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Seed Grants for Transitional and Exploratory Projects
FY 2019 STEP Program for
Faculty Researchers
STEP Grant Program Websitewww.siue.edu/funding/internal-funding/step.shtml
STEP Proposal Library◦ email M. Diane Cox for an appointment, [email protected]
Program basics
Review Criteria
Application Sections
Budget Planning
Time for Questions
The Basics
Deadline: 3rd Friday in February,4:30 p.m. (on the dot!) by email
Check with your Unit for Internal School/Unit for additional deadlines
SUBMIT IN ONE FILE, PDF FORMAT [email protected]
July 1– June 30
Seed Grants for Transitional and Exploratory Projects (STEP) provides seed funding on a competitive basis to SIUE faculty and staff to support research and creative activities. Seed funding is used to jumpstart junior faculty research or encourage to the initiation of new research directions. Seed grant funding is not intended to sustain or supplement current research programs.
For junior faculty - Projects must: help undertake pilot projects that will aid in establishing careers as independent investigators
and enable successfully applying for extramural funding;
applicants in the pre-mid-term review stage of their career may submit proposals to revisedissertation material. However, applicants must make a strong argument for how the STEPproject may propel the applicant’s career in a significant and lasting research direction.
For established faculty - Projects must: perform transitional and exploratory research (particularly on novel or pioneering ideas), to
determine project feasibility, and to develop preliminary data to support extramural applications.
demonstrate how the STEP project represents a significant transition in their research as opposed to previous activity. Successful proposals by established faculty will outline specific differences between the STEP project and previous scholarly activities, including publications and conference presentations, so that an educated lay reader is able to discern the new direction of the proposed project.
Faculty development (including conference travel)
Institutional research
Public service and consulting
Departmental or curriculum development
Full-time continuing members of the faculty
Research staff members on continuing appointments who have served as an investigator or co-investigator on an externally sponsored grant
All PIs and Co-PIs must have completed finalreports and fulfilled the terms and conditions of previously SIUE funded research before they are eligible for this program. This includes submission of final reports and external grants.
Primary Investigator (PI) Co-PI Key Personnel (include c.v., does not have
to meet requirements)
G.A.s and student workers
Just remember that personnel tends to bethe most expensive budget portion.
Personnel – Who can be on the proposal?
Up to $16,000: awards average $5,000 -$10,000
Annette and Henry Baich award: $1000 for best STEP application in sciences(disciplines covered by Sigma Xi)
Program Review andCriteria
1. Proposal are submitted to Unit Designee/ Research Committee by date indicated in Unit timeline for review and ranking
2. Rankings are sent to ORP
3. Rankings and proposals are re-reviewed by the Research and Development Committee.
3. Applicants are notified of final decisions by early April.
Is it a new direction for an established faculty member?
Is the budget aligned with request and timeline? (Summer Salary when all work during Academic year)
Do they meet criteria as detailed in theReviewer Rubric? The rubric is available onSTEP website (details the criteria, contentexpected in each category)
Discussion Points
The alignment of the project with the STEP purpose (25%)
The originality/creativity and significance of theproposed research or creative activity (20%)
The clarity and appropriateness of the research design and procedure (30%)
The research proposal’s potential for externalfunding (25%)
The appropriateness of the budget and strength of the budget justification (comments only)
Review Criteria Categories
Each area is scored on a scale of
Poor (1), Fair (2) , Good (3), VG (4), Excellent (5)(VG and E considered in the “fundable” range)
◦ Applicants get scored under each criterion
◦ Scoring Rubric posted on STEP website
Applicat ion Sect ions
SUBMIT IN ONE FILE, PDF FORMAT [email protected]
Application Cover Pageo Form on website – complete all areaso Abstract (150 wds)o Ensure appropriate signatures are affixed
Narrative/Project Descriptiono 10 double-spaced , numbered pages with 1”marginso Use following fonts with minimum size
Times New Roman 11 point/Ariel 10 pointo Include sections headers for:
• Alignment with STEP purpose• Introduction and Background• Procedures/Project Plan• Facilities• Timeline• Anticipated Results• Last page needs to be the External Funding Potential Form
Alignment with STEP goals◦ not same as an abstract, speak directly to program goals
Intro and Background◦ Make an argument for significance, contribution to field◦ Don’t forget lit review
Procedures and Project Plan◦ Methods and why these are the best methods◦ If portions are risky, mention “plan B”◦ Plan needs to be tied to intended outcomes
Facilities and Resources◦ even if it’s only your office and computer
Timeline◦ chart format recommended
Anticipated Results◦ Publications and presentations◦ External grants –target specific grants, argue your
competitiveness USE FORM
External Funding PotentialYou must provide a written plan for external funding in the narrative. You will use this chart (pg.11 of thenarrative) to list potential funding sources. The programs do not have to be an exact match, but use thesection to build the argument that your planned STEP outcomes are supported by the funders' researchmission, forecast, trajectories or current funding direction. Include argument for your research andcompetitiveness for external funding potential. In your discussion, include alternatives if the direction ofthe funders you list in the table changes.
