Office of Sponsored Programs and Research

Mission

The mission of the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research is to:

• Identify and disseminate grant opportunities to faculty and staff.
• Assist faculty and staff in grant proposal preparation.
• Foster collaborations with local institutions, government research facilities, and private industry.
• Connect students with appropriate summer research opportunities.
• Provide pre-award and post-award oversight.
• Support faculty development.

Activities

The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research:

• Sponsors writing and grants training workshops.
• Administers internal and external awards.
• Assists in finding grant opportunities.
• Ensures compliance with sponsor agency requirements.
• Assists students to identify and secure summer research opportunities.
• Administers faculty conference funding.
• Administers internal faculty grants.

Support

The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research was created in 2006 with the support of a 3-year NIH Extramural Associates Research Development Award (EARDA). A 5-year NIH Biomedical/Biobehavioral Research Administration Development (BRAD) Award provided extended support from 2011 through 2014. The office is now fully supported by Stevenson University.

Internal Support

Internal Awards

The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research (OSPR) manages the administration of internal grant awards, available to full-time faculty to promote research and scholarship.

Faculty Conferences

OSPR administers funds for faculty members to attend academic conferences. About 60 trips are sponsored each year.

Full-time faculty may request up to $1,500 annually for conferences at which they present.  If they are attending only, they may request up to $1,000.  Adjunct faculty may request up to $1,250 for conferences at which they are presenting.  If less than the maximum is requested for one conference, the remainder may be used for an additional conference if funds are available.

Student Research Opportunities

Each fall, our office conducts several seminars to acquaint students with upcoming summer research internship opportunities available across the country. For many students who participate, this activity can serve as their capstone experience as well.*

*All students who take part in summer research activities must first complete an online course called Responsible Conduct of research for Students.

Training

The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research (OSPR) offers both required and optional training activities for faculty, staff and students.

CITI Training

All students, faculty, and staff members, involved in research at Stevenson University are required to take appropriate training to ensure that they understand the legal and ethical rules of research.

Our office administers this required research training through on-line courses provided by the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI), through the Biomedical Research Alliance of New York (BRANY)

Courses include:

• Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
  • For students
  • For Faculty
  • For Administrators
• Conflicts of Interest
• Social & Behavioral Research
• Course-based Research

Enroll in Courses:

The homepage for the CITI courses can be found here.

Writing Workshops

Summer Writing Retreat, June 2020

June 1-4, 2020

The OSPR will host its twelfth Summer Writing Retreat on June 1-4, 2020. Faculty have the opportunity to prepare their research, other scholarly work, and grant proposals during this four-day workshop. It will be held in the Cuvilly Faculty/Student Exchange and Meditation Center on the Greenspring Campus. Substantial time is provided for work on writing skills, editing, as well as feedback, discussion, and daily workshops. Dr. Herb Childress, author, Co-founder and Director of Metaphor at Teleidoscope Group will facilitate.

Winter Writing Retreat, January 2020

January 14-15, 2020

The OSPR hosted a 2-day Winter Writing Retreat in the Greenspring Library. Faculty appreciated dedicated to work on scholarly activities, collaborate with their fellow faculty, and be receive feedback from peers and OSPR staff.

Policies & Forms

Grant Funding

The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research (OSPR) would like to assist you in finding and obtaining funding for programs and research. This includes searching for funding opportunities, aiding in the application process, and assisting in the administration of any funding awarded. Additionally, the OSPR facilitates grant writing efforts through the formation and support of Peer Review Groups. Please complete the appropriate form(s) and return to the OSPR to aid us in assisting you.

• Funding Opportunities Survey
• Peer Review Group Interest Form

External Grant Submissions

All research and non-research funding requests will use the forms listed below. Grant proposals must be routed through the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research (OSPR). Please consult the Guidelines for Requesting Grant Support for a step-by-step overview of the University's internal process for requesting funding from outside sources.

• Overview - Steps for Requesting Grant Support
• Grant Development Worksheet - Please complete and submit this form to the OSPR along with a copy of the program announcement (funding instructions) before you begin writing your proposal. Upon receipt of the Grant Development Worksheet, the OSPR and/or the Office of University Advancement will be available to work closely with the applicant to assure that deadlines are met.
• Grant Submission Cover Sheet - This form must be completed and attached to the hard copy of your proposal. Processing the application includes obtaining signatures from many university administrators and usually takes several days. It is, therefore, essential to provide the OSPR with a draft within ten business days of the grant proposal deadline.
• Guidelines for Funded Grant Proposals - Once a grant proposal is approved, the OSPR and the Office of University Advancement (if applicable), will work closely with the Project Director (PD)/Principal Investigator (PI) to ensure all conditions of the funding are met.

Financial Conflict of Interest Information

The following forms are required for all Government Funded Research and Projects:

• Financial Conflict of Interest Plan (FCOI) - This form must be reviewed, completed, signed, and attached to the hard copy of your proposal along with the Grant Submission Cover Sheet.
• Significant Financial Interest Disclosure - This form must be completed, signed, and submitted along with the Grant Submission Cover Sheet for review.
• FCOI CITI Training Course - Each investigator seeking government funding must complete FCOI training prior to submitting a proposal for government funded research or projects. Investigators must complete training every four years and immediately when any of the following occurs:
  • Stevenson University finds the investigator noncompliant with its policy or a management plan.
  • The investigator is new to Stevenson University.
  • The Stevenson University policy changes in a manner that significantly affects requirements.

