Research Development

2579

Researchers Trained

359

Seed Grants Awarded

107

Capital Equipment Grants Awarded

40000+

GrantForward Funding Opportunities

The ultimate goal of the Research Development Division is to foster a competitive advantage in the search for external funding by helping researchers develop strong and successful proposal writing skills and research portfolios, and ultimately expand the revenue created by externally funded research at USU. As part of this goal, the Division, through a network of college-based proposal development specialists, helps to relieve researchers of the logistics of proposal development and submission to allow more time to focus on technical writing. Proposal development specialists can help researchers from the beginning to end of the proposal development and submission process or at any point throughout depending on needs and/or wants.

Research Development vs. Research Administration
What's the difference?

Research Development is people and idea focused, pre-pre-award, strategic/big picture vision, proposal development support, limited submissions, training and education. Research Administration is policy and compliance focused, pre- and post-award, budgets and contracts, proposal submission process, award negotiation, and an authorized organization representative.

NIH R15 Program: Change in USU Eligibility
As of October 1, 2022, USU is ineligible to submit to the NIH R15 program.

USU researchers can review the Office of Research memo in Box. If you have any difficulties accessing the memo, please email Jeri Hansen.

Upcoming Deadlines

FY25 Office of Research Seed Grants (Cycle 2)
January 15, 2025

FY25 cycle 2 seed grant applications are due January 15, 2025. Be sure to check with your Dean’s Office on internal deadline. Awarded grants will begin April 1, 2025.


FY25 Office of Research Capital Equipment Grants
February 28, 2025

The FY25 Capital Equipment Grant application period will open on December 2, 2024. Applications are due by February 28, 2025. Awarded grants will begin April 1, 2025. Equipment must be purchased within 12 months of receipt of grant.

Upcoming Events & Trainings

NSF Office Hours: Ethical and Responsible Research (ER2) Program
October 4, 2024
1:00-2:00pm Mountain
Zoom (virtual)
Registration is required

Join the University of Nevada-Reno for a special NSF Office Hours with Program Officer Dr. Jason Borenstein to learn more about the Ethical and Responsible Research (ER2) program. The event will include a brief introduction to NSF and the Social, Behavioral, and Economic (SBE) Directorate. Then, Dr. Borenstein will discuss the ER2 funding opportunity and program goals. He will also offer details about the application process for this opportunity and there will be time for Q&A.


Faculty Proposal Writing Seminar
October 25, November 1, 8, and 15, 2024
1:00-3:00pm Mountain
Zoom (virtual)
Registration is required

Join us for the next annual faculty proposal writing seminar! 
The goal of this seminar is to provide those with some proposal writing experience with new approaches and ways to think about preparing a proposal. The approaches taught during the seminar will help demystify the proposal writing process but at the same time provide concrete tools to use in organizing the information and arguments necessary for the development of a compelling proposal.

Seminar content is spread out over the four days (i.e., new content each day). Participants must attend all four days to receive the full training. Full attendance of this seminar satisfies the prerequisite for application to the Office of Research seed grant program.


NSF Use-Inspired Research Fireside Chat
October 29, 2024
Noon-2:00pm Mountain
Zoom (virtual)
Registration is required

Join Erwin Gianchandani, U.S. National Science Foundation assistant director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships for a fireside chat exploring the intersection of fundamental science and practical applications. Hear from NSF program officers and NSF-funded PIs as they share their insights on: what use-inspired research is, how it aligns with your work, and why federal funders, like the NSF, are increasingly embracing this innovative approach. You’ll have the opportunity to connect with NSF program officers in breakout sessions and network with fellow PIs. This virtual event is produced as part of a research development collaboration between Utah State University, University of Nevada-Reno, University of Idaho, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Montana State University.


