OFFICE OF SPONSORED PROGRAMS MONTHLY May 2013 OSP Monthly VOLUME I, ISSUE I – MAY 2013 News & Updates Office of Sponsored Programs welcomes its newest members Jen Senwoo-Wagner: Operations & Communications Manager Jen is responsible for managing the department’s operations and communications functions, which includes developing processes and standards, assisting with the creation of informational materials and reports, and coordinating and implementing departmental training programs and events. She also aides in the delivery and research of funding opportunity announcements to University research faculty and staff. Nia Pree: Sr. Grants & Contracts Manager Nia provides non-financial post-award assistance to faculty and staff in the Washington College of Law, School of International Service, School of Public Affairs, University Library, Kogod School of Business, School of Professional & Extended Studies, and the Center for Latin American & Latino Studies. IN THIS ISSUE Melissa Alves: Grants & Contracts Manager Melissa provides non-financial postaward technical support and assistance to faculty and staff in the College of Arts & Sciences, School of Communications and WAMU. Who to Contact Want to know who to work with for pre and post-award matters? As well as who to contact for each department? Click here >> NEWS & UPDATES New Members to the OSP RAC Session Reminder Who to Contact in OSP PI Handbook Notice Faculty Grant Writing Workshop Funding Database Training Requirement Reminder ANNOUNCEMENTS Project Brief Update RAC Session Reminder The last session for the Research Administration Certification (RAC) program is coming soon. Session 8: Research Compliance Overview May 9, 2013 9:30 – 11:30am, *KSB Room 118 (*Location has changed) Please RSVP to OSPEvents@american.edu *Note: In order to earn a certificate, attendance and successful completion of all quizzes is required. 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES Arts & Humanities Social Sciences & Sciences Education General 3 3 5 5 RESEARCH MATTERS Spotlight of the Month Tip of the Month 6 6 WHAT WE DO What OSP Does 7 OSP MONTHLY | May 2013 PI Handbook - Notice The Principal Investigator’s handbook is currently undergoing revisions. The anticipated date for the new version is Fall 2013. Faculty Grant Writing Workshop – Provost Office Presented by Dr. Ralph Pollack, AVP for Research at UMBC This workshop will focus on the fundamentals of proposal writing, targeting funding opportunities and enhancing proposal writing skills. May 21, 2013 9:00 – 5:00pm, Provost Conference Room, Leonard Hall Click here for more information >> Funding Database Training OSP will roll out training sessions for those who want to learn how to use our funding opportunity databases. Coming this Fall 2013. More information to follow soon. Requirement Reminder OSP requires the final version of proposals for routing and approval at least 48 hours (2 Business Days) prior to the submission deadline date. This will ensure proper review and timely approval prior to submission. Announcements Project Brief Process Update Starting this month, we will be introducing a new change to the project brief distribution process. The content however, will remain unchanged. The following 2 notices below will soon be merged into 1 notice: 1. 2. Notification that the project brief has been created Notification that the account # has been established We believe this change will help streamline award set-up efficiency and productivity as well as reduce the number of communications being sent out. Look for a more detailed announcement coming soon. 2 OSP MONTHLY | May 2013 Arts & Humanities 3 Funding Opportunities National Archives Publishing Historical Records Grant The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) support projects that promote the preservation and use of America’s documentary heritage essential to understanding our democracy, history and culture. Projects may focus on the papers of major figures from American life or cover broad historical movements in politics, military, business, social reform, the arts, and other aspects of the national experience. The historical value of the records and their expected usefulness to broad audiences must justify the costs of the project. Grants are awarded for collecting, describing, preserving, compiling, editing, and publishing documentary source materials. Because of the focus on documentary sources, grants do not support preparation of critical editions of published works unless such works are just a small portion of the larger project. Deadline: June 6, 2013 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Bridging Cultures through Film: International Topics Supports documentary films that examine international and transnational themes in the humanities. These projects are meant to spark Americans’ engagement with the broader world by exploring countries and cultures outside of the United States. Proposed documentaries must be analytical and deeply grounded in humanities scholarship. Encourages innovative nonfiction storytelling that presents multiple viewpoints in creative formats. The proposed film should range in length from thirty minutes to a feature-length documentary. Deadline: June 12, 2013 (for projects beginning in January 2014) Open Society Foundations Audience Engagement Grant This grant supports photographers to take an existing body of work on a social justice or human rights issue and devise an innovative and effective way of using that work as a tool for social change. We are looking for projects that serve as interventions on pressing problems and provide concrete ways for photographers, organizations, and their target audiences to create a positive impact. Supports photographers who are partnering with organizations on collaborative projects. Deadline: June 18, 2013 American Institute of Indian Studies Research Fellowship Programs We provide funding to pre and post-doctoral scholars and artists in pursuit of knowledge about India. Junior Fellowships: For graduate students conducting research for their doctoral dissertations in India Senior Long and Short-term Fellowships: For those holding a PhD degree Performing and Creative Arts Fellowships: Available to accomplished practitioners of the arts to conduct their projects in India Fellowships are funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States State Department and the Council of American Overseas Research Centers under the Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961 and the Smithsonian Institution. Deadline: July 1, 2013 Social Sciences & Sciences