SCIENCE RESEARCH FUND (SRF)

Partially supported by a grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, the Science Research Fund sponsors projects in the natural and mathematical sciences. Proposals are peer reviewed for their significance and the likelihood that they will generate pilot data to enhance future applications to extramural agencies for the support of the applicant's long-term research program.

Funds up to $10K ($15K if applying for IIEF) can be requested for research supplies, maintenance of essential equipment, travel, or technical personnel. Applicants must demonstrate that travel, if budgeted, is essential to the project. In addition, a matching contribution or cost sharing from their department to cover some of the travel costs is encouraged. Defrayal of professional society dues is not allowed.

All Science Research Fund awards are subject to the Terms and Conditions for Internal Awards and Guidance for Internal Award Final Reports. The project period is 1 year, with the possibility of a 1-year, no-cost extension. When the grant is awarded, the grants manager will establish an account and disburse the funds on the written authority of the investigator or a designated representative. Any balance unexpended at the grant's expiration will be returned to the main account, unless an extension (without additional funds) is requested in writing 10 days prior to the grant's end date. Within 90 days after the grant terminates, a final progress report must be submitted to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. The final report should include a one page summary of research results including publications, presentations and proposals that resulted from this project.

Eligibility is restricted to full-time, tenured or tenure-track science faculty and research support staff with adjunct faculty appointments on the Reynolda Campus. Nontenure-track faculty may be considered, if their appointments continue through the award year. Preference will be given to those who have not previously received an award. There can be no more than 2 awards in any consecutive 3 year period to the same principal investigator and no more than 2 awards to the same project, regardless of PI, in any consecutive 3 year period.

Priorities for Awards: In addition to the quality of the proposed research, priorities are as follows: (1) junior faculty whom an award will assist in becoming competitive for external support; (2) more experienced faculty entering new areas or reengaging in research; and (3) senior faculty who must perform additional work to remedy gaps in declined proposals.

Bridge Funding: Experienced researchers whose renewal applications are declined may request one-time bridge funding at any time of the year. To apply, submit the declined renewal proposal's reviewer comments, a 1-2 page plan to address them, an Application for Internal Funds form, an abstract, and a 1-page budget. Please be sure to show how external reviewer comments have been addressed.

Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fund (IIEF) supplement: Additional funding of up to $5,000 for entrepreneurial projects. The number of projects awarded is contingent upon availability of funds each year. To be considered for this funding, check the appropriate box on the application form and attach an additional one page narrative addressing these 3 questions:

1. How and why should your proposed project be considered innovative and
   interdisciplinary?;
2. How and why should your proposed project be considered entrepreneurial?;
3. How will your project be sustainable after the period of funding?

Applications for the entrepreneurial grants should also contain a separate budget page covering the entrepreneurial aspects of the project. Allowable expenses include but are not limited to technical assistance, consultant costs, marketing analyses, attendance at entrepreneurial meetings, and web site development. For more information see the call for proposals here.

Proposal Preparation: The Application for Internal Funds form must be completed and signed by the applicant and the appropriate department chair or equivalent. Forms are available here. Application instructions and a checklist for the proposal are included on page 2 of the application. 

The following format is required for all applications:

A. Abstract: A brief summary of the proposed activity suitable for publication. Not more than one paragraph. Clearly address in separate statements the 1) intellectual merit, and 2) the broader impacts. 

B. Objectives: State precisely what the research should accomplish, what hypothesis it will test, and the rationale for undertaking it. (Do not exceed one page) 

C. Background and Significance: Summarize the most pertinent previous work and the current state of the field, including your own preliminary data. Identify the gaps that the proposed project is intended to fill. (Do not exceed one page) 

D. Methods: Discuss the experimental design and methods proposed to accomplish project objectives in sufficient detail to allow assessment of their feasibility and applicability. How, specifically, will they test each of the hypotheses? If proposing new methods, describe their advantages. If several experiments are proposed, indicate their priority. Indicate the type of data to be generated, and how they will be analyzed (e.g., proposed statistical design and analysis). Briefly identify any potential pitfalls or limitations in procedures and suggest remedies. Provide plans for future efforts, including submission to external sponsors. Include a proposed project timeline. (Do not exceed 2 pages).

E. References: Include only the most pertinent references as well as a list of your own recent publications and a 2-page CV. (Do not exceed 2 pages beyond the CV.)

F. Budget: ($10,000 maximum). Include a brief budget justification. If this budget is not adequate to fund the proposed research, indicate the source and amount of additional funds.

1. Equipment. Justify why the equipment is necessary for the proposed study.
2. Supplies (list major categories)
3. Personnel. Funds for faculty salary and secretarial support will not be considered. Funds for graduate and undergraduate student support are rarely granted, since they can usually be obtained through the Graduate School or WFU Undergraduate Research Fellowships. Funds for technical support staff have been granted occasionally, since there is no other campus source for these research costs. If requesting funds to support technical staff, remember to include appropriate fringe benefits.
4. Other (necessary travel, computer charges, audiovisual costs, hazardous waste disposal costs, etc.)

G. External Reviews: If this application is in response to a declined external proposal, please provide 4 copies of the external reviews along with the proposal. Per Bridge Funding instructions above, please show how external reviewer comments will be addressed.

H. Outcome of Previous Internal awards: Briefly describe the outcome of previous internal awards received within the past 4 years.

I. Resubmissions: If this application is a revision of a previously submitted proposal, please include a 1 page response to the reviewers' comments.

J. WFU Collaborators: List any WFU collaborators who may have a Conflict of Interest reviewing your proposal.

The proposal should be no longer than 11 single-spaced pages (12 pages for resubmissions only), including CV and references, using a type size no smaller than 11-point. Appendices are discouraged, and reviewers are not required to read them. Projects involving human subjects or animals must seek appropriate committee approval, and investigators must complete the required training in human subjects research prior to project initiation.

The Associate Provost for Research and the Director of Research and Sponsored Programs invite recipients to talk with them anytime.

The Editor-Researcher in ORSP and the Prospect Research Manager in the Office of Foundation Relations may be asked to run funding source searches in their databases. The results will be shared with applicants.

Please send a completed copy of the Application for Internal Funds form and proposal in one file as an attachment to Gloria Stickney, Coordinator, Research Services (stickngd@wfu.edu) and submit the original and 3 paper copies to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, 117E Reynolda Hall, no later than 5 P.M. on the deadline date. Please allow several weeks for the review process.