Synergy meeting: Department of Defense Early Career and Young Investigator Programs
October 30, 2024
11:00am-noon Mountain
Zoom (virtual)
Registration is required

The Department of Defense has several opportunities for early-career investigators such as the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program (ONR YIP), the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Program (AFOSR YIP), and the Army Research Laboratory Early Career Program (ARL ECP). Join us to hear from DoD program contacts who will provide an overview of the different opportunities. This event will also feature expertise from Julia Barzyk at Wise Investigator, who brings over 10 years of hands-on experience managing a portfolio of basic research in geoscience and civil engineering at the U.S. Army Research Office. We will also host a panel of prior awardees to talk about their experiences and proposal tips, and there will be time at the end for a Q&A. This virtual event is produced as part of a research development collaboration between Utah State University, University of Nevada-Reno, University of Idaho, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Montana State University.


Hanover webinar: What Deadline?! Keeping Yourself and Others On-Task in Grant Development
October 31, 2024
10:00-11:00am Mountain
Virtual event
Registration is required (Can't make the webinar? Register anyway to receive the slides and a recording after the event.)

Nobody enjoys the last-minute scramble to complete a project, and while not all funders give grant-seekers the benefit of time to develop their proposals, forward planning and savvy management can lead to much stronger grant applications. This session will share best practices for managing the different phases of grant development, including ways to keep yourself and your team working towards important project milestones.​


Synergy meeting: USDA Equipment Grant Program
November 6, 2024
1:30-2:30pm Mountain
Zoom (virtual)
Registration is required

The USDA Equipment Grant Program (EGP) serves to increase access to shared-use special purpose equipment/instruments for fundamental and applied research for use in the food and agricultural sciences programs at institutions of higher education, including State Cooperative Extension Systems. Join us to hear from EGP program contacts who will provide an overview of the opportunity. We will also host a panel of prior awardees to talk about their experiences and proposal tips, and there will be time at the end for a Q&A. This virtual event is produced as part of a research development collaboration between Utah State University, University of Nevada-Reno, University of Idaho, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Montana State University.


Using GrantForward as a Grant Seeker
November 7, 2024
3:00-4:00pm Mountain
Zoom (virtual)
Registration is required

GrantForward is a service available to all USU faculty, students, and staff to access an extensive database of funding opportunities across all disciplines from sponsors worldwide. This webinar is organized to help USU grant seekers maximize GrantForward’s potential to find best-fit funding opportunities. It also covers how to receive grant alerts for your desired expertise area and grant recommendations tailored to your research interests, as well as how to learn strategic information through upcoming grants, sample awards, proposal ideas, experts in your research areas, etc. For a list of features available to you, please visit the GrantForward Researcher guide.


NIH Grants Process Primer: Application to Award
November 13-14, 2024
11:00am-2:00pm Mountain
Virtual event
Registration is required

Understanding NIH's overall structure and the foundation of the agency’s grants process is vital to successfully applying for NIH funding. To help you on this journey, the NIH invites you to participate in a two-part webinar designed to help inform and clarify important elements from application preparation to award. Register one time for access to both Part One: An Overview and Part Two: An Interactive Experience.


Hanover webinar: Integrating Theoretical Frameworks into Proposals
November 21, 2024
10:00-11:00am Mountain
Virtual event
Registration is required (Can't make the webinar? Register anyway to receive the slides and a recording after the event.)

The integration of theoretical frameworks into a grant narrative can strengthen the rationale and impact of your project. This session will dive into the importance of theoretical frameworks, the selection of the appropriate framework for your proposal, and the art of seamlessly weaving your framework into a proposal narrative.​


Hanover webinar: Communicating the Impacts of Your Research
December 19, 2024
10:00-11:00am Mountain
Virtual event
Registration is required (Can't make the webinar? Register anyway to receive the slides and a recording after the event.)

This webinar will focus on helping researchers articulate the significance and broader implications of their work, including an overview of research impacts, the importance of dissemination, and methods for communicating impact. This session will cover how publications, presentations, stakeholder engagement, and broad public dissemination should factor into your plans.​