Biophysical Society Bulletin | June 2020

Outreach

Funding Opportunities for Faculty at PUIs The BPS Education Committee sponsors a session at the Annual Meeting entitled “Funding Opportunities for Faculty at PUIs.” This article presents highlights from the 2020 meeting. As researchers, we are consistently on the lookout for funding opportunities. Faculty at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) are often tasked with the complicated challenge of finding ways to generate funds to support their undergradu- ate research efforts. Here I have provided some key insights into the realm of PUI funding opportunities. There are three common avenues of funding looked at by PUI faculty: 1. National Science Foundation (NSF) – RUI/ROA

2. National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Research Enhancement Award (R15) The NIH Research Enhancement Award includes the Academ- ic Research Enhancement Award (AREA)/R15 Program for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions. The AREA/R15 program supports small-scale research projects in the biomedical and behavioral sciences conducted at educational institutions that provide baccalaureate or advanced degrees for a significant number of the nation’s research scientists, but that have not been major recipients of NIH support. The main goals of the R15 program are to support meritorious research, expose students to research, and to strengthen the research envi- ronment of your institution. The project period is limited to up to three years and the R15 funding budget is the amount of direct costs — limited to $300,000 — over the entire project period. What is the review process for an R15? At NIH, R15s are reviewed together in a study session. For more details, please look at the NIH website: https:/grants.nih.gov/grants/fund- ing/r15.htm and funding opportunity announcement (FOA) number PAR-18-174, which provides detailed descriptions of the program and institutional eligibility. The funding success rate of the R15 program is 18 percent. 3. Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA) – Cottrell Scholar Award. There are specific guidelines and a deadline of July 1 for the Cottrell Scholar Award. Eligible applicants for the Cottrell Scholar Award are tenure-track faculty who hold primary or courtesy appointments in chemistry, physics, or astronomy departments that offer bachelor’s and/or graduate degrees in the applicant’s discipline. You must also be in your third year of a tenure-track position. For example: For the 2020 propos- al cycle, eligibility is limited to faculty members who started their first tenure-track appointment anytime in calendar year 2017. RCSA notes accommodations are made for faculty who have taken maternity or paternity leave, or who have experienced medical conditions that prompted a tenure clock extension. To request an eligibility extension, you will need to contact the program director. The proposal submission in- cludes both a research plan and detailed education plan. RCSA is looking for proposals to include modern scientific approach- es through innovative and cutting edge research with an em- phasis on teaching. Cottrell Scholar Awards are for three-year projects in the amount of $100,000 for the project. A budget is not required, and no budget page is included in the propos- al. The funds may be spent by the PI as they wish to support both the research and educational projects proposed. There is a thorough three-step proposal review process of Cottrell

The Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) and Re- search Opportunity Awards (ROA) funding opportunities support research by faculty members at PUIs. RUI proposals support PUI faculty in research that engages them in their professional field(s), builds capacity for research at their institution, and supports the integration of research and undergraduate education. ROAs similarly support PUI faculty research, but these awards typically allow faculty to work as visiting scientists at research-intensive organizations where they collaborate with other NSF-supported investigators. There are no stated budget limits for your RUI proposal. However, it is recommended that when thinking about the budget for your proposal, ask for what you need in context to the project. It is important to mention that an RUI is not for obtaining major equipment. However, some programs may consider proposals requesting funds for shared research instrumentation. You may request funding for smaller equip- ment not available but necessary for the completion of the project. If a large piece of equipment is needed, you may want to look into applying for a Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Award through NSF. What is the review process for an RUI? At NSF, RUIs are reviewed with regular proposals in the same review panel. There are instructions given to each reviewer to take into account the PI is at a PUI (i.e., no graduate students, slower publication rate, limited instrumentation, etc). For more details, please look at the NSF website https:/www.nsf. gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5518 and program solicitation online, NSF 14-579, which provides a detailed description of the program and eligibility. If an RUI/ROA is not for you, look into the Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER). This program offers promi- nent NSF awards in support of early career faculty.

June 2020

12

T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E B I O P H Y S I C A L S O C I E T Y