The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) LIMITED SUBMISSION – LINK TO announcement Internet Freedom Annual Program Statement for Internet Freedom Technology The DRL announces the availability of funding for programs that support Internet freedom under the Governing Justly and Democratically Foreign Assistance program objective. DRL invites organizations interested in potential funding to submit statements of interest (SOI) outlining program concepts and capacity to manage projects that will foster freedom of expression and the free flow of information on the Internet and other connection technologies around the world. This announcement does not constitute a formal Request for Proposals: DRL will invite select organizations that submit SOIs to expand on their ideas via full proposal separately. This solicitation is focused only on aspects of Internet freedom programming related to technology development. Statements of Interest related to the digital safety, advocacy or research will be accepted through a separate solicitation. Deadline: May 31, 2013 U.S. Department of Justice Evaluation Research on Police and Technology in Schools OSP MONTHLY | May 2013 The National Institute of Justice is requesting applications for research to evaluate the use of policy and technology in schools. The research should be comprehensive and include assessment of aspects such as school ecology, culture, climate, and social capital in addition to outcomes and other impacts. Logic models should be provided and include assessment of implementation processes and outputs and proximal and distal outcomes. A cost-benefit component should be included as part of the proposed research design. Administrative agreements with participating school districts are required and should be provided in the funding application. Deadline: June 3, 2013 National Center for Responsible Gaming Addiction Fellowship The NCRG will award institutional research grants of $85,000 per year to eligible institutions for the support of two-year postdoctoral research training focused on gambling disorders. The primary objective is to prepare qualified individuals for careers that will have a significant impact on the understanding and treatment of gambling disorders. Training activities can be in basic biomedical or clinical sciences, behavioral or social sciences, health services research or in any other discipline relevant to the NCRG's mission. Priority will be given to research training for M.D. clinicians, but consideration will be given to programs training clinical Ph.D.’s. Deadline: June 3, 2013 Federal Bureau of Investigation Intelligence Interviewing and Interrogation Research The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) hereby announces the posting for behavioral science research to advance the science and practice of intelligence interviewing and interrogation to advance the mission of the High Value Detainee Interrogation Group (HIG). Chartered by the National Security Council, the mission of the HIG is to deploy the nation’s best available interrogation resources against detainees identified as having information regarding terrorist attacks against the United States and its allies. In order to support this requirement, the HIG will conduct research in intelligence interviewing and interrogations. To support this acquisition of information necessary to development these best practices, the HIG will need to collect and analyze available research on intelligence interviewing and interrogations. In order to maximize its limited resources, the HIG is seeking contract support for these research activities. Deadline: June 3, 2013 U.S. Department of Justice Research and Evaluation on Transnational Issues: Trafficking in Persons, Organized Crime, and Violent Extremism The National Institute of Justice seeks research on the phenomenon of transnational crime issues. These include issues that leverage geopolitical changes, globalization, and the information technology revolution to transcend sovereign borders and impact numerous countries simultaneously. This research will supplement work already underway at NIJ on three separate topics – trafficking in persons, transnational organized crime, and radicalization to violent extremism. The goal of this research is to provide the information and evidence-based practices that State, local and tribal criminal justice agencies need to secure their communities against transnational crimes. Deadline: June 5, 2013 National Science Foundation Research Coordination Networks The goal of the RCN program is to advance a field or create new directions in research or education by supporting groups of investigators to communicate and coordinate their research, training and educational activities across disciplinary, organizational, geographic and international boundaries. RCN provides opportunities to foster new collaborations, including international partnerships, and address interdisciplinary topics. Innovative ideas for implementing novel networking strategies, collaborative technologies, and development of community standards for data and meta-data are especially encouraged. RCN awards are not meant to support existing networks; nor are they meant to support the activities of established collaborations. RCN awards do not support primary research. RCN supports the means by which investigators can share information and ideas, coordinate ongoing or planned research activities, foster synthesis and new collaborations, develop community standards, and in other ways advance science and education through communication and sharing of ideas. Proposed networking activities directed to the RCN program should focus on a theme to give coherence to the collaboration, such as a broad research question or particular technologies or approaches. Deadline: June 14, 2013 National Science Foundation Workforce Program in the Mathematical Sciences The long-range goal of the DMS Workforce Program is to increase the number of well-prepared U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents who successfully pursue careers in the mathematical sciences and in other NSF-supported disciplines. Among intermediate goals to this end are improvements in recruitment, retention, education, and placement of trainees in the mathematical sciences. The program's primary interest is in activities centered on education through research involvement 4 OSP MONTHLY | May 2013 for trainees at the undergraduate through postdoctoral educational levels. Activities that broaden participation in the mathematical sciences are of significant interest to the Division of Mathematical Sciences. Deadline: