UCHC/Storrs and Regional Campus Incentive Grants (UCIG)

Guidelines

Funding period: September 1, 2008 – August 31, 2009. Maximum one-year.
Funding amount: up to $50,000
Application Deadline: August 15, 2008
Proposal Submission: Proposals submitted via email (.pdf format preferred) to Larisa.Hull@uconn.edu.
Awards announced: Early Fall
Appointed joint peer-review committee - UCHC and Storrs and Regional Campus faculty
For further information: Larisa.Hull@uconn.edu or 860-486-6378

Eligibility: Tenured or Tenure-Track faculty members including: Assistant Professors, Associate Professors and Full Professors. In addition, Assistant, Associate or Full Professors in Residence and Associate or Full Research Professors may apply.

Program Goal: To promote inter-campus research programs among the researchers at the UCHC and other UConn campuses, emphasizing interdisciplinary interactions, and new interactions. Priority will be given to research proposals that bring investigators from two or more disciplines together and can be incorporated into the University’s Clinical Translational Award (CTSA) application. Grants will not support PI salary.

Categories of Support: Requests may be made for research assistant (primarily Graduate Assistants and student labor), equipment, supplies, travel, per diem and contractual services related to the research.

Proposal Cover Sheet and Format.
The proposal cover sheet (sections 1-7) must be complete. Proposal format is flexible. Complete section 8-15 as a word document, using a 12 pt. font and appropriate margins, referring to each section as indicated. Pages may be single spaced. Number the pages sequentially to follow the proposal cover sheet.

8. Project Abstract. Succinctly state the objectives, methods to be employed, whether human, animal subjects or rDNA will be used, and the significance of the proposed activity to the advancement of knowledge. The abstract should be informative to other persons working in the same or related fields and largely understandable to a lay reader.

9. Proposed Budget. Provide details with appropriate justification. Refer to the Budget Preparation Instructions noted below.

BUDGET CATEGORY,
SPECIFIC ITEM AND DETAILS      AMOUNT      JUSTIFICATION

10. Extramural Support. Include information on extramural research proposal activities for the last THREE YEARS in this section. The UCIG-Panel is interested in obtaining a picture of your efforts, whether successful or not, to secure funding from external sponsors. If you have NEVER applied for or received extramural support, you must provide an explanation. In addition, if you are a Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on a project be sure to list the Principal Investigator (PI), the total budget for the project and the total budget for your part of the project. Pending and rejected proposals are important - be sure to list them. Note that "N/A" or "None" is not an acceptable answer. If you have not applied for extramural funding an explanation is required. If you leave this section blank, your application will be returned.

For each extramural support entry provide the following information; use the headings as listed:
PROJECT TITLE
PI/Co-PI (indicate whether you are a PI or Co-PI)
EXTRAMURAL SPONSOR
PROJECT PERIOD
DIRECT COSTS (If Co-PI, list total project costs and the costs for your portion)
STATUS (i.e., currently active, closed, pending, rejected)
OVERLAP WITH UCIG REQUEST? (Important, please explain)

11. Intramural Support, including previous awards from UConn and/or UCHC. Include information on intramural research proposal activities for the last THREE YEARS in this section. "Intramural support" is defined as support from all University of Connecticut and University of Connecticut Health Center research sources, including the research advisory council at all campuses, Agricultural Experiment Station, Hatch Awards through the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University Cost Centers and Specialized Service Facilities, Connecticut Sea Grant Program, National Undersea Research Center (NURC), Institute of Water Resources (IWR), the Critical Technologies Program, etc. The UCIG-Panel is particularly interested in obtaining a picture of internal awards you have received, and the results of those awards in terms of publications, subsequent extramural funding, etc. In addition, if you are a Co-PI on a project be sure to list the PI, the total budget for the project and the total budget for your part of the project. Pending and rejected proposals are important - be sure to list them. Note that "N/A" or "None" is not an acceptable answer. If you leave this section blank, your application will be returned.

For each internal support entry provide the following information, using the headings as listed:
PROJECT TITLE
PI/Co-PI (indicate whether you are a PI or Co-PI)
INTRAMURAL SPONSOR
PROJECT PERIOD
DIRECT COSTS (If Co-PI, list total project costs and the costs for your portion)
STATUS OF PROJECT (i.e., currently active, closed, pending, rejected)
REPORT ON USE OF FUNDS (Important, If you have previously received internal funding from UConn and/or UCHC, enclose a final report and list the extramural award applications and publications/presentations that are a direct result of the previous internal funding.)

12. Proposed Research (Narrative). Do not exceed Five (5) pages; proposals with longer narratives are counterproductive and will be returned to the applicants. Use the headings suggested below to organize the narrative. Describe the proposed research project in enough detail to enable peer review. It is recommended that applicants write their proposals for a more general audience of reviewers drawn from their general area but who are not necessarily experts on the proposed research problem. Be sure to carefully link the project to the proposed time period and budget of your request; do not simply attach a narrative from a larger, longer extramural proposal. Use English only and avoid jargon. For acronyms not universally known, spell out the term the first time it is used.

