Beginning a Research Program in the Natural Sciences at a Predominantly Undergraduate Institution
Next Offering: November 20-22, 2009, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
Application Deadline: October 15, 2009
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Starting a successful research program and doing scholarly work at a predominantly undergraduate institution poses unique challenges for a beginning faculty member. A goal of the institute is to give pre-tenured faculty the opportunity to learn from and discuss with experienced faculty how to establish and manage a research program with undergraduates. While at the institute, participants will also prepare plans for starting and/or advancing their individual research programs at their respective campuses. The institute is timely and especially important for faculty in the beginning of their career due to the increased national emphasis on research that is part of the national stimulus package. A range of topics will be covered during the institute, and the specific goals include ways to achieve career success in undergraduate research by learning how to:

• select undergraduate researchers
• mentor student researchers and develop and use their research skills
• time management - balancing teaching, research and service activities
• develop and select research projects appropriate for undergraduates
• adapt to an undergraduate research environment vs. that in graduate school
• link research to the classroom and
• develop grantsmanship skills related to gaining external and institutional research support

• describe what you see as the future of undergraduate research at your institution and
• what outcomes you hope to realize through participation in the CUR Institute.

1. What should be my research expectations for undergraduates?
2. When should I submit my first grant proposal and why?
3. I find myself in a department in which research is expected but not yet valued. What strategies can I use to overcome the notion seemingly held by some of the faculty that classroom teaching is much more important than supervised research and that research detracts from a teacher's classroom performance?
4. In addition to learning about the research process, independent thinking, use of research instruments, etc., what else should students gain from doing a research experience?
5. How do I establish rules (e.g. lab safety rules) and ensure that students obey them?
6. How do I use my department's curriculum and my particular classes to attract students to do long-term research projects in my lab?
7. How do I establish continuity between students coming into and leaving my research group so that I can keep the research program going nearly continuously?
8. How do I introduce research into my classroom?
9. My institution does not have a grants and contracts office. How do I find the time to find appropriate funding agencies and prepare and submit research grant proposals?
10. What institutional and departmental policies and practices should I expect that will encourage or support my research with undergraduates.

Link to Application

Application Deadline: October 15, 2009

The CCLI program is the National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education's broadest, most innovative program. The CCLI program funds projects for creating new learning materials and teaching strategies, developing faculty expertise, implementing educational innovations, and assessing and evaluating student achievement. Please visit the CCLI web site for full program guidelines.

Deadlines: Type 1 projects - May 2010; Type 2 and 3 projects - January 13, 2010

Type 1 Projects (small grants) - Up to $200,000, 2-3 years

Type 2 Projects (medium grants) - Up to $600,000, 2-4 years

Type 3 Projects (large grants) - Up to $5,000,000, 3-5 years

DEADLINES: June 4, initial inquiry; November 12, full proposal

The Special Grant Program in the Chemical Sciences supports innovative projects in any area consistent with the Foundation's broad objective to advance the chemical sciences.

ELIGIBILITY: The Special Grant Program in the Chemical Sciences is open to institutions in the States, Districts, and Territories of the United States of America that have a focus in the chemical sciences. Institutions include schools, colleges and universities, as well as other not-for-profit organizations, such as scientific societies and science museums. Awards are not made directly to individuals, or, in general, to private foundations.

FUNDING: The amount of support requested is determined by the applicant. In 2007, awards ranged from about $11,000 to $75,000.

WRITE:
The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, Inc.
555 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10022

WEB: http://www.dreyfus.org/awards/special_grant_program_chemical.shtml
E-MAIL: admin@dreyfus.org
PHONE: (212) 753-1760

DEADLINE: June 1

The cornerstone of the Center is its Residential Fellows program which awards academic year residential fellowships for about 45 scholars who form a cohesive and diverse intellectual community. Fellows enjoy time and freedom to pursue their priority research, and more importantly, to expand their horizons in active engagement with their Center colleagues. Through its rigorous application-based selection system, the Center identifies and selects top scholars from disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences, the natural sciences, and the humanities, as well as interdisciplinary areas. By awarding residential fellowships to these scholars, bringing them together in a lovely setting with opportunity for social interaction, freeing them from the demands of normal academic life, and giving them free rein with respect to work, the Center serves as an incubator of innovative contributions to academe and society. The result is a track record of influential, groundbreaking work, significant scholarly transformation, and major short- and long-term achievements of Center Fellows. Young scholars are encouraged to apply.