June 15, 2013 U.S. Department of Justice Testing Geospatial Predictive Policing Strategies The National Institute of Justice is seeking applications for research that explores the relationship between theory of any discipline, and geospatial predictive policing strategies. In particular, proposals that focus on linking theories to current policing strategies, discerning potential disconnects in the levels of analysis between theory and practice, explicating what effects this may have on findings, and finally addressing means of adapting theory and practice based on the results. Deadline: June 17, 2013 National Institutes of Health NIH Funding Opportunities – Grants & Funding Page (Search by keywords to narrow down your search to locate funding opportunities) EDUCATION National Science Foundation Research in Disabilities Education (RDE) The Research in Disabilities Education (RDE) program advances the goal of broadening the participation and achievement of postsecondary students with disabilities in STEM. This effort is realized by making strategic investments in educational and institutional Model Building and in basic and applied Broadening Participation Research in STEM Education (BPR). Educational research about students with disabilities in STEM is advanced by studying the educational and pre-professional experiences that influence student interest, academic performance, retention and persistence in degree programs, degree completion and career choices. RDE projects contribute to closing the achievement gaps for postsecondary students with disabilities in STEM fields, including students enrolled in community colleges, baccalaureate degree programs and graduate schools. Deadline: June 1, 2013 National Endowment for Financial Education NEFE Grants and Research Program The grants program seeks innovative research that can make a profound contribution to the field of financial literacy. Project outcomes should be actionable in the field of financial literacy, directly relevant to the financial well-being of the public, and able to be applied broadly. NEFE seeks projects whose outcomes can improve the public’s ability to achieve personal and household financial well-being. Of particular interest are pro-active research projects initiated from one of a broad spectrum of scholarly disciplines whose findings may cultivate critical thinking in the financial literacy community. Also of interest are development projects that put research recommendations into action. Project outcomes must be capable of achieving traction and measurable impact with audiences such as financial education intermediaries, researchers, practitioners, decision makers, and others who can achieve effective outreach to a target population with an unmet financial literacy need or to the general public. Deadline: June 4, 2013 GENERAL Federal Contracts Federal Business Funding Opportunities (Search by keywords to narrow down your search to locate funding opportunities) 5 OSP MONTHLY | May 2013 6 Research Matters OSP SPOTLIGHT ERIC HERSHBERG Each month OSP Monthly will highlight a specific American University faculty member for their contributions in providing cutting-edge research that serves to create and advance knowledge, enrich the resources of our educational community while answering and accelerating challenging issues we face today. This month, we are featuring Eric Hershberg, Director for the Center for Latin American & Latino Studies (CLALS). Q&A with Eric Q: Tell us about your center: Eric: CLALS is a leading, state-of-the-art research center; whose main initiative is to expand awareness and insight into the Latino community in the United States, as well as issues that are paramount to the Latin American society. Q: In your own words, what is the main purpose/importance of your research? Eric: We want to encourage and cultivate scholars and practitioners to engage in research that not only promotes the general understanding of Latin America and Latino affairs within the U.S. but also generates in-depth analysis of these issues. Q: What type of research is your center primarily focused on? Eric: The Center’s research projects characteristically fall within the following themes: economic development and inequality, democratic governance and justice, cultural diversity and change, health, environmental well-being and education, and hemispheric relations. We generate quality analysis on each of these topics as well as other issues in conjunction with researchers and practitioners here at AU and outside the institution. Q: What are some of the ways to learn and find out about your research? Eric: Aside from the CLALS website, you can read our AU Latin America (AULA) blog, which is a communication vehicle for analyzing Latin American public affairs and U.S. Latin American relations and policy. The Center for Latin American & Latino Studies also offers seminars and presentations to the public on research findings within the D.C. metropolitan area and beyond. OFFICE OF SPONSORED PROGRAMS MONTHLY Office of sponsored programs May 2013 The Office of Sponsored Programs is responsible for all pre-award and non-financial post-award functions including proposal submissions, the negotiation and acceptance of all sponsored awards and agreements on behalf of American University. OSP assists AU faculty and staff with proposal preparation, interpretation of sponsor policies/guidelines, including applicable regulations, sponsored programs training, education, and communication. OSP works closely with the Grants and Contracts Administration team in managing all externally funded sponsored awards. Specific OSP services include: Assist with the proposal budget preparation and development Research and disseminate funding opportunities Facilitate institutional routing/approvals of proposals Submit proposals and other required documents to sponsors Assist with electronic proposal development and submission Provide institutional certification and/or assurances when required Serve as liaison between the University and sponsor to resolve sponsored award related concerns/issues Initiate sponsored award account set-up Facilitate sponsored award close-out functions Host regular events to educate faculty/staff with the administration of sponsored awards Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, local and University policies and regulations Encourage those who are not on the newsletter subscription list to join! Subscribe by sending an e-mail to Funding-L@listserv.american.edu CONTACT INFORMATION Office of Sponsored Programs 202-885-3440 osp@american.edu www.american.edu/provost/osp/index.cfm