Faculty Research Engagement Grants 

The STEM Center funds the Faculty Research Engagement Grants (FREG) with the purposes of enhancing faculty's ability to do basic research and to support the overall objective of bringing scientific and mathematical exploration to all levels of students.
 
Funding Priorities:
  • Projects must engage students (PK - 12 and/or university students) as a top priority.
  • A requirement for funding is the submissionof a pre-proposal to an external funding source by October 31, 2013.
  • A plan for pursuit of external funding must be included in the FREG proposal, including the targeted funding source and a link to the request for proposals (RFP).
  • Special consideration will be given to interdisciplinary or collaborative projects as well as to proposals involvivng pre-tenured faculty beginning new research programs.  These considerations will not preclude funding sound and innovative projects by senior faculty.  Submission of all types of proposals is encouraged.
  • Project proposals that support the STEM Center's mission in other roles, such as outreach, are also encouraged.
Funding Constraints:
  • The FREG program is intended to be used for faculty and student summer support and cannot be used for travel expenses.
  • Equipment costs will be allowed under exceptional circumstances with a statement of justification.
  • Funds can be used in conjunction with external funding provided that the work leads to an additional external proposal submission (FREG proposals for the development of courses, outside of normal curriculum development, will be considered as long as there is a likely external funding source for the continuation of the course, possible as part of a larger program).

Application Procedure and Deadlines:

  • A complete proposal will include a Summary Cover Page followed by a project summary (no longer than two pages) of the intended research or project, including a plan of further work to be done in anticipation of external funding.   The Cover Page template is located here.
  • The summary must also include a budget justification.
  • Additional materials, such as a project abstract of future requests for the external proposal you plan to submit (or similar), may be appended beyond the two pages.
  • The FREG committee may contact applicants for further explanation and/or clarification during proposal evaluation.
  • All proposals should be completed and submitted to Ms. Linda Boozer in the STEM Center by March 25, 2013.  Awardees will be notified by April 15, 2013.
  • Evaluation of applications will be done by a committee of three members appointed by the executive director of the STEM Center.  The committee will rank proposals according to the priorities stated above.
  • Awardees must complete a one-page written summary of results including plans for further work, to be submitted to the STEM Center executive director by October 31, 2013.
  • A written pre-proposal for external funding and an anticipated date for submission (along with the RFP) should be submitted along with the summary of results.
  • Additionally, projects must have a dissemination component to include presentation in the CoSM Faculty Seminar, a general interest talk, or other outreach activity completed in the academic year following funding.