  • Introduction. Clearly state the project to be undertaken, the background of the work, with literature references as necessary, and the rationale of the project as you wish to pursue it.

  • Methodology. Give details of the research plan, a statement of procedure consistent with the presentation in the Introduction.

  • Significance of the Research (Important). Describe the significance of this project to the field as a whole and the benefit of having co-investigators with potentially different areas of expertise. Emphasize the potential importance of anticipated joint contributions. Explain how this joint proposal will help you move into a better position to apply for and receive extramural funding for your research and scholarly activities - be specific and identify potential sources for extramural funding. Explain the expected outcome of the research by telling us how you plan to disseminate your findings - by publishing in a scholarly journal, presenting at a meeting, etc. Explain how communications among different research groups will be accomplished.

13. References. Please list the references used in your study in a style that is appropriate for your field.

14. Two-Page Curriculum Vitae. Attach a two page version of applicant’s and co-applicant’s professional summary, including the most recent publications or publications most relevant to the work proposed.

15. Appendices (Optional). Most proposals will not require appendices. Such additional material is needed only when it is truly essential for adequate peer review of the proposal, e.g., subject questionnaire, or comments of peer review groups or federal agencies. Although there is no page limit on appendices, it is counterproductive to append lengthy material.

Budget Preparation Instructions.

Proposed Budget. Details and Justification -- may include any combination of items in the categories listed below.

9a. Research Personnel (Salary, Wages, and Fringe Benefits). Funds may be requested to support personnel who are essential for conducting the research project. You must list the specific duties of the individual(s) to be hired; DO NOT list vague phrases such as "conducting the research." Occasionally, funds for consultants or other off-campus assistance needed to perform special tasks may be needed, but must be carefully justified. Allowable costs may include up to 25% of the salary/fringe benefit package of a postdoctoral fellow. Other personnel needs, e.g.,, technicians, research assistants and associates, are generally not eligible for support unless clearly justified.

Graduate Research Assistantships. If the project requires a greater level of expertise than hourly student labor, you may request funds for a graduate research assistantship. The maximum summer salary you may request for a graduate student, at all levels, is $2,000. Be sure to add in fringe benefits. Current salary and fringe benefit rates for UConn and Regional Campus Applications can be found at http://www.payroll.uconn.edu/resources/dept_admin/ga_stipend_listing_2008_2009.html and http://www.budget.uconn.edu/BudgetCall/Inflation.html respectively. For UCHC applications, please contact your respective department administrator.

Student Labor. Student labor is paid on an hourly basis, plus fringe benefits. Salary and fringe benefit rates for UConn and Regional Campuses can be found at http://studentjobs.uconn.edu/ and http://www.budget.uconn.edu/BudgetCall/Inflation.html respectively. For UCHC applications, please contact your respective department administrator.

Consultants and Other Off-campus Assistance. Individuals who are not on the regular state payroll may be hired to perform special research-related tasks as needed. Such individuals are paid on an hourly basis, usually via Special Payroll.

9b. Equipment. Specify each item, list cost, and carefully justify in terms of the proposed project. Anticipated limit is $5,000. In cases where the same or similar equipment is already available on campus, you must include a discussion concerning accessibility and/or need for additional units. Computer equipment and software must be justified in terms of need for conducting the research, as opposed to ordinary word-processing.

9c. Supplies. Specify supplies necessary for the research, list costs and justify each item or group of items.

9d. Animals and Animal Care. Specify type of animal(s) to be used in the project, and the cost per animal. Be sure to include the new animal care per diem charges and attach a copy of the approved form. For further information, please refer to the Animal care website: UConn and Regional campuses at http://www.oars.uconn.edu and UCHC at http://clacc.uchc.edu/Pricing/PerDiem2008.htm.

9e. Domestic and Foreign Travel (Transportation and Per Diem). Include only travel that is necessary to conduct the research, NOT travel to present the results of research, or travel to explore future funding opportunities. Describe the relationship of the travel to the project and provide details such as method of transportation, destination(s), airfare, number of trips to each destination(s). Per diem -- food and lodging -- may be included. Requests for amounts more than stated in the guidelines will be considered depending upon need and availability of funds.

9f. Contractual Costs. Include all fees and charges for specialized services, such as specialized equipment service charges, library access fees, laboratory analysis fees, consultant fees, subject fees, etc. Explain fully and justify.

The following Items cannot be requested: faculty, clerical or administrative personnel salaries, including personnel whose primary purpose is to explore funding sources and/or prepare grant applications; service/maintenance contracts on equipment; laboratory renovations, or other infrastructure renovations; institutional memberships in professional organizations; travel to professional meetings to present the results of the research; travel to explore extramural funding opportunities; costs associated with the publication of results of the research, including page charges and purchase of reprints.

Final Report. a two-page final report is required when the project is completed. The Research Foundation/Research Advisory Council is being much more vigilant in enforcing these requirements as is customary for most external funding agencies. Submission of the final report will be an important consideration in reviewing your future awards