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.
Researchers Trained
Seed Grants Awarded
Capital Equipment Grants Awarded
GrantForward Funding Opportunities
Research Development vs. Research Administration
What's the difference?
Research
Development
People & idea focused
Pre-pre-award
Strategic, big picture vision
Proposal development support
Limited submissions
Training & education
Research
Administration
Policy & compliance focused
Pre- & post-award
Budgets & contracts
Proposal submission process
Award negotiation
Authorized organizational representative
Upcoming Deadlines
Upcoming Events & Trainings
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Mountain
Virtual
Registration required
Event Summary
This proposal writing seminar is designed to help arts and humanities faculty and advanced graduate students develop the proposal writing techniques they need to competitively apply to the specialized sponsors of creative activities and research. By understanding the reasoning and rationale behind specific suggestions, participants can take that learning and adapt it to many different proposal development situations.
Registration preference will be given to faculty and graduate students in the College of Arts & Sciences, but those from related fields are also welcome to register and will be admitted if space allows.
Seminar content is spread out over the four sessions (new content each session). Participants must attend all four days to receive the full training.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Mountain
Virtual
Registration required
Event Summary
As funding priorities and requirements evolve, grant seekers must adapt their strategies to remain competitive. This webinar will offer insights into updating your approach in seeking external funding, including strategies for tracking trends, revising proposal narratives, and exploring new opportunities. Participants will learn how to respond to shifts in the funding environment and position their projects for success.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Mountain
Virtual
Registration required
Event Summary
Foundation funding plays a critical role in supporting creative and cross-disciplinary research projects. Each foundation is unique in its mission and funding strategy, and this virtual panel will showcase a breadth of projects supported across several institutions, with an opportunity for panelists to highlight key differences and provide insights into the application process. Panelists will include awardees from the American Council of Learned Societies, American Philosophical Society, National Humanities Center, and the Russell Sage Foundation. Awardees from additional foundations may be added ahead of the meeting. After the panel, there will be time for Q&A.
This meeting is brought to you by a multi-university research development group entitled FOCUS (Fostering Opportunities through Collaborative University Synergies). FOCUS is a collaborative effort between Utah State University, University of Idaho, University of Nevada-Reno, and Montana State University.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Mountain
Virtual
Registration required
Event Summary
The articulation of broader impacts remains a critical component of federal grant proposals, but recent policy changes have significantly reshaped how applicants should approach this aspect of their proposals. This session will present strategies for designing and communicating broader impacts that align with current federal priorities, including practical ways to demonstrate project relevance and impact for a wide audience.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Mountain
Virtual
Registration required
Event Summary
This webinar will explore pathways for grant seekers aiming to extend their research discoveries from academic settings into real-world applications. Participants will learn strategies for translating complex findings into accessible formats for practitioners, policymakers, and industry, increasing the impact and grant-readiness of their work. The session will highlight ways to bridge the gap between research and application and discuss how feedback from users can inform future projects and proposals.