Research Corporation New Programs

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Research Corporation New Programs

• Silvia Ronco, Program Officer,
• Research Corporation for Science Advancement

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Grant Programs

• PhD granting departments
• Cottrell Scholar Awards (CSA) (revised 2008)
• Non-PhD granting departments
• Cottrell College Science Awards (CCSA) (revised
  2008)
• PhD and non-PhD granting departments
• Scialog (new program, starting in 2009)

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Scialog

• Program will support transformative research in
  targeted research areas
• Program will be announced in June 2009
• First Targeted Area
• Solar energy
• Planned partnership with Science Foundation AZ
  and the AZ Research Institute for Solar Energy
  (AzRISE)

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(No Transcript)
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Scialog Catalyzing Collaborations at the Edges
of Science
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COTTRELL COLLEGE SCIENCE AWARD (CCSA) Program

• We support collaborative faculty/student research
• Beginning faculty (within first three years)
• Eligibility is limited to
• faculty members at Chemistry, Physics or
  Astronomy Departments
• faculty members from other science departments
  with research interests that significantly
  overlap Chemistry, Physics or Astronomy

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CCSA Program

• Single-investigator awards
• revised in 2008
• Multi-investigator awards
• Spring 2009

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CCSA Multi-investigator Awards

• In-house collaborations
• Teams of 2 or 3 faculty members
• At least one PI needs to be from Chemistry,
  Physics or Astronomy
• 3-page research narrative
• Award size 75,000 for 2 PIs and 100,000 for 3
  PIs (RC) plus 25,000 from institutional match
• Pre-proposal

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CCSA Single Investigator Awards

• Eligibility is determined by research interests
  and not by departmental affiliation
• Two-phase submission process
• Pre-proposal 300-word description of research
  plan and 150-word statement addressing how
  proposed research significantly overlaps
  Chemistry, Physics or Astronomy
• Full proposal

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CCSA 10-year Award Activity
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The proposal

• Abstract (200 words)
• 2-year budget
• 3-page Research Narrative (significance,
  originality, feasibility)
• List of suggested reviewers
• 2 insiders (former mentors)
• 8 outsiders

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The budget

• Average award 36,000
• Expected match 20
• We fund
• Equipment and supplies
• Summer stipends (maximum)
• PI - 8 weeks 7,500
• UG - 10 weeks 3,500

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About matching funds

• 20 match is not required, but highly expected
• Viewed as a measure of institutional commitment
  to the PIs research program
• What if no match?
• Talk to a program officer
• May affect outcome
• Submit anyway

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The Research Narrative Page 1

• Statement of the Problem and Scientific
  Significance of Proposed Research
• Put your science in context
• Show knowledge of the field with updated
  references
• Include a clearly stated hypothesis
• Make a strong case for significance and
  originality

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The Research Narrative Pages 2 and 3

• Plan of Procedure
• Be specific!
• Address feasibility issues and include
  alternative routes
• Show long-term goals and sustainability
• Will your research program attract federal
  funding?
• How will your research program impact your
  disciplinary field?

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Most common problems

• Not supportive reviews
• Research is derivative of doctoral or
  postdoctoral work
• Feasibility and significance are not
  well-addressed
• The proposal is too vague and not
  hypothesis-driven
• Unrealistic expectations

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What do I do if things go wrong?

• Look at reviewers comments carefully and
  evaluate resubmission
• Revised project vs. new idea
• Do your homework!
• Address reviewers comments
• Take it as a learning experience
• Talk to a program officer

Remember that not getting what you want is
sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. Dalai Lama
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Deadlines and review

• Important target dates
• Pre-proposals 60 days prior a full-proposal
  target date
• Full proposals May 15 and November 15
• Reviewing process takes approximately 6 months.
• Proposals are reviewed by external reviewers and
  members of the RC advisory committee

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CCSA online submission process

• We ONLY accept online applications
• Go to http//www.rescorp.org/
• Application process will contain three steps
• Eligibility quiz
• Preparing a full document in PDF format
• Completing application process on our website.

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Contact us

• http//www.rescorp.org
• Call or visit with a program officer
  [phone]
• Jack Pladziewicz (VP)
• Silvia Ronco (program officer)
• Richard Wiener (program officer)
• Kathy Parson (program officer)