FY 2021 STEP Grant Program for Faculty Researchers

1. FY 2021 STEP Program for Faculty Researchers SeedGrantsfor TransitionalandExploratoryProjects

2. ORP Pre-Award Staff M. Diane Cox, Director of Grant Development diacox@siue.edu; extension 5886 Marc Kinnear, Grants & Contract Associate mkinnea@siue.eud; extension 3114 Nick Gianoulakis, Grants & Contract Associate ngianou@siue.edu ; extension 5618

3. STEPGrantProgramWebsitewww.siue.edu/funding/internal-funding/step.shtmlSTEPGrantProgramWebsitewww.siue.edu/funding/internal-funding/step.shtml • STEPProposalLibrary • emailM. Diane Cox for an appointment,diacox@siue.edu

4. Programbasics ReviewCriteria ApplicationSections BudgetPlanning TimeforQuestions

5. The Basics

6. Deadline:3rd Friday in February,4:30p.m. (onthedot!) byemail Check with your Unit for InternalSchool/Unitfor additional deadlines SUBMIT INONE FILE, PDFFORMATto siueresearch@siue.edu

7. July1–June30

8. SeedGrantsfor TransitionalandExploratoryProjects(STEP)providesseedfundingona competitivebasisto SIUEfacultyandstafftosupportresearchandcreativeactivities.Seedfunding isusedto jumpstartjuniorfacultyresearchorencourage to the initiation of new research directions. Seedgrantfundingisnotintendedto sustainorsupplementcurrentresearch programs. Forjuniorfaculty-Projectsmust: helpundertakepilot projectsthatwillaidin establishingcareersasindependentinvestigators andenablesuccessfullyapplyingfor extramuralfunding; applicantsin thepre-mid-term reviewstageof theircareermaysubmitproposalsto revise dissertationmaterial. However, applicantsmust makeastrong argumentfor how the STEP project maypropelthe applicant’scareerinasignificantandlastingresearchdirection. Forestablishedfaculty-Projectsmust: performtransitionalandexploratoryresearch(particularlyonnovel or pioneeringideas),to determine project feasibility,andto developpreliminarydatatosupportextramural applications. demonstratehow the STEPprojectrepresentsasignificanttransition in their research as opposedto previous activity.Successfulproposalsbyestablishedfacultywilloutlinespecific differencesbetweentheSTEPprojectandpreviousscholarlyactivities,includingpublications andconference presentations,sothataneducatedlayreaderisabletodiscernthe new direction oftheproposed project.

9. Faculty development(includingconference travel) Institutional research Publicserviceandconsulting Departmentalorcurriculumdevelopment

10. Full-timecontinuing membersofthefaculty Research staffmembersoncontinuing appointments whohaveservedasaninvestigator orco-investigator onanexternallysponsored grant AllPIsand Co-PIsmusthavecompleted finalreportsandfulfilledthetermsandconditionsof previouslySIUEfundedresearch beforetheyare eligible forthisprogram.This includes submissionof finalreports and external grants.

11. Personnel – Who can be on the proposal? • PrimaryInvestigator (PI) • Co-PI • KeyPersonnel(includec.v., does nothaveto meet requirements) • G.A.sandstudentworkers • Justrememberthatpersonneltendstobethemostexpensivebudgetportion.

12. Upto$16,000:awardsaverage$5,000- $10,000 Annette andHenryBaichaward:$1000for bestSTEP applicationinsciences(disciplines covered bySigmaXi)

13. ProgramReviewandCriteria

14. 1. Proposal are submitted to Unit Designee/ Research Committee by date indicated in Unit timeline for review and ranking2. 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.

