VPR SEED PROGRAM FOR ENHANCING NEW INVESTIGATOR GRANT-WRITING EXPERIENCE THROUGH MENTORSHIP (GEM)

Program synopsis

The Vice President for Research (VPR) is soliciting internal proposals for a seed program to mentor new USU investigators. The New Investigator Grant-writing Experience through Mentorship (GEM) program provides funding of up to $5,000 to enhance the professional development of new investigators through one-on-one research and grant-writing interaction with successful research mentors. The purpose of this program is to build the University’s research capability and increase extramural funding for scholarly activities by enhancing the proposal development skills of newly hired USU researchers. To facilitate this goal, it is expected that each funded GEM project will result in the development and submission of at least one proposal to an external funding agency. Proposals that have already been submitted to an extramural agency, or those already reviewed and found to be non-competitive by an extramural agency, are not eligible for consideration of GEM funding.

Award Information:

GEM provides 1-year seed funding of up to $5,000 to establish active collaboration between a new USU investigator and a more established colleague willing to serve as a research and proposal writing mentor. Most of these funds should be utilized by the new investigator for supplies or computer time needed to develop preliminary data, or to support travel to access specialized resources not available at USU or meet with potential collaborators or funding sponsors/agencies. In addition, up to $1000 of the total award may be allocated to the mentor to support time and effort or research-related contributions to the project.

Eligibility:

GEM is open to all USU tenure-eligible assistant professors and non-tenure track research assistant professors or research professionals with no more than four (4) years in rank who have not previously received a New Faculty Research Grant. However, research professionals with short-term commitments to the University (e.g., post-doctoral researchers, graduate research assistants) are not eligible. Eligibility for candidates seeking awards in their fourth year will also be predicated upon a favorable 3rd year review. Researchers may be awarded only one GEM grant. If an application is turned down by the review panel, a Principal Investigator (PI) is allowed one re-submission of a revised proposal on the same subject in the next grant cycle. Revised proposals must indicate changes from the previous proposal.

It is the responsibility of the PI to identify and enlist the collaboration of an established researcher willing to mentor them. Mentors must be successful tenured faculty or established research faculty from Utah State University or an outside institution whose position is at least one professional rank higher than the new investigator. Note: former major professors or postdoctoral advisors are NOT eligible to serve as mentors on GEM projects.

Evaluation Criteria:

All GEM proposals will be reviewed by a panel of USU researchers and administrators. In evaluating the proposals, particular consideration will be given to the following criteria:

1. Scholarly merit and relevance to the targeted external program announcement or RFP.
2. Strength of mentor-new investigator collaboration; their expertise, resources, and research records as they relate to providing a productive mentorship experience.
3. Effectiveness of the research plan in addressing specific issues that must be resolved to develop a strong research proposal for the targeted external funding agency.
4. Probability that the project will allow the new investigator to attract new extramural funding.

Reporting Requirement:

Grantees must produce a new extramural GP, directly facilitated by this award, as a final report within three months of completion of the project. If funding is not awarded for the GP, the PI will provide the VPR Office with reviewer comments as well as a written plan for resubmission. Faculty who do not submit the required proposals will be ineligible for future VPR funding of any type until this requirement has been met.

Other Requirements:

PI awardees will be required to serve on the GEM selection committee for a period of two years immediately following completion of their own project. It is anticipated that this experience will bring valuable insights to improve the program, and provide new researchers with experience in the research proposal review and evaluation process.