RAIN Notes – September 2021

NCURA Webinar – Developing Compelling Budget Justifications 

Budget justifications have taken on increasing significance in recent years, moving from explaining to reviewers the basis of cost calculations to persuading them that the items are critical to the success of the project. In this webinar, you will learn how to craft a budget justification that not only conforms to Uniform Guidance expectations but also effectively establishes the credibility of the proposed project. Infrastructure supports will also be explored, including sample questions, templates, and automation. Inserting a few more specific details in targeted places in the narrative and budget justification can earn the essential benefit of the doubt points that elevate your projects into the “Funded” category.

This webinar is available for streaming (free) by ECU personnel – NCURA Budget Justification Webinar

There are other NCURA webinars available for streaming as well – CMSI Training Resources

National Science Foundation – New Biosketch Format – New Standards

Effective October 4, 2021, the page limitation will be increased to 3 pages for each individual identified as senior personnel. Detailed information about the content is available in the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) Chapter II.C.2.f. A table entitled, NSF Pre-award and Post-award Disclosures Relating to the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support, has been developed to provide helpful reference information regarding pre-award and post-award disclosure information in the biographical sketch and current and pending support proposal sections. The table identifies where these disclosures must be provided in proposals as well as in project reports.

See the NSF Biosketch Page

Office of Faculty Excellence – Grant Writing Series 

OFE is excited that our campus partners have come together to offer a Grant Writing Series! If you are interested in attending any of the sessions, register for the sessions that interest you. Some of these sessions will be recorded and those recordings will be posted here after they have completed processing.

Additionally, there is a session on the PI Portal presented on October 26 at 2:00 pm. This session provides a glimpse at what to expect when a grant is funded.  Join us to hear about resources, processes, and a new portal that are available to ECU PI’s after a grant is awarded.

RAIN attendees may find this session helpful.

See the PI Portal Session

See the OFE Grant Writing Series

Training – Basics for Departmental Research Administrators – New Sessions Available

The BDRA series continues to expand with new sessions on Award Setup. All of these sessions are available in Cornerstone (search for BDRA).

• BDRA01 – Research Administration at ECU
• BDRA02 – Research Administration Offices and Resources
• BDRA03 – Spending on Sponsored Projects
• BDRA-AS1 – Award Setup (Part 1)
• BDRA-AS2 – Award Setup (Part 2) – Available in early October

These can be accessed via our website – go.ecu.edu/bdra

Foreign Influence – Case Study

A recent article details a significant case related to foreign influence on research – which has been much in the news lately. If you have been following this issue, see the article linked below.

First Jail Term for Undisclosed Foreign Support 

The Research Administrator’s Information Network (RAIN) is an open forum for ECU personnel interested in research administration issues. There are monthly RAIN meetings, a Microsoft Team, Grant Alerts, and these monthly issues e-mail. For more information, please send e-mail to cmsi@ecu.edu.