ELIGIBILITY: Applicants with a Ph.D., professional degree (e.g., J.D., M.D.) or equivalent foreign degree are eligible to apply. Applicants who have achieved an equivalent level of professional reputation will also be considered. Faculty at all academic levels or independent scholars may apply, provided they exhibit a high level of achievement (adjusted for rank) including a strong record of research publications. The Center encourages applications from junior scholars at least 3 to 4 years past the doctorate, typically for a fellowship year soon after achieving tenure.

FUNDING: A Center stipend is based on the Fellow's salary for the year before residence. That stipend shall not exceed one-half of the Fellow's academic year (nine-month) base salary for that year and is additionally subject to an upper limit set by the board of trustees. For 2009-10, that cap is set at $60,000. It has not yet been set for 2010-11, but there is no indication that the cap will be altered.

WRITE:

Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences
75 Alta Road
Stanford, CA 94305

WEB: http://www.casbs.org/programs/fellowships/
E-MAIL: secretary@casbs.stanford.edu
PHONE: (650) 321-2052
FAX: (650) 321-1192

DEADLINES: June 1, December 1

The Science Directorate of the American Psychological Association (APA) is seeking
proposals for research conferences in psychology. The purpose of this program is to promote the exchange of important new contributions and approaches in scientific psychology.

ELIGIBILITY: One of the primary organizers must be a member of APA. Only academic institutions accredited by a regional body may apply. Independent research institutions must provide evidence of affiliation with such an accredited institution. Joint proposals from cooperating institutions are encouraged. Conferences may be held only in the United States, its possessions, or Canada.

FUNDING: Grant money, ranging from $500 to $20,000, is available for each scientific
conference. The conference must also be supported by the host institution with direct funds, in-kind support, or a combination of the two.

CONTACT:

WRITE:

APA Science Directorate
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242

Notice of Correction to PAR-08-093

On February 8, 2008, the NIMH issued a Program Announcement (PAR-08-093) entitled, "National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Career Opportunities in Research (COR) Honors Undergraduate Research Training Grant (T34)". This notice is to inform the scientific community of the following revisions to the announcement.

Section II. Award Information (2) Funds Available

D. Training Related Expenses (TRE): The applicant institution may request TRE for each appointed trainee to help defray certain training expenses. These costs may include health insurance for each trainee, limited support for administrative staff salaries, curriculum enhancement, a modest amount of equipment needed to upgrade the curriculum, consultant costs, research supplies, faculty/staff travel directly related to the research training program, and program evaluation. Workshops designed to improve performance on specific tests (e.g., GRE, MCAT) are not allowed, nor is support for mentoring the COR trainees. Requests for TRE costs must be itemized by cost category and justified in the application.

Applicants requesting TRE in excess of 25% of the total direct costs are strongly advised to contact NIMH program staff prior to submitting an application.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information (6) Other Submission Requirements

Research Training Program: The current requirement that COR T34 research training applicants request a minimum of eight trainee positions per grant year is rescinded. Instead, because the depth and quality of the applicant pool and availability of preceptors may vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the number of trainee positions requested may also vary. It should be noted, however, that applicants requesting more than eight trainee positions per year are strongly advised to contact NIMH program staff prior to submitting an application.

Institutional Settings and Characteristics: This section should describe the nature and extent of the participation of students from diverse groups at the institution. Institutional data must include:

• the total number of students from underrepresented, disabled, and disadvantaged groups in the participating science departments;
• the number of students from underrepresented, disabled, and disadvantaged groups graduating per year
• the number of students from underrepresented, disabled, and disadvantaged groups who enroll in research Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. programs

Inquiries

Mark Chavez, Ph.D.
Division of Adult Translational Research & Treatment Development
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 7147, MSC 9633
Telephone: 301-443-8942
FAX: 301-443-4611
Email: mchavez1@mail.nih.gov

DEADLINE: April 27, 2009

This initiative will receive at least $200 million of Recovery Act funds to support 200 or more grants. Applications are due by April 27, 2009. The program will support research that focuses on specific knowledge gaps, scientific opportunities, new technologies, data generation, or research methods that would benefit from an influx of funds to quickly advance the area in significant ways. The announcement describes broad challenge areas and includes links to institute and center sites that contain descriptions of additional, mission-specific topics.

DEADLINES:
Letter of intent (required): April 1, 2009
Detailed proposal (by invitation): September 10, 2009

These awards support innovative efforts to solve the problems of neurological and psychiatric diseases. They encourage research aimed at translating laboratory discoveries about the brain and nervous system into diagnoses and therapies to improve human health.