15. Discussion Points Isitanewdirection foranestablishedfaculty member? Isthebudget aligned with request and timeline? (SummerSalarywhenallwork duringAcademicyear) Do theymeetcriteriaas detailed intheReviewer Rubric? Therubricis availableonSTEPwebsite(details the criteria, contentexpected ineachcategory)

16. Review Criteria Categories The alignment oftheprojectwiththeSTEP purpose (25%) The originality/creativityand significance oftheproposedresearchor creativeactivity(20%) The clarityandappropriatenessofthe research designand procedure(30%) The researchproposal’spotentialfor external funding(25%) Theappropriatenessofthebudgetand strengthof the budgetjustification(comments only)

17. Each area is scored on a scale of • Poor(1-1.5),Fair (2-2.5),Good(3-3.5),VG(4-4.5),Excellent(5) (VG andEconsidered inthe“fundable”range) • Applicantsgetscoredundereachcriterion • Scoring RubricpostedonSTEPwebsite

18. ApplicationSections

19. Application Cover Page • Form on website – complete all areas • Abstract (150 words) • Ensure appropriate signatures are affixed • Narrative/Project Description • 10 double-spaced , numbered pages with 1”margins • Use following fonts with minimum size • Times New Roman 11 point/Ariel 10 point • 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 SUBMIT INONE FILE, PDFFORMATto siueresearch@siue.edu

20. AlignmentwithSTEPgoals • notsameasanabstract,speakdirectlytoprogramgoals • Intro andBackground • Makeanargument forsignificance, contributionto field • Don’tforget litreview • Procedures andProjectPlan • Methodsandwhythesearethebestmethods • Ifportionsarerisky,mention“planB” • Plan needstobetiedtointendedoutcomes • FacilitiesandResources • evenifit’sonlyyourofficeandcomputer • Timeline • chartformat recommended • AnticipatedResults • Publicationsandpresentations • Externalgrants –targetspecificgrants,argueyour competitivenessUSEFORM

21. ExternalFundingPotential Youmustprovideawrittenplanforexternalfundinginthenarrative.Youwillusethischart(pg.11of thenarrative)tolistpotentialfundingsources.Theprogramsdonothavetobeanexactmatch,butuse thesectiontobuild theargumentthatyourplannedSTEPoutcomesaresupportedbythefunders'researchmission,forecast,trajectoriesorcurrentfundingdirection.Includeargumentforyourresearchandcompetitivenessforexternalfundingpotential.Inyourdiscussion,includealternativesif thedirectionofthefundersyoulistinthetablechanges.

22. Budget • Form on website – complete all areas • Read the Budget section in the Guidelines carefully • Make sure you have thought about why each line is critical to the success of your project! • Budget Justification • Maximum 2 pages, double spaced • Address each budget line item • Include rationale for including each item in the budget • REMEMBER, inadequate explanations can result in non-funding • References • No page limit • Only include pertinent references SUBMIT INONE FILE, PDFFORMATto siueresearch@siue.edu

23. Appendix • Only include items necessary to reviewers understanding of the research project • May include evidence of access to needed resources/people such as: • Letters of Commitment • Subcontractors experience • Sample surveys/protocols • DO NOT include graphs, charts or other items that belong in the Narrative • DO NOT use the Appendix to circumvent the page limitation of the Narrative. • Curriculum Vitae (CV) • Maximum 2 pages • PI & CoI must each submit a CV (up to 2 pages • Include only activities relevant to the proposed project SUBMIT INONE FILE, PDFFORMATto siueresearch@siue.edu

24. Previous Funding Form(s) • Use form on STEP website • Use one page per previous grant • Applies to any external funding received and any internal funding received in the last 3 years • These forms are used to assess applicant’s capacity for • producing strong outcomes and • meeting the terms and conditions of an internal award • If applicant has not received any funding previously complete a single form with the statement, “No internal or external funding received” SUBMIT INONE FILE, PDFFORMATto siueresearch@siue.edu

25. BudgetConsiderations

26. Allowablecostcategories • call staffreplacementduringacademicyear • summersalary • studentworkers(hourlyrate);G.A.s(salary) • commodities • contractualservices • equipment • sometelecommunications • travel–directlyrelatedtocollectionofdataonly • participantincentives • other