IRB Forms

If your research includes human subjects, please complete the appropriate form and provide to Dr. Jeffrey Elliott, Chair IRB, jelliott@stevenson.edu, 443-334-2139 (IRB must be included in the file name and subject line of the email). 

• Application for Approval of Investigation Involving the Use of Human Subjects
• IRB Review Criteria
• Class Research Project Application
• Research Consent Form
• Research Consent Form Instructions

IRB Training Module

In-Service Education for IRB Members

Stevenson University Policies

• IRB/HSRB Policies and Forms - All research involving human subjects must receive approval through Stevenson University's Institutional Review Board (IRB) before research may commence. Policy Manual IV: Faculty Policies, 4.14: Institutional Review Board contains additional information.
• Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Scientific Misconduct - This document is available in Policy Manual IV: Faculty Policies, 4.15: Responding to Allegations of Scientific Misconduct

Funding Tools

Grant Search Databases

GrantForward

GrantForward is a grant search database that  has been available to users at Stevenson for several years.  While it contains data from all types of sponsors, it has a heavy emphasis on federal and other governmental grants.

Log-in: //www.grantforward.com/search. Click “Log-in.” You will need to create a username and password if you have not already done so. You create them by clicking on the “Sign Up” link in the upper right corner. If you already have signed up, then click “Log In” and enter your user name and password.

When you set up your account, you will be given the option of setting up a profile.

There are eight types of search criteria available when searching for grant opportunities.

GrantSelect

GrantSelect is a grant search database that has predominant focus on grants from foundations.

Under quick search, there are four search criteria available. Under advanced search, eight additional criteria are available.

No password is required. Log-in: //grantselect.com/login.html. Then click the green button that says “Institutional Login.”

 Grant Writing Tips

The following websites provide assistance on writing a grant proposal:

• Advice on writing proposals to the National Science Foundations
• How to write a research project grant application - From the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Quick guide for grant applications - From the National Cancer Institute
• 20 reasons why proposals aren't funded
• Grantspace.org

Scholarship 

Fulbright Programs

Fulbright Scholar Program
The Fulbright Scholar Program, established in 1946 under legislation introduced by former Senator J. William Fulbright, is administered by the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) on behalf of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the United States Department of State.

The program currently operates in approximately 160 countries worldwide and is funded primarily by appropriations made by the United States Congress to the Department of State.

Core Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program offers approximately 470 teaching, research or combination teaching/research awards in over 125 countries. Opportunities are available for college and university faculty and administrators as well as for professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, independent scholars and many others. In addition to several new program models designed to meet the changing needs of U.S. academics and professionals, Fulbright offers flexible awards including multi-country opportunities. Click here or eligibility, application, review criteria, timeline, highlights and FAQs. The competition for 2021-2022 opened in February 2020 and will close September 15, 2020.

Fulbright Specialist Program
The Fulbright Specialist Program sends U.S. scholars and professionals overseas for a period of two to six weeks to collaborate with professional counterparts at institutions of higher education on curriculum and faculty development, institutional assessment and planning, and related activities. Read more about the Specialist Program here.

Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program
The Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program provides annual awards to approximately 800 faculty and professionals from over 155 countries to conduct postdoctoral research at U.S. institutions from an academic semester to an academic year. Read more here.

Outreach Lecturing Fund
The Outreach Lecturing Fund (OLF) provides funding for campuses to host Fulbright Visiting Scholars, who are already in the United States, for short-term (2-6 days) speaking engagements. Special consideration is given to campuses that have not previously participated in the Fulbright Scholar Program. Read more about the program here.

For more detailed information on any of these programs and more, please visit the CIES website. Information on this site was provided by CIES.

Fulbright Updates and Tips

Core Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program: Tips for Navigating the Catalog of Awards

The first step in applying for a Core Fulbright grant is identifying a single award from the Catalog of Awards. Awards are designed in country, and reflect host countries needs and priorities. In the catalog, you will see numerous ways to search for awards: by region or country, discipline, open to early career, or you can perform a keyword search.

Once you select an award, you'll have access to a lot of information that will guide your application preparation: contact information for CIES program officer, overview of financial benefits and allowances for each country, grant activity and content of the award, applicable host locations, requirements for invitation letters and language proficiency, the length of grant and starting month (dependent on academic calendar) and so on.

Applicants should take some time, review the expectations and research into the educational systems and the cultural and political context to make sure they are presenting an ideal match between self and project and the host country. Please visit the Catalog of Awards to explore opportunities, and feel free to reach out to us at scholars@iie.org with general questions. Best of luck!

Information above was provided by CIES.

• 9 Things You Can Do Now to Prepare for the Next Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Competition
• The One Article to Read Before Submitting Your Fulbright Application