Aug 29, 2024

Call for Submissions: Faculty course buyouts for large grant writing

The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences (Huck), in partnership with the Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office (SIRO) and Penn State Colleges, invites faculty to submit requests for course buyouts to facilitate the preparation of large grant proposals.

Call for Submissions: Faculty course buyouts for large grant writing

The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences (Huck), in partnership with the Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office (SIRO) and Penn State Colleges, invites faculty to submit requests for course buyouts to facilitate the preparation of large grant proposals. This initiative aims to provide Penn State’s life sciences faculty with the necessary time and resources to develop competitive grant applications by offering a teaching release.

Due date: on a rolling basis but priority will be given to those submitted before October 15, 2024

Program Overview:

  • Funding Support: The Huck Institutes will cover 50% of the buyout cost, with the remaining 50% to be covered by the faculty member's department or college.
  • Submission Requirements: Interested faculty should submit a two-page request (see Application process below).
  • Grant Editing Funds: Additional funds can be made available for professional grant writing and editing services.
  • Support Limit: Up to 6 faculty course buyouts will be supported each year.

Rationale for faculty course buyouts:

Securing large, complex grants is essential for advancing innovative research and enhancing the academic reputation of our institution. However, preparing these grant proposals is time-consuming and demanding, often requiring significant effort beyond regular teaching and administrative responsibilities. By providing course buyouts, we aim to give faculty the dedicated time necessary to:

  1. Focus on Proposal Development: Writing a competitive grant proposal requires meticulous attention to detail, extensive literature review and data collection, and careful crafting of research plans. A course buyout provides faculty the time to immerse themselves fully in this process without the distraction of teaching duties.
  2. Foster Collaborative Efforts: Complex grant proposals often involve interdisciplinary collaboration. Faculty need time to coordinate with colleagues across different departments, institutions, and possibly countries. The buyout facilitates these interactions, allowing for more cohesive and integrated proposals.
  3. Enhance Proposal Quality: High-quality, well-curated proposals stand a better chance of being funded. With dedicated time, faculty can refine their proposals, seek feedback, and make necessary revisions. This process is crucial for addressing potential weaknesses and ensuring the proposal meets all requirements and standards of the funding agency.
  4. Innovative Thinking and Research Design: Developing groundbreaking research ideas requires creative thinking and uninterrupted time for brainstorming and planning. A course buyout allows faculty the mental space to explore new concepts and design innovative research projects.
  5. Increase Success Rates: By reducing the teaching load, faculty can devote more time to understanding the priorities and nuances of the funding agency, thereby increasing the likelihood of success. This, in turn, benefits the entire academic community through enhanced research funding and opportunities.

Eligibility and Expectations:

  • Faculty role: The faculty member who receives the course buyout will act as the project lead (this individual may or may not be the Principal Investigator). While junior faculty qualify for that role, preference will be given to mid to senior-level faculty.
  • Regular meetings: The project lead is expected to meet regularly with representatives from Huck to discuss progress and milestones.
  • Milestones: Clear milestones must be set and achieved.
  • Proposal submission: All external large grant proposals must be submitted through the Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office (SIRO), with Huck serving as the proposal advocate during the process.
  • Post-award management: Huck will be responsible for the post-award management of successful grants.

Application Process:

To apply, faculty must prepare a one-page request that includes the following information:

  1. Funding announcement details: Provide the specifics of the grant opportunity you intend to pursue (also include a link).
  2. Principal Investigators: List all senior personnel involved in the grant proposal. Provide links to their profiles.
  3. Grant Abstract: Include a brief summary of the proposed research project.
  4. Budget: Include a simple budget for the estimated cost (course buyout, grant writing service).

Also include one Letter of Support from your Department Chair or Dean that shows commitment to the 50% match.

Incomplete applications will be considered ineligible without review.

Review Process: Submissions will be reviewed by the Huck leadership and invited faculty and staff in collaboration with representatives from partner colleges. This will be managed under the Huck Catalysis initiative. Selections will be based on the potential impact of the proposed research, its potential for success, and the alignment with the strategic goals of Huck and the participating departments/colleges.

Contact Information: For any submission technical questions, please contact Brittany Grimes at bng10@psu.edu. For initial consultation on scientific and programmatic questions, please contact Dr. Camelia Kantor, Huck Associate Director, at ckantor@psu.edu.

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

NOTE: Applications for T32 training grants are not eligible for this type of funding.

We encourage faculty to take advantage of this unique opportunity to advance their research endeavors through dedicated support for grant writing. We look forward to receiving your proposals.