Office of the Vice Provost for
Research (OVPR)
Understanding the World of Research
and Scholarship
At the University of Delaware
OVPR Mission
To advance the research enterprise at
UD by promoting an environment that
fosters creativity, collaboration, and
community.
Goals for OVPR
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
To foster quality research and scholarship
To encourage inquiry into new and emerging fields
To advocate for research needs and resources
To provide effective support and tools required to
pursue opportunities
To ensure compliance with all policies and
procedures
To market faculty talent and university capabilities
To translate UD created inventions and technologies
into commercially marketable products
OVPR Organizational Chart
Vice Provost for
Research
Carolyn Thoroughgood
Asst. Provost for
Research
Mgt. & Ops.
Assoc. Provost
for Research
Intell. Property
Christine Cook
Richard Holsten
UD OVPR Organization:
Assistant Provost for Research Management
and Operations
• Sponsored program administration—
Pre-award processing, contract negotiation, award set-up, award
management, subcontract management
• Sponsored research accounting—
Billing, audits, report creation, effort certification, cost sharing funds
• Grants system administration—
Web development, file server and back-up configuration, desktop support,
PS functional support
• Funding opportunities—
UDRF, GUR, and Limited proposal submission support
OVPR Organization:
Associate Provost for Research
• Intellectual Property
Patents/copyrights, inter-institutional agreements, UDTC
support
• Technology Transfer
Licenses/contracts, other agreements
• Research Integrity/Compliance
Responsible research conduct, human subjects, animal care,
conflict of interest, radiation, chemical, and biological safety
• Proposal/technical writing support
Center development, contractual guidance, research marketing
support
OVPR Facts: Sponsored Activity
FY 2005
FY2006
1353
1221
Awards received
770
596
Amount awarded
89.7M
71.5M
$140.1M
$148.8M
Proposals submitted
Research expenditures
OVPR Facts: IP
FY 2005
FY2006
#Invention Disclosures
32
35
# Provisional Applications filed
29
33
# Utility Applications filed
18
27
# Patents Issued
11
6
2
2
# Licenses signed
Over the last 5 years:
 Income to UD from IP = $2+ M, plus additional research support
to UD directly tied to IP = $1.4M
What federal agencies fund research
at UD?
N R EL
7%
N IH
15 %
O t he r
24%
N SF
12 %
State
13 %
O t he r F e d
29%
Types of Agreements
• Contracts
– Fixed Price
– Cost Reimbursement
– Government’s Role—Purchaser
• Grant
– Government’s Role—Supporter
• Cooperative Agreement
– Government’s Role—Partner
Who is eligible to Serve as PI?
• Individuals holding permanent tenure-track
faculty rank
-- or –
• Research scientist/project director or those
recommended by Dean and approved by
Vice Provost for Research
Proposal Writing: Helpful Resources…
Funding Searches:
Start with The Community of Science database: www.cos.com
Find: Funding→ Funding Opportunities→ [Simple Search/Main
Search/Search by Sponsor/Keyword]
Daily Federal Register: access through the Government Printing
Office
CRIS: USDA database
Commerce Business Daily: can access through COS
UM Proposal Writer’s Guide:
www.research.umich.edu/proposals/pwg/pwgcomplete.html
Plus many books
Grant Writing: A Low Probability
Game!!
• Proposal success rates average 20 to 33 percent
• More than half are rejected on first reading because:
--Applicant did not follow directions
--Proposal did not match program
Step-by-Step Proposal Prep at UD
• Step 1: Locate a potential sponsor
– Is the grant program limited term
– Is cost sharing required
• Step 2: Develop the proposal
– Avoid common pitfalls
– Seek help from mentors
• Step 3: Contact the departmental financial office and
OVPR
– Budget preparation
– Execution of required forms and signatures
– Compliance with sponsor and university requirements affecting research
• OVPR submits the proposal
– Contractual negotiations and award execution
Proposal Submission
• Deadlines
– Must be to OVPR 48 hours before due at funder
– Most agency deadlines are final
– Overnight delivery may work
• Electronic Submission
– Contact department and OVPR administrators early
– Doesn’t always work the first time
• Tracking
– Follow until proposal has been funded, declined, or
withdrawn
Unacceptable Contract Terms and Conditions
• Agreements cannot be subject to the laws of
other states or not comply with UD policies
and procedures.
• UD must preserve the right to publish results
of research done by faculty and students; UD
does not undertake classified research.
• UD holds title to IP that results from research
carried out by UD faculty and students.
UD Keeps Promises:
Award = Legally Binding Agreement
• Fulfill all requirements set by sponsor
• Meet schedule and due dates for reports
• Comply with restrictions placed by sponsor
NOTE:
PI is responsible for all fiscal and technical aspects of
project!!
Sponsors have withheld funds awaiting reports called
for in their awards!!
No cost extensions mean delay in future funding!!
Major Compliance Issues
• Professional ethics and responsible research conduct:
research integrity, conflict of interest, human subjects,
animal care, radiation, chemical, and biological safety
• A-110 Administrative Requirements
• A-21 Cost Principles
• Cost Accounting
• Cost Sharing
• Effort Reporting
What are the Risks?
•
•
•
•
Individual debarment from future funds
Retraction of publications
Loss of respect for the individual and UD
Fines—
– University of Minnesota paid $32 M to NIH for a
“pervasive environment of non-compliance”
– Northwestern University paid $5.5 M for effort
reporting lapses
– South Florida paid $4.1 M for unallowable
charges and incomplete effort reporting
OVPR is here to help you!!
Contact us
302-831-2136
and
Check our website:
www.ovpr.udel.edu/OVPR/do/index