Research Foundation Guidelines:
Spring Deadline March 15

Statement of Purpose

The Research Foundation encourages the exploration of new fields across a broad spectrum of disciplines. In doing so, the Foundation expands opportunities for faculty to attract support and resources from external sources while encouraging work in fields that are traditionally underfunded. The Research Foundation is principally for faculty.

The Foundation supports two levels of grants. The first level, Type A grants, provide support in the range of $500 to $5,000. The second level, Type B grants, provide support in the range of $5,001 to $50,000. The standard application for a Type A grant is briefer than that for a Type B grant, reflecting respective funding levels. However, the review criteria for Type A and Type B grants are similar, and several general factors are considered in evaluating an application for either type of grant. They are:

The Application Process

The Research Foundation Board will review both Type A and Type B applications in the fall and spring of each academic year. Applications for the fall cycle are due on or before November 1 of each year, while spring cycle applications are due on or before March 15 of each year. All research projects involving human subjects or animals must receive Institutional Board approval prior to funding. Questions concerning human/animal research should be directed to Mrs. Ruth Clark at 898-2614. All research projects involving the use of hazardous or biohazardous materials must receive approval from the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) prior to funding. Questions about this approval process should be directed to Ms. Harriet Izenberg at 898-4453. The use of radioactive materials must be reported to Dr. Mark Selikson in the Office of Radiation Safety at 898-7187.

An original and ten copies of the proposal with the cover sheet* should be submitted to the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, 212 College Hall/6381.

Type A Proposals are limited in length to ten single spaced pages and should contain a brief description of the research and the specific needs which the grant will cover. The proposal should include:

  1. The Research Foundation Proposal Cover Sheet. Failure to fully complete the Cover Sheet will risk disqualification from the competition.

  2. 100-word abstract of significance of the project for the educated non-specialist.

  3. Amount of current research support (including start-up packages).

  4. Other pending proposals for the same project.

  5. List of research support received during the past three years. Include funds from University sources such as school, department, or Research Foundation. If you were funded by the Research Foundation in the last three years, please submit a brief progress report with publications and grants proposed or received (no more than one page).

  6. A one-page biographical sketch of the investigator(s) listing educational background, academic positions held, and five recent publications.

  7. A back-up of the 100-word abstract in the form of a three or four page mini-proposal.

  8. A budget that justifies the specific items requested and assigns a priority to each item.

Research Foundation support for Type A proposals will focus on:

Type B Proposals are limited in length to fifteen single spaced pages. The following format is suggested for Type B proposals:

  1. The Research Foundation Proposal Cover Sheet. Failure to fully complete the Cover Sheet will risk disqualification from the competition.

  2. 100-word abstract of significance of the project for the educated non-specialist.

  3. Amount of current research support (including start-up packages).

  4. Other pending proposals for the same project.

  5. List of research support, including titles, amounts, and grant periods, received during the past three years. Include funds from University sources such as school, department, or Research Foundation.

  6. A brief curriculum vitae including publications for the principal investigator.

  7. Statement of the objectives and scholarly or scientific significance of the proposed work (two to three pages).

  8. Description of the research plan and methodologies to be employed (three to four pages).

  9. Description of the significance and impact of the project.

  10. Description of how a Research Foundation grant will facilitate acquisition of future research funds.

  11. Budget (one page). Budget items should be listed in order of priority.

Research Foundation support for Type B proposals focus on several areas of need. These are:

Requests for student tuition and dissertation fees will not be considered by the Foundation.

Cover Sheet*
Research Foundation Proposal

Principal Investigator: ___________________________________________________

Phone:__________

E-mail ______________

Department: _________________________

School: _____________________________

Campus address: _____________________

Mail code: _______

Business Administrator (name, phone #, and e-mail) ______________________________

Title of proposal: ______________________________________________________

Amount requested: ___________________

Does the project involve the use of any of the following:

Human subjects or animals? __________
Radioactive material/radiation-producing equipment? _______
Investigational new drugs or new devices? __
Potentially infectious agents, including human blood or tissue? ______
carcinogens? ______
In vitro formation of Recombinant DNA?____

Please indicate below which Committee you would prefer to review your proposal:

_____ Biomedical

_____ Humanities

_____ Social Science & Management

_____ Natural Science & Engineering

Signatures:

Dean: ______________________________

Department Chair: ____________________

Principal Investigator: __________________

* This "cover sheet" is for information only. For a usable form on the PennWeb: http://www.upenn.edu/research/index.html-- Ed.


Almanac

Volume 43 Number 24
March 4, 1997


Return to Almanac's homepage.

Return to index for this issue.