Collaborative projects between basic and clinical neuroscientists are welcomed, as are proposals that help link basic with clinical neuroscience.

The Neuroscience of Brain Disorders Awards were established in 2000 as the Memory and Brain Disorders Awards. Each year, up to six awards are given. Awards provide $100,000 per year for three years. Funds may be used toward a variety of research activities but not the recipient's salary.

Through a grant from the Educational Advancement Foundation, ACS will hold a one-week workshop this summer for mathematics faculty interested in implementing Inquiry-Based Learning in their teaching. The ACS IBL workshop will be held July 13-18, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency in Austin, Texas. See the workshop flyer and application form for more details.

2009 NIH Regional Seminars on Program Funding and Grants Administration -- Space is LImited

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) would like to inform you of an exciting opportunity to participate in the 2009 NIH Regional Seminars on Program Funding and Grants Administration. These seminars are held only twice a year and are intended to help demystify the application and review process, clarify federal regulations and policies, and highlight current areas of special interest or concern. Approximately 25 leading policy, program, and grants management officials from NIH and HHS will share their expertise and guidance on topics such as:

• Fundamentals of the NIH Grants Process
• How to apply for and manage an NIH grant
• What's new in NIH peer review
• Latest grant policies
• Grant writing for success
• How to interact electronically with NIH
• Small business opportunities
• Public access
• Costs issues
• Compliance
• Humans and animal policies/resources
• NIH's Loan Repayment Program
• And so much more!

Full Proposal Deadline(s):
Type 1 proposal: May 21, 2009
Type 2 and 3 proposals: January 13, 2010

Synopsis of Program:
The Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) program seeks to improve the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education of all undergraduate students. It especially welcomes proposals that have the potential to transform undergraduate education in science, technology, engineering and math for all students. This program supports efforts to create, adapt, and disseminate new learning materials and teaching strategies to reflect advances both in STEM disciplines and in what is known about teaching and learning. It funds projects that develop faculty expertise, implement educational innovations, assess learning and evaluate innovations, prepare K-12 teachers, or conduct research on STEM teaching and learning. It also supports projects that further the work of the program itself, for example, synthesis and dissemination of findings across the program. The program supports projects representing different stages of development, ranging from small, exploratory investigations to large, comprehensive projects.

Please contact the Office of Grants and Contracts if you are interested in applying for this grant opportunity.

When: 12:00-1:00 p.m., Friday, March 20, 2009
Where: 302 Alvarez Morcott Room

Do you have a great idea for a research project? Have you thought about submitting a grant to the National Institutes of Health, but don't know where to begin? Faculty members are invited to a brief presentation and Q&A session on NIH funding. Kristie Foley will share her personal experience with the NIH grant submission and review process, for the social and behavioral sciences as well as the natural sciences. Mary Muchane will provide an overview of the pre- and post-award support provided by Davidson's Office of Grants and Contracts.

Deadline: October 19

Struggling with your manuscript? Do you need

• dedicated time to write under the guidance of colleagues and editors


• colleagues to review your work and provide comments


• feedback from editors about what really counts


• motivation to keep writing?

The National Science Foundation invites applications for the 2009 Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF-GRFP) competition. This program offers up to 3 years of graduate school support worth over $120,000 to each awardee - last year 913 awards were granted. Benefits include a $30,000 annual stipend, a $10,500 annual cost of education allowance, a one time $1,000 travel allowance, and access to TeraGrid supercomputing facilities. U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents at or near the beginning of their graduate study seeking research-based Master's and/or PhD degrees in NSF-supported science (including social science and psychology) and engineering disciplines are eligible to apply. The application process is expected to open in August 2008 and close early November 2008. Interested applicants should visit www.nsf.gov/grfp/ or www.nsfgradfellows.org for additional information concerning benefits, eligibility, and tips on applying. Interested applicants should strongly consider preparing their applications as early as possible to help increase their chances of winning.

DEADLINE: August 18, 2008

The Economics Program at the National Science Foundation supports research designed to improve the understanding of the processes and institutions of the U.S. economy and of the world system of which it is a part. This program also strengthens both empirical and theoretical economic analysis as well as the methods for rigorous research on economic behavior. It supports research in almost every area of economics, including econometrics, economic history, environmental economics, finance, industrial organization, international economics, labor economics, macroeconomics, mathematical economics, and public finance.