27. Costsrelatedtothe“ineligibleactivities” Salaryfor collaboratorsexternalto SIUE Office suppliesanditemsthat shouldnormallybeprovided byadepartment Nofundsareavailablefor equipmentmaintenanceorrepair Conferencetravel No fundingisavailablefor telecommunication,exceptforthepurposes of telephonesurveys

28. Iftheinvestigatorrequestsacademicyearassignedtimefor research,salary dollarsarefor replacementcostsatthecallstaff ratefor released time. Ask yourdepartmentadministratorwhatthetotal costfor oneclasswould be. • Summersalaryisattheinvestigator’sbasesalary • Salary=$5000/mo.Fourweeks at100%effort=$5000 pluscostoflivingincrease • Maxesout at$9,000or onemonth, the lesserofthetwo • Contactour departmentregarding anypotential technicaloverloads. • Whencalculatingsalary dollarsforsummersalary, applicantsshould considerthetypical3%annual costoflivingincreaseorany anticipated promotions.($5000x1.03=$5150)

29. If youwishto hire an SIUEfacultyor staff memberasa “consultant,”their compensationmust be included underthe “salary” budgetline. • Timeforthisindividualispaidaseithersummer time(a portionofthemonthlybasesalary)or academicyearassignedtime (call staffrate) • Hiringstudentsinsummer:studentsmust beenrolledattimeofwork ongrant.

30. If workingwithacontractoroutsideSIUE,be sureto: • Getaquotefromthiscontractorforthescopeof worktheywillperform,includein appendix • Internationalresearch:hiringcitizensofother countriesas“contractors”canbesomewhat involved.ContactORPifyouareconsideringthis.

31. Nofundsareavailablefortravelorrelated costsoccurringoutside theproject period, July 1 –June 30. Travel fundsareawardedonlyfornon-localtravelforthe purposesof data collection noconsultingor attendingprofessional conferences internationalprojects:pleasecontactORPto discussyour budgetand planning

32. Costforparticipantincentivesareallowable. Budgetjustificationshouldincludenumberand typeof payments.Narrativesshouldincludea“Plan B” if youdon’tget access toa populationornumberofparticipants.

33. Funding forequipmentislimitedand onlyfor specializeditems essentialtothe natureof the research. Softwareis acontractualservice.  Include lab costs (e.g. Vivarium)

34. Itemize costs Showthemathandjustifywhyeachcostis includedin thebudget Salarytimecomplements thenarrative:whyyou needthistimeoverandabove regularlyassigned researchtime Thenarrativeshouldoutlineroleof students,but thismightbeadditionalspacetodiscuss their roles Alwaysgoodto includevendorestimateson largerpurchases andwhyyouchosethatvendor specificallyfor this project

35. Mostreviewersmaketheirdecisioninthefirstparagraph. • Audience:your“smartestundergraduate”ortotheNewYorkTimes • reader • Bestraightforward,thorough,succinct:statewhatyou’regoingto do;arguewhyit’simportant,sayhowyou’regoingtodoit;stateit againwithanoutlooktotheproject’soutcomesandlifepost-grant • Makesurethe reviewers can envisioneverystepofthe project • But keep inmind:wheredoes this one-yearprojectleadyouin thelongterm? • Followtheguidelinesexactly! • Includesectionheadings • Keepthescopea feasibleonefortheSTEPprojectperiod. • Expertise:Doyouneedaconsultanttofillingaps?

36. Feelfreeto callORP. Letushelpwithbudgets andnarrativequestions. Haveyourcolleagues readdrafts. Contactyourchairanddeanaboutyourproject, esp.ifyoubudget incoursebuyout. Readfundedproposals inourSTEPlibraryatthe GraduateSchool.

37. Questions?

38. ORP Pre-Award Staff M. Diane Cox, Director of Grant Development diacox@siue.edu; extension 5886 Marc Kinnear, Grants & Contract Associate mkinnea@siue.eud; extension 3114 Nick Gianoulakis, Grants & Contract Associate ngianou@siue.edu ; extension 5618