REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
UM Faculty 2011-12 Grant Competition
Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Proposal Development Program
Up to $8,000 PER AWARD. Up to four awards are expected to be funded.
Final, released 3/31/2011
PROPOSAL DEADLINE:
Please submit a complete application as one PDF file to amy.kinch@umontana.edu before 5:00 p.m. on May 3,
2011.
PURPOSE
The primary purpose of this program is to increase the number of faculty conducting NIH- or NSF-funded research
projects in social and behavioral sciences at The University of Montana. Secondary aims include increasing
collaboration among multi-disciplinary faculty interested in conducting social and behavioral science research and
developing a cadre of funded researchers interested in submitting grants to enhance the UM research infrastructure.
ELIGIBILITY
The candidate must have a PhD degree, a health professional doctoral degree (such as a Pharm D), or equivalent.
The candidate must also have a research or academic appointment at The University of Montana during the time of
the award. Faculty on sabbatical who can attend group meetings in Missoula every other week are eligible.
OBJECTIVES
1. Background: This RFA seeks to support the development of social and behavioral science research funded by
NIH and NSF at The University of Montana. For purposes of this RFA, the NIH or NSF definition of social and
behavioral sciences may be used (for NIH see
http://obssr.od.nih.gov/about_obssr/BSSR_CC/BSSR_definition/definition.aspx; for NSF see
http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=SBE)
2. Program: The award provides support to faculty members during the academic year 2011-2012 to enable faculty
to submit high quality grant applications to the NIH or NSF. Awardees will participate in a program that uses the
following strategies:
2.1. Identifying promising and motivated potential investigators who are faculty members at The University of
Montana and interested in conducting funded research in social and behavioral sciences;
2.2. Removing barriers that prevent such faculty from submitting fundable grants applications, including
teaching buy-outs for faculty with heavy teaching loads;
2.3. Providing information and training on grant writing as needed;
2.4. Providing assistance and mentorship from experienced grant writers, funded investigators, and content
experts;
2.5. Facilitating peer support and peer accountability via structured group meetings held every other week;
2.6. Providing mentoring to other faculty regarding their research ideas and grant applications.
3. Scope: This program is intended to support faculty members who have demonstrated commitment and
motivation to conduct extramurally-funded research. Faculty members with a wide range of research experience
are encouraged to apply. Faculty members who have already conducted most of the pilot and preliminary studies
necessary for a competitive grant application will be given preference.
4. Allowable costs: Up to six awards will be made up to $8,000 per award during the period August 25, 2011-May
14, 2012. It is strongly recommended that approximately $500 per award be devoted to compensation of one to
three mentors with grant-funded expertise in your content area. Other allowable costs include funds to cover
teaching buy-outs, additional support for external consultants and/or grant readers, purchase of equipment or
software, and costs associated with conducting pilot studies. Budgets must be submitted using UM’s budget
template. When constructing the budget, candidates must contact Catherine Hogan Sponsored Program
Specialist at 243-2169 for specific guidance.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Please use UM and NIH or NSF forms or instructions where specified on the cover page. For NIH, use the SF424
located at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/ (specific aims page is described in section I-111); for NSF,
forms are located here http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg.
Faculty applicants must obtain signatures on the application cover page from all department heads and academic
deans which indicate that they agree with and can accommodate the faculty member’s requests for support as listed
in this application (such as course buy-outs). E-mail approvals using the general UM process
(http://umt.edu/research/orsp/forms/default.aspx) will be accepted. A signed ORSP checklist must be retained at the
Sponsored Programs office prior to submitting the application.
Applicants must submit one complete file in PDF format to amy.kinch@umontana.edu by 5:00 p.m. of the deadline
date. Applicants will be notified in writing of the Review Committee decision by May 10, 2011.
REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS
Complete applications will be reviewed by a multiple-member team appointed by the Vice President for Research
and Development. Written feedback will not be provided. Complete applications will be evaluated for the
applicant’s potential for applying for and receiving NIH or NSF funding in social and behavioral sciences.
INQUIRIES
Inquiries are encouraged. The opportunity to clarify any issues or question from potential applicants is welcome.
Please contact Amy Fowler Kinch, Coordinator of the Faculty Development Office at 243-5897 or Sheila Hoffland,
Director of Budgets and Operations in the Office of the Vice President for Research and Development at 243-4762.
COVER PAGE
Name:
Department:
Title of the proposed
research project:
Phone:
Email:
CRITERIA FOR APPLICATIONS:
The application should be concise and well-written, in language understandable to professionals in diverse
academic fields. Please respond to questions below. Limit the application to 3 pages and use 12 point type and
normal margins.
(1) Statement of interest. Why are you interested in participating in the proposal development program?
Given that one of the goals of this program is to enhance collaboration, how do you propose to support
or collaborate with other faculty who are interested in conducting research? To which NIH institute or
NSF directorate do you anticipate submitting your proposal? If you know, please specify which funding
mechanism to which you expect to apply.
(2) Description of pilot work. What pilot studies have you conducted to inform or establish the feasibility
of your proposal? What (if any) additional pilot work remains to be done prior to the submission of your
grant?
(3) Description of content mentor(s). Name and describe 1-3 investigators (within or outside of The
University of Montana) who are experts in your content area and have received prior funding. If
possible, secure and document agreements from the content mentors to provide feedback on your
proposal during your participation in the proposal development program.
(4) Budget justification. Please submit a brief justification that specifies how you will use the funds.
Please also include the following documents:
(1) 1 page Specific Aims for the proposed study following NIH or NSF guidelines.
(2) Biographical Sketch Form using NIH or NSF Biographical Sketch Form Page.
(3) A full CV that includes history of funding.
(4) Budget using UM’s budget template
(5) This cover page that includes all required signatures (electronic signatures are acceptable)
If funded, I agree to participate in the Social and Behavioral Science Research Proposal Development activities
and submit at least one grant to the NIH or NSF by August 1, 2012.
________________________________________
Faculty Member’s Signature
______________________________
Date
I support the applicant’s participation in the Social and Behavioral Science Research Proposal Development
program and agree that, if funded, the faculty member’s requests for support as listed in this application (such
as course buy-outs) can be accommodated.
________________________________________
Department Chair’s Signature
______________________________
Date
________________________________________
Dean’s Signature
______________________________
Date