AGENCY PROGRAM DEADLINE AMOUNT
SUBMIT IN ONE FILE, PDF FORMAT [email protected]
Budgeto Form on website – complete all areaso Read the Budget section in the Guidelines carefullyo Make sure you have thought about why each line is critical to the success
of your project!
Budget Justification o Maximum 2 pages, double spacedo Address each budget line item o Include rationale for including each item in the budgeto REMEMBER, inadequate explanations can result in non-funding
Referenceso No page limito Only include pertinent references
SUBMIT IN ONE FILE, PDF FORMAT [email protected]
Appendixo Only include items necessary to reviewers understanding of the research
projecto May include evidence of access to needed resources/people such as:
o Letters of Commitmento Subcontractors experienceo Sample surveys/protocolso DO NOT include graphs, charts or other items that belong in the
Narrativeo DO NOT use the Appendix to circumvent the page limitation of the
Narrative.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) o Maximum 2 pageso PI & CoI must each submit a CV (up to 2 pages o Include only activities relevant to the proposed project
SUBMIT IN ONE FILE,PDF FORMAT to
Previous Funding Form(s)o Use form on STEP website
o Use one page per previous grant
o Applies to any external funding received and any internal funding received in the last 3 years
o These forms are used to assess applicant’s capacity for o producing strong outcomes and o meeting the terms and conditions of an internal award
o If applicant has not received any funding previously complete a single form with the statement, “No internal or external funding received”
Budget Considerat ions
Allowable cost categories◦ call staff replacement during academic year◦ summer salary◦ student workers (hourly rate); G.A.s (salary)◦ commodities◦ contractual services◦ equipment◦ some telecommunications◦ travel – directly related to collection of data only◦ participant incentives◦ other
Costs related to the “ineligible activities” Salary for collaborators external to SIUE Office supplies and items that should
normally be provided by a department No funds are available for equipment
maintenance or repair Conference travel No funding is available for
telecommunication, except for the purposes of telephone surveys
If the investigator requests academic year assignedtime for research, salary dollars are for replacement costs at the call staff rate for released time. Ask your department administrator what thetotal cost for one class would be.
Summer salary is at the investigator’s base salary◦ Salary = $5000/mo. Four weeks at 100% effort = $5000
plus cost of living increase◦ Maxes out at $9,000 or one month, the lesser of the two◦ Contact our department regarding any potential
technical overloads.
When calculating salary dollars for summer salary, applicants should consider the typical 3% annual cost of living increase or any anticipated promotions. ($5000 x 1.03 = $5150)
If you wish to hire an SIUE faculty or staff member as a “consultant,” their compensation must be included under the “salary” budget line.◦ Time for this individual is paid as either summer
time (a portion of the monthly base salary) or academic year assigned time (call staff rate)
Hiring students in summer: students must be enrolled at time of work on grant.
If working with a contractor outside SIUE, be sure to:
◦ Get a quote from this contractor for the scope ofwork they will perform, include in appendix
◦ International research: hiring citizens of other countries as “contractors” can be somewhat involved. Contact ORP if you are considering this.
No funds are available for travel or relatedcosts occurring outside the project period,July 1 – June 30.
Travel funds are awarded only for non-localtravel for the purposes of data collection
no consulting or attending professional conferences
international projects: please contact ORP to discuss your budget and planning
Cost for participant incentives are allowable.
Budget justification should include numberand type of payments. Narratives shouldinclude a “Plan B” if you don’t get access to a population or number of participants.
Funding for equipment is limited and only for specialized items essential to the nature of the research.
Software is a contractual service.
Itemize costs Show the math and justify why each cost is
included in the budget Salary time, compliments the narrative: why you
need this time over and above regularly assigned research time
The narrative should outline role of students, but this might be additional space to discuss their roles
Always good to include vendor estimates on larger purchases and why you chose that vendor specifically for this project
Most reviewers make their decision in the first paragraph.
Audience: your “smartest undergraduate” or to the New York Timesreader
Be straight forward, thorough, succinct: state what you’re going todo; argue why it’s important, say how you’re going to do it; state itagain with an outlook to the project’s outcomes and life post-grant◦ Make sure the reviewers can envision every step of the project◦ But keep in mind: where does this one-year project lead you in the long term?
Follow the guidelines exactly!
Include section headings
Keep the scope a feasible one for the STEP project period.◦ Expertise: Do you need a consultant to fill in gaps?
Feel free to call ORP.
Let us help with budgets and narrative questions.
Have your colleagues read drafts.
Contact your chair and dean about your project, esp. if you budget in course buyout.
Read funded proposals in our STEP library at the Graduate School.
Quest ions?
M. Diane CoxDirector of Grant [email protected] ; extension 5886
Nick GianoulakisPre-Award Research [email protected] ; extension 5618
