Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
Developing Diverse Researchers with InVestigative Expertise
(DRIVE)
Guidelines and Application
Questions regarding the DRIVE internal funding mechanism should be directed to Etta Ward at
emward@iupui.edu or 278-8427.
This program is co-sponsored by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Revised 7/13
GUIDELINES
The Developing Diverse Researchers with InVestigative Expertise (DRIVE) program is designed
to enhance the diversity and research and creative activity mission of IUPUI. Faculty from
historically underrepresented populations, usually defined as African-American, LatinoAmerican, Native American, Pacific Islanders, and women are particularly encouraged to apply.
The DRIVE program supports projects that have the potential for sustainability through external
funding.
ELIGIBILITY
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All full-time faculty are eligible to apply.
Faculty in visiting ranks are not eligible.
An adjunct member (or non-eligible member) of the IUPUI faculty can be a participant in a
grant in collaboration with one or more eligible members of the IUPUI faculty.
FUNDING AND PROJECT DURATION
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Grants will normally range from $5,000 to $15,000 with the average award of around
$10,000.
The grant period will normally not exceed 12 months.
Investigator salary requests cannot exceed one month.
DRIVE funds cannot be used for travel unless the travel is necessary for completion of the
proposed work.
DRIVE funds may not be granted for a project currently supported by another internal
funding mechanism.
Applications for a second DRIVE award for the same project will not be accepted unless
accompanied by evidence that the first DRIVE award resulted in the submission of a
proposal for external funding that was based, in part, on the work accomplished as a result
of the first DRIVE award.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
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Investigators should be aware that reviewers outside of the designated research area may
be reviewing the proposals. Therefore, it is important to write the proposal in a manner
understandable to non-content experts.
Use standard paper size 8 ½ x 11 with at least 1/2 inch margins.
Use an Arial, Helvetica, Palatino Linotype, or Georgia typeface, a black font color, and a
font size of 11 points or larger. Charts, grafts, figures and so on may be in color.
The Project Plan is limited to a total of 5 pages. Project Plans longer than 5 pages will
not be reviewed.
Section 1
Face Page: A copy of the IRB, IACUC and/or IBC form must be included in
the Appendix when these forms are required to conduct the proposed work.
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For projects requiring initial IRB, IACUC or IBC approval, OVCR uses the
Just-In-Time procedure.
Section 2
Abstract: State the proposal’s long-term objectives and specific aims. This
abstract is meant to serve as a succinct and accurate description of the proposed
work when separated from the application. Do not include
proprietary/confidential information. Keep the abstract to a half page. List all key
personnel.
Section 3
Current and Pending Internal and External Funding: Identify internal and
external funding received during the past 5 years including name of funding
agency/mechanism, project title, duration of funding, amount received per year
and your role on the project. Include collaborative projects such as research
centers.
Section 4
Budget: Investigator salary requests cannot exceed one month. Funds cannot be
used for travel unless the travel is necessary for completion of the proposed
work.
Section 5
Budget Justification: Limit budget justification to two (2) pages. Describe the
specific functions of each individual listed on the project. Itemize supplies in
separate categories, such as glassware, chemicals, radioisotopes, etc. If
animals are to be purchased, state the species and the number to be used.
Itemize travel requests and justify.
Section 6
Project Plan: The Project Plan should be able to be accomplished within the
single year of funding requested. The Project Plan is limited to a total of 5 pages.
Project Plans longer than 5 pages will not be reviewed. Use the following
format.
Introduction: State the problem to be investigated, the rationale for the
proposed project, and the current state of knowledge relevant to the proposed
work. State the overall objective of the proposed research. Review relevant
prior work and identify the gaps that the project is intended to fill. Describe any
preliminary results that support the proposed project.
Specific Aims: List the broad long-term objectives and the goal of the specific
research proposed, e.g., to test the stated hypothesis, create a novel design,
solve a specific problem, challenge an existing paradigm, address a critical
barrier to progress in the field or develop new technology. Specify the specific
aims that will be used to achieve the long-term goal.
Design and Methods: Describe the research design, conceptual or clinical
framework, and procedures that will be used to accomplish the specific aims of
the project. Describe any new methodology and its advantage over existing
methodologies. Describe any novel concepts, approaches, tools, or technologies
that will be used for the proposed studies. Describe the approach to be used for
data analyses and interpretation. Provide a tentative sequence or timetable for
the project. If clinical studies are involved, give details of responsibility for patient
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selection and patient care. Point out any procedures, situations, or materials that
may be hazardous to personnel and the precautions to be exercised.
Significance: Clearly state the importance and relevance of the proposed work
by relating the specific aims to the broad, long-term objectives. Discuss any
novel ideas or contributions that the project offers.
Prospective impact on your professional development: The retention of
faculty, including faculty of color and women, is a priority at IUPUI; explicitly state
your expectations of how the grant will support and/or enhance your own
professional development.
Facilities Available: The purpose of the resources and environment section is
to describe the resources, facilities, and support available to the researcher.
Describe the facilities available for this project including laboratories, clinical
resources, office space, animal quarters, etc. List major items of equipment
available for this work.
Collaborative Arrangements: If the proposed project requires collaboration
with other investigators, describe the collaboration and provide evidence to
assure the reviewers that the other collaborators agree (include letters of support
in the Appendix).
Section 7
References: List cited references.
