Vice President for Research
Proposal Services & Faculty Support
February Funding Focus Newsletter #1
Limited Submission Announcements
The William T. Grant Scholars Program supports career development for promising early-career researchers. The program funds five-year research and mentoring plans that significantly expand junior researchers' expertise in new disciplines, methods, and content areas. We recognize that early-career researchers are rarely given incentives or support to take such risks, so this award includes a mentoring component, as well as an emphasis on community and collaboration.
Scholars Program applicants should have a track record of conducting high-quality research and an interest in pursuing a significant shift in their trajectories as researchers. Proposed research plans must address questions of policy and practice that are relevant to the Foundation's focus areas.
Focus Areas:
We fund research that increases understanding in one of our two focus areas:
- programs, policies, and practices that reduce inequality in youth outcomes, and
- strategies to improve the use of research evidence in ways that benefit youth.
We seek research that builds stronger theory and empirical evidence in these two areas. We intend for the research we support to inform change. While we do not expect that any one study will create that change, the research should contribute to a body of useful knowledge to improve the lives of young people.
Institutional Limit: 1 Proposal per College
Internal Deadline: February 20, 2019, 4:45pm
IMPORTANT UPDATES
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is emerging from a 35-day funding lapse in appropriations and shutdown of the agency. Unfortunately, the recent lapse in appropriations (lapse) resulted in missed panels, a backlog of proposal actions, and delays that may result in the cancellation of related activities and certain programs. It is fully recognized that it will take time to work through this extensive backlog of activities.

Guidance to the proposer and awardee community was updated on January 25, 2019, to specify that NSF will be extending the deadline date for the solicitations or Dear Colleague Letters (DCLs) listed via the link above.


The Office of Proposal Services & Faculty Support, in conjunction with Hanover Research, will be facilitating a webinar to help answer questions related to the NSF CAREER program. This free webinar will be held on March 1, 2019 from 1:00pm – 2:15pm and can be accessed from any location (log-in information to be shared to all registrants on/before February 25, 2019). Registration open through February 24, 2019 .

When: March 1, 2019
Time: 1:00pm – 2:15pm


The Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer and the Office of Proposal Services & Faculty Support are hosting a Grant Writing Course.  This Grant Writing Course is designed to aid rising faculty in the acquisition of their first “R”-type NIH award. By highlighting the underlying culture of the NIH, the attendee gains insight into the key predicates of success. In this regard, the course provides an overview of all facets of the NIH “R” process – conceptualization of grant, construction of grant, routing of grant, and follow-on steps. In addition, intensive focus is provided to allow attendees to transit all of the competitive barriers to funding acquisition. This course differs from other professional grant writing courses in that it fosters the fullest understanding of the institutional logic of the NIH. On this basis, the course provides the tools to achieve productive engagement with the NIH at all levels.   Registration open through March 1, 2019 .

When: March 8, 2019
Where: School of Nursing, Lecture Hall 1145
Time: 8am – 12:45pm (including Q&A lunch)
Presenter: Dr. David Curiel, Professor of Radiation Oncology/Director, Biologic Therapeutics Center
Washington University of St. Louis


In late 2018, the NIH published new instructions for preparing and submitting grant applications and updated review criteria for proposals with deadlines on or after January 25, 2019. This quick update session will briefly cover what you need to know about these significant changes to be compliant, along with a discussion of updates to the R15 parent announcements. In this session we will touch on:
  • R15 activity code rebranding and eligibility changes
  • Application instructions and review criteria updates for research grant applications
  • Enhancing reproducibility - the rigor of the prior research, formerly Scientific Premise 
  • Inclusion reporting - Inclusion Across the Lifespan
  • Protections for human subjects

When: February 26, 2019
Time: 11:00am – 11:45am

STUDENT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
The Toshizo Watanabe Endowed Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to undergraduates/graduate students for a semester or year-long study abroad program in either the United States or Japan. A generous endowment gift of $10 million from Mr. Toshizo (Tom) Watanabe to the U.S.-Japan Council makes it possible to award scholarships to students for whom study abroad would not be possible without financial support. 

The scholarship will support up to the full cost of attendance to the study abroad program of the applicant's choice. The scholarship program grants awards to recipients in amounts determined by financial need and other qualifications. 2019 marks the second year to support American students studying abroad in Japan, and the fourth year for Japanese students studying abroad in the United States. 

The priority for the scholarship is undergraduates who are studying abroad for a year or less. Graduate students and international degree-seeking students may also apply.  
The Burnett Osteopathic Student Researcher Award recognizes an osteopathic medical student for his or her true dedication to osteopathic-oriented research.
Eligibility
The recipient will be an osteopathic medical student who has developed a concept paper or performed osteopathic-oriented research while enrolled in an COCA-accredited college of osteopathic medicine. 

Every aspect of the research must have been performed while enrolled in the COM. 

All applicants must be enrolled as a student in good academic standing at an COCA accredited COM during the fall of the calendar year of this application. 

Reserve the Corner today for collaborative meetings, proposal development or to learn more about AU research resources.
The monthly flights on the AU shuttle connect faculty to other researchers or agencies to further their research goals.
AU PI Handbook, agency guides & more to help you write a successful proposal.

Auburn University subscription based funding service that provides faculty with funding opportunities pertinent to their research areas. 
Proposal Services & Faculty Support
844-5929 / c ls0071@auburn.edu