The following funding opportunities are available through REDE.
NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program The NSF’s Major Research Instrumentation Program provides support to acquire critical research instrumentation without which advances in fundamental science and engineering research may not otherwise occur. The program also provides support to develop next-generation research instruments that open new opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering research. Additionally, an MRI award is expected to enhance research training of students who will become the next generation of instrument users, designers and builders. An MRI-supported instrument is intended to serve multiple users both in research and in the training of the next generation of instrument users and/or developers. An MRI proposal may request up to $4 million for either acquisition or development of a research instrument. Visit the MRI website for specific proposal information. Contact Mary Farwell if interested in applying to the MRI program. Applications are due my Jan. 22, 2019.
Additional limited submission funding opportunities are available here.
Sponsored and administered by the Division of REDE, in partnership with the Academic Affairs and Health Sciences Divisions, startup program funds are distributed to assist new faculty in developing a self-sustaining research program upon arrival at ECU.
A request for startup funds is made by the requester’s department or college, through the associate dean for research, to the vice chancellor for REDE when the intended recipient is being recruited to ECU. The application is comprised of the candidate’s CV, a detailed research plan including funding opportunities, a career development and mentoring plan in the form of a letter from the chair or VCR, budget justification and budget on budget template. Awards are typically for three years with an annual funding level consistent with the level of annual extramural funding required to sustain an active research and creative activity program in the recipient’s discipline.
Award recipients will develop active programs leading to scholarly activity and submission of high quality proposals that are competitive for extramural funding at a level sufficient to sustain the recipient’s research and creative activities for the duration of their tenure at ECU.
Startup Forms
Faculty Reassignment Awards Sponsored and administered by the Division of Research, Economic Development and Engagement, in partnership with the Academic Affairs and Health Sciences Divisions, faculty reassignment awards provide funds to departments to reassign faculty effort during the academic year, providing dedicated time to apply for extramural funding in support of research and creative activities. Faculty members in either 9 month or 12 month appointments are eligible to apply in order to “buy out” teaching and service assignments, increasing the time available to prepare and submit an application for extramural funding. The applicant must present a well-defined project and supporting evidence that will form the basis of a proposal for extramural funding. A specific funding opportunity, sponsor, and deadline for proposal submission must be identified.
Submissions for the 2018-19 academic year are currently closed.
Interdisciplinary Research Awards Interdisciplinary Research Awards are seed grants to support interdisciplinary research projects leading to competitive applications for extramural funding. The purpose of this program is to promote collaborations between faculty members with complementary expertise, build strong investigative teams, and increase competitiveness for extramural funding from diverse sources. Proposals must incorporate significant roles for at least two faculty members (tenured or tenure track) from different departments, a well-defined research plan and a clearly articulated plan for obtaining extramural funding to sustain the research following the award period.
For the 2018-19 academic year, interdisciplinary research award will not be funded as most funds will be focused toward the university’s interdisciplinary research clusters.
Faculty Development Awards for Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences The Office of Undergraduate Research will continue the Faculty Development Award for Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences program during the 2018-19 academic year, with awards of up to $1,500 to support individuals or teams. REDE has a goal of doubling the number of students engaged in undergraduate research by 2022. Faculty are a key aspect of this ambitious plan. The 2017-18 academic year marked the first call for competitive awards for faculty development projects, partially funded by the UNC System office and supplemented by the Office of Undergraduate Research. Five individuals or teams of faculty were funded. Most projects focused on improving and expanding strategies to support research within courses. CUREs can serve as the first experience in research, and for some students, the only experience in research during their undergraduate career.
Application deadline is Nov. 5, 2018 for programs that start as early as January 2019. Apply here.
Undergraduate Research Faculty Travel Awards Starting during the 2018-19 academic year, the Office of Undergraduate Research will offer travel awards to ECU faculty members. These conference travel awards, which are set at a maximum of $600, are awarded on a rolling basis to faculty who have carried out research and scholarship with undergraduate students. Students may also be supported by a student travel award for the same conference, if appropriate. REDE and the Office of Undergraduate Research is dedicated to supporting faculty mentors for undergraduate research. Conference travel is an important activity to stimulate and support research and scholarship among faculty. For faculty who are mentoring undergraduates, conference travel is a way to forge connections between the mentor and student or students on the research team. All travel awards are relatively small and are not expected to cover the entire cost of travel, so it is expected that both faculty and students use the awards from our office to leverage support from other sources.
Full rules for Undergraduate Research Faculty Travel Awards are found here.
Apply for Undergraduate Research Faculty Travel Awards here.
SPIN SPIN, which stands for Sponsored Programs Information Network, is an extensive research funding opportunity database. SPIN contains over 40,000 opportunities from more than 10,000 sponsors. It’s available through the library’s database list and linked on the Office of Sponsored Programs website.
Department of Defense (Updated July 13, 2018) REDE provides frequent updates for Department of Defense funding opportunities.