DEADLINE: August 12, 2008

The purpose of the NIH Research Conference Grant Program (R13 and U13) is to support high quality conferences/scientific meetings that are relevant to the scientific mission of the NIH and to the public health. A conference/scientific meeting is defined as a gathering, symposium, seminar, scientific meeting, workshop or any other organized, formal meeting where persons assemble to coordinate, exchange, and disseminate information or to explore or clarify a defined subject, problem, or area of knowledge.

DEADLINE: August 29, 2008

The Instrument Development for Biological Research (IDBR) Program at the National Science Foundation supports the development of novel instrumentation or instrumentation that has been significantly improved by at least an order of magnitude or more in fundamental aspects. Supported instruments are expected to have a significant impact on the study of biological systems at any level. The development of new instrumentation must be firmly based in biological research need.

DEADLINE: August 14, 2008

The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation seeks to further the development of scientific leadership in the field of environmental chemistry with a postdoctoral fellowship program. The Postdoctoral Program in Environmental Chemistry provides an award to a principal investigator of $120,000 over two years to appoint a Fellow in environmental chemistry.

DEADLINE: August 1, 2008 (Standard Grants)

The North American Wetlands Act Standard Grants Program at the Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, is a competitive, matching grants program that supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. These projects must involve long-term protection, restoration, and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats. In Mexico, projects may also include technical training, environmental education and outreach, organizational infrastructure development, and sustainable-use studies.

PHONE: (703) 358-1784

WEB: http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants

DEADLINE: July 25, 2008 (target)

The Biological Research Collections program at the National Science Foundation supports biological collection enhancement, computerization of specimen-related data, research to develop better methods for specimen curation and collection managmenet, and activities such as symposia and workshops to investigate support and management of biological collections.

WEB: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_list.jsp?org=DBI

DEADLINE: July 14, 2008 (target)

The National Science Foundation seeks to encourage new approaches to the management, analysis, and dissemination of biological knowledge for the benefit of both the scientific community and the broader public through the Biological Databases and Informatics program.

PHONE: (703) 292-2470

WEB: http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=DBI

DEADLINE: July 12, 2008

The Division of Integrative Organismal Biology at the National Science supports research aimed at integrative understanding of organisms as units of biological organization, with particular emphasis on their development, form, function, and evolution.

PHONE: (703) 292-8423

WEB: http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=IOS

DEADLINE: July 10, 2008 (letter of intent)

The Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at the National Science Foundation supports scholarships for academically talented, financially needy students.

DEADLINE: July 9, 2008

The Division of Environmental Biology in the Biological Sciences Directorate at the National Science Foundation supports fundamental research on populations, species, communities, and ecosystems. Scientific emphases include:

DEADLINES: July 12, 2008, January 12, 2009

The Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) supports fundamental research and related activities that address the dynamic underpinnings of complex living systems at the molecular, subcellular and cellular levels.

The spectrum of topics covered within the MCB portfolio of funded projects generally focus on the determination of the structure, function and dynamic properties of the complex molecular machinery involved in information transfer, regulation, signaling, and cellular architecture and organization. Awards include integrative projects that address (i) molecular structure, function and organization (ii) genetic, metabolic, and signaling pathways or networks and the regulatory mechanisms that control them, (iii) the significance of spatial and temporal organization on protein or RNA folding, genome structure and genetic processes, and other cellular mechanisms, (iv) communication and interaction between molecules, macromolecules, and subcellular components and pathways, and (v) the flow of energy and information within and between molecules or macromolecular complexes, or within and between cells.

DEADLINE: June 26, 2008 (Nominations)
ANNOUNCEMENT OF AWARD: October 2008

The Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program supports the research and teaching careers of talented young faculty in the chemical sciences. Based on institutional nominations, the program provides discretionary funding to faculty at an early stage in their careers. The Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program is based on accomplishment in scholarly research with undergraduates, as well as a compelling commitment to teaching. The Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program provides an unrestricted research grant of $60,000.

DEADLINE: June 23, 2008
SOLICITATION NO.: NSF 08-539

The Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities Program (CRIF) is structured to enable the National Science Foundation's Division of Chemistry to respond to a variety of needs for infrastructure that promotes research and education in areas traditionally supported by the Division (NSF Chemistry Homepage).The Departmental Multi-User Instrumentation component of CRIF (CRIF:MU) provides funds to universities, colleges, and consortia thereof for the purchase of multi-user instruments. The maximum request is $500,000 for instrumentation.

