:00 a.m.

Location: Virtual

NIH 101: Getting Started with NIH Funding 

NIH 101 is a beginner-friendly overview of how NIH funding works. This session will break down NIH structure, funding mechanisms, and the basics of the application and review process to help attendees feel more confident getting started.

Sessions:

1. Main Campus

     February 18, 2:00 p.m., ORSP 173G

2. COM Conroe

     February 25, 1:00 p.m., COM 210A

Once your proposal becomes an active award, the Office of Research Administration (ORA) is here to help. We support researchers with post-award needs like budget updates, spending reviews, award terms, cost allowability, and financial reporting, so your project stays on track from start to finish.

When should I contact ORA?

Reach out when you need to:

• Make changes to your award budget or personnel

• Review spending or plan upcoming expenses

• Clarify award terms or cost allowability

• Prepare financial reports or manage post-award questions

We're here to help, early and often!

Explore our Opportunities Spotlight, a curated database of grant opportunities to support your research and projects. Stay ahead with the latest funding calls and find the right fit for your work.

Updated weekly—because the best funding matches keep rolling in!

Find it anytime in our Find Funding page.

The Office of Assessment has funding available for assessment-related activities in the form of competitive mini-grants.

Who's eligible to apply?

These grants are available to all SHSU faculty and staff to support new or ongoing assessment practices within programs, offices, or departments, or to help fund travel to make assessment-related presentations at a professional conference.

What's the award amount?

Eligible recipients may request up to $1,000.

What's the deadline?

Grant applications will be accepted beginning February 2, 2026, with a submission deadline of May 22, 2026.

All applicants must complete the Assessment Mini-Grant Application and submit it to thamrick@shsu.edu.

Application Documents:

• Full Application

• Rubric

SHSU Grant Activity as of January 2026

FY26 (YTD)

106 Proposals submitted for $59,380,577

40 Proposals awarded for $17,122,780

FY25 (YTD)

86 Proposals submitted for $80,820,548

27 Proposals awarded for $6,772,966

Students are invited to take part in a 45-minute research study exploring how different video and AI-supported lessons affect learning and user experience.

Participants will watch a short lesson, complete a brief quiz, and share feedback through questionnaires. Some lessons include interactive AI or virtual instructors. The study will take place in Dan Rather 209, and light refreshments will be provided.

SHSU student Michael La Fontaine presented his research at the 2025 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) in San Antonio last November. He shared findings from his gain- and loss-of-function research on the fnbp1l gene, which encodes a protein involved in cell signaling and cytoskeletal dynamics that plays roles in immune function and cellular developmentand. He also had the opportunity to connect with researchers and graduate programs from across the country.

As his first conference experience, Michael described ABRCMS as both inspiring and impactful, opening doors to post-baccalaureate and graduate research opportunities.

Explore our collection of webinars, trainings, templates, and other tools to support your research. We’re committed to continuous improvement, so feel free to share any feedback or suggestions for new resources.

Our team is always accessible, and ready to support you at any stage of your research endeavors.

If you are still in the ideation stage or looking for funding opportunities, reach out to our Research and Proposal Development team.

If you have already identified a grant and are ready to begin developing your proposal, please submit a Pre-Proposal Notification (PPN) form, and our team will reach out to assist.

Do you have a project, event, or success story you'd like to share with the SHSU community? We're always looking to highlight the incredible work happening across campus. Submit a content request form and your story could be featured in our next newsletter!

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