ExPERT: Extended Professional Enhancement and Research Training

The Office of the Provost and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs coordinate the Extended Professional Enhancement and Research Training (ExPERT) initiative. Up to 5 fellows will be selected to participate for one year, beginning in fall 2010. Tenured faculty who have identified a funding opportunity or fellowship for which they would like to compete or are entering a new area or re-engaging in research after a period of focus on teaching will receive preference.

Purpose
ExPERT aims to develop competitive external proposals to support multiyear research projects and creative activities. Fellows receive assistance from both internal and external consultants to improve their grantsmanship and to develop a 5-year plan that incorporates proven strategies for funding their research and creative activities.

Award
Fellows will receive a $2,500 stipend to focus on this program in summer 2011, a $500 travel supplement, and a copy of The How To Grants Manual: Successful Grantseeking Techniques for Obtaining Public and Private Grants. They will receive group and individual training with the author, grants consultant David Bauer, and assistance from the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

Program
Fellows contract with the Office of the Provost and ORSP to participate fully in the initiative as follows:

September/October 2010

• Attend intensive one-day grants workshop
• Participate in an individual interview with the grants consultant to clarify the proposal agenda and professional development plan (PDP)

December 2010

• Participate in an hour-long individual interview with the grants consultant to review progress on the PDP
• Develop a project outline for approval by the grants consultant as potentially fundable
• Identify three top scholars in the field who might be approached to review the proposal

April/May 2011

• Participate in a half-day seminar on Forming Productive Groups and Teams and a half-day seminar on Quality Circles (participants will be expected to put their proposals through a quality circle improvement exercise and to assist other ExPERT fellows by acting as reviewers or quality circle leaders)

• Participate in an hour-long individual interview with the grants consultant to review and adapt PDP strategies
• Establish phone or email contact with at least one scholar who will serve as a proposal mentor
• Refine white paper into 5-10-page scope-of-work
• Identify potential funding sources and develop letters of inquiry, making site visits to top scholars and funding sources as necessary

September/October 2011

• Develop a full proposal for submission to the funding source
• Have it reviewed by the proposal mentor
• Have it reviewed and approved by grants consultant
• Make site visits to top scholars and funding sources as necessary

Application forms should be submitted electronically to Susan Edwards (edwardss@wfu.edu) by 5 P.M. on June 30, 2010. Applicants will be notified of selection by July 31, 2010.