June 3-5, 2008 (Evening Welcome Reception - June 2) University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Freeman Hrabowski, III, President of University of Maryland--Baltimore County, founder of Meyerhoff Scholars Program

CONCURRENT SESSIONS ON A RANGE OF TOPICS SUCH INCLUDING:

DEADLINE(S): June 5, 2008 (initial inquiry); November 13, 2008 (proposal)

The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation's Special Grants Program in the Chemical Sciences supports innovative projects in any area consistent with the Foundation's broad objective to advance the chemical sciences.

DEADLINE: May 21, 2008 (Phase I)

The Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) program at the National Science Foundation supports projects that build on prior work and contribute to the knowledge base of undergraduate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education research and practice. With an emphasis on measurable outcomes, the program will support: 1) conducting research on undergraduate STEM teaching and learning; 2) creating learning materials and teaching strategies; 3) developing faculty expertise; 4) implementing educational innovations; and 5) assessing learning and evaluating innovations.

DEADLINE: August 1, 2008

The Research Associateship awards through the National Research Council are open to doctoral level scientists and engineers (U.S and Foreign Nationals) who can apply their special knowledge and talents to research areas that are of interest to them and to the participating host laboratories and centers.

DEADLINE: May 1, 2008 (Phase I)

The W.M. Keck Foundation Liberal Arts Program supports research, education, and capital projects in science, engineering and medicine.

DEADLINE: May 15, 2008 (target)

Research Corporation Single Investigator Cottrell College Science Awards support significant research that contributes to the advancement of science and to the professional and scholarly development of faculty at undergraduate institutions along with their students

DEADLINE FOR NOMINATION: May 8, 2008

The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation supports the scholarly activity of new faculty at primarily undergraduate institutions with an award to help initiate their independent research programs. The Faculty Start-up Awards Program provides an unrestricted research grant of $30,000 that is generally approved before the new faculty members formally begin their first tenure-track appointments.

DEADLINE: March 1

The American Philosophical Society Library offers short-term residential fellowships for conducting research in its collections. The Society's library, located near Independence Hall in Philadelphia, is a leading international center for research in the history of American science and technology and its European roots, as well as early American history and culture.

DEADLINE: February 15, 2008

The National Institute of Standards and Technology partnerships with colleges and universities to allow undergraduates majoring in science, mathematics and engineering to perform summer research at the national NIST laboratories, with emphases on atomic, molecular and optical physics and materials science and engineering. The NIST facilities are located just outside Washington, DC. Applications for participation in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship(SURF) program are only accepted from colleges or universities submitting on behalf of the student applicant. Applications will not be accepted directly from a student. The application package includes a single set of forms completed by the institution, and a set of materials provided by each student applicant.

LETTER OF INTENT DEADLINE: December 21, 2007
(Required only for acquisition requests between $2 million and $4 million. See full text of this solicitation for details.)
FULL PROPOSAL DEADLINE: January 24, 2008

The Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) is designed to increase access to scientific and engineering equipment for research and research training in our Nation's organizations of higher education, research museums, and non-profit research organizations. This program seeks to improve the quality and expand the scope of research and research training in science and engineering, and to foster the integration of research and education by providing instrumentation for research-intensive learning environments. The MRI program encourages the development and acquisition of research instrumentation for shared inter- and/or intra-organizational use and in concert with private sector partners.

DEADLINE: January 15, 2008

The Smithsonian Institution offers residential fellowships to support research and study in fields including the natural sciences, anthropology, archaeology, space sciences, earth sciences, history of science and technology, history of art, American social and cultural history, and folklife.

DEADLINE: February 14, 2008

Hewlett-Packard is offering Technology for Teaching grants. Grants will be awarded to support projects that integrate technology and learning in the college classroom.

DEADLINES: December 12, April 12, August 12

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recognizes the value of supporting scientific meetings that are relevant to its scientific mission and to the public health. An R13 Conference Grant provides partial support for scientific conferences and meetings.

DEADLINE: December 1, 2007

The James McKeen Cattell Fund provides supplemental sabbatical fellowships to enable faculty members in psychology to take a full year's leave from their institutions The Fund's objective is to support scientific research and the dissemination of knowledge with the object of obtaining results beneficial to the development of the science of psychology and to the advancement of the useful application of psychology.

DEADLINE: January 11, 2008

The Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) awards approximately ten fellowships of up to $9,000 to scholars who wish to carry out research on broad issues of multinational significance in the fields of humanities, social sciences, and related natural sciences.

DEADLINE: January 9, 2008, July 9, 2008

Ecological Biology
Long Term Research in Environmental Biology (LTREB)

The Division of Environmental Biology at the National Science Foundation (NSF) supports fundamental research on populations, species, communities, and ecosystems.