Section 8
Biosketch or Curriculum Vitae: Limited to four (4) pages.
Section 9
Appendix:
A copy of the current IRB, IACUC and/or IBC approval form must be included
when these forms are required to conduct the proposed work. You may submit a
DRIVE while your approvals are in pending status.
Letters of support from the Departmental Chairman and collaborators must be
included.
Submission of a revised DRIVE application must include, in the Appendix, a copy
of all of the reviewers’ comments on the prior proposal. A summary, not to
exceed two (2) pages of responses to the reviewers’ concerns and changes
made in the revised proposal, must also be included in the Appendix.
If DRIVE funds are used to address reviewer concerns for a previously submitted
proposal to an external agency Investigators must include the entire summary
statement from the external granting agency review committee, including the
score and a clear description of how DRIVE funds will be used to address
reviewers’ concerns and strengthen the resubmission. Relevant portions of the
prior proposal may also be appended if desired.
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POST AWARD REQUIREMENTS
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If an award is made, a final report must be submitted to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for
Research within 30 days of the termination of the award period. Additional follow-up
information may be requested outside of the final report submission requirement to
determine the ongoing efficacy of the DRIVE mechanism.
Grant recipients are reminded to acknowledge receipt of DRIVE support in any presentation
or publication of work funded by a DRIVE grant.
Requests for a one (1) year no cost extension must be approved by the Vice Chancellor for
Research.
The support provided by IUPUI under this program is Exceptional University Support, and
any intellectual property works Investigators create under the program are University
Works or Patentable Intellectual Property owned by Indiana University. For definitions of
these terms and for an explanation of Investigators’ rights as Creators of such works,
please see the Indiana University Intellectual Property Policy at
http://policies.iu.edu/policies/categories/administration-operations/intellectualproperty/intellectual-property.shtml.
SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION
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Submission due date is March 1st.
Submit your application in PDF format via email attachment to: ovcr@iupui.edu.
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IUPUI Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Leave blank-for internal use only
IUPUI Developing Diverse Researchers with
InVestigative Expertise
Grant Application
Name
Campus Address
Rank/Title
Email Address
School
Telephone Number
Department
Fax Number
Title of Project
Keywords
Amount Requested
Project Dates
Performance Site(s)
Research Risk (double-click on the box, use the default value buttons) Include a copy of the approval form in the Appendix.
YES
NO
Human Subjects IRB Study # and Approval Date:
Animals
IACUC Study # and Approval Date:
Biosafety (rDNA) IBC Study # and Approval Date:
Principal Investigator Assurance
The undersigned agrees to accept responsibility for the proper conduct of the proposed project and for
submission of the final report.
Signature of Principal Investigator
Date
Revised 8/13
Section 2 Abstract Page
Key Personnel:
Start with Principal Investigator and list all key personnel, including name, organization, and role on project.
Revised 8/13
Section 3 Current and Pending Internal and External Funding
Identify internal and external funding received during the past 5 years including name of funding
agency/mechanism, project title, duration of funding, amount received per year and your role on the
project. Include collaborative projects such as research centers.
Revised 8/13
Section 4 Budget
BUDGET
FROM
PERSONNEL (Applicant organization only)
NAME
ROLE ON
PROJECT
TYPE
APPT.
(months
)
%
EFFORT
ON
PROJ.
THROUGH
DOLLAR AMOUNT REQUESTED (omit cents)
INST.
BASE
SALARY
SALARY
REQUESTED
FRINGE
BENEFITS
TOTAL
Principal
Investigator
SUBTOTALS
CONSULTANT COSTS
EQUIPMENT (Itemize)
SUPPLIES (Itemize by category)
TRAVEL
ALTERATIONS AND RENOVATIONS (Itemize by category)
OTHER EXPENSES (Itemize by category)
TOTAL COSTS
$
Revised 8/13
Section 5 Budget Justification
Limit budget justification to two (2) pages. Describe the specific functions of each individual listed on the
project. List each item of equipment with amount requested separately and justify each purchase.
Itemize supplies in separate categories, such as glassware, chemicals, radioisotopes, etc. If animals are
to be purchased, state the species and the number to be used. If travel is included, Itemize travel
requests and justify. Investigator salary requests cannot exceed one month.
Revised 8/13
Section 6 Project Plan (limited to 5 pages)
Revised 8/13
Section 7 References
List cited references.
Revised 8/13
Section 8 Biosketch or Curriculum Vitae (Limited to 4 pages)
Revised 8/13
Section 9 Appendix
A copy of the current IRB, IACUC and/or IBC approval form must be included
when these forms are required to conduct the proposed work. You may submit a DRIVE while your
approvals are in pending status.
Letters of support from the Departmental Chairman and collaborators must be included.
Submission of a revised DRIVE application must include, in the Appendix, a copy of all of the reviewers’
comments on the prior proposal. A summary, not to exceed two (2) pages of responses to the reviewers’
concerns and changes made in the revised proposal, must also be included in the Appendix.
If DRIVE funds are used to address reviewer concerns for a previously submitted proposal to an external
agency Investigators must include the entire summary statement from the external granting agency
review committee, including the score and a clear description of how DRIVE funds will be used to address
reviewers’ concerns and strengthen the resubmission. Relevant portions of the prior proposal may also
be appended if desired.
Revised 8/13