Building a Foundation for Grant Funded Research SSP Core Facility December 10, 2007 December 10, 2007

SSP Core Background Survey, Statistics, and Psychometrics Core Facility Survey, Statistics, and Psychometrics Core Facility Supported by funds from the Nebraska Research Initiative Supported by funds from the Nebraska Research Initiative The mission of the SSP Core is to promote social and behavioral science research at the University of Nebraska by providing a coordinated, comprehensive "one-stop-shopping" facility to provide high quality support and methodological development in survey research, statistics, and psychometrics. The mission of the SSP Core is to promote social and behavioral science research at the University of Nebraska by providing a coordinated, comprehensive "one-stop-shopping" facility to provide high quality support and methodological development in survey research, statistics, and psychometrics.

SSP Services: Seed Funding Proposal The SSP Can assist with: Overall research design Overall research design Developing ideas for effective uses of seed funding Developing ideas for effective uses of seed funding Designing a pilot study Designing a pilot study Feedback on writing the proposal Feedback on writing the proposal

SSP Services: Collecting Pilot Data The SSP Can assist with: Sampling Sampling Data collection through the Bureau of Sociological Research (BOSR) Data collection through the Bureau of Sociological Research (BOSR) Data collection guidance if PI is collecting data Data collection guidance if PI is collecting data

SSP Services: External Grant Proposal The SSP Can assist with: Analyzing pilot data Analyzing pilot data Interpreting pilot data and adjusting research design accordingly Interpreting pilot data and adjusting research design accordingly Incorporating pilot data into grant proposal Incorporating pilot data into grant proposal Writing external grant proposal Writing external grant proposal

Seed funding: What is it? The basic notion of seed funding is that it represents funds allocated to start a research program that will become self sufficient over time The basic notion of seed funding is that it represents funds allocated to start a research program that will become self sufficient over time Thus, there is a clear expectation that this funding will lead to externally funded grant proposals Thus, there is a clear expectation that this funding will lead to externally funded grant proposals

The Role of Seed Funding in Obtaining Grant Support Early career and new investigators are at a competitive disadvantage in the grant review process. Early career and new investigators are at a competitive disadvantage in the grant review process. Until you have demonstrated that you can actually carry out a research project, it is often difficult to get funded, even with the new investigator funding supports. Until you have demonstrated that you can actually carry out a research project, it is often difficult to get funded, even with the new investigator funding supports.

Core Grant Elements Specific Aims Specific Aims Background and Significance Background and Significance Preliminary Studies Preliminary Studies –Related publications –Pilot studies Research Methods and Design Research Methods and Design –The details of data collection and analysis

Seed Grants Help Build the Case for a Grant Establish the need, the relevance of the proposed research Establish the need, the relevance of the proposed research –e.g., homeless youth in the midwest Demonstrate the feasibility of the methodological approach Demonstrate the feasibility of the methodological approach –e.g., infertility and mental health Support that the investigator can carry out the proposed data collection Support that the investigator can carry out the proposed data collection

Where Do You Get Seed Grant Funding UNL has a generous seed funding mechanism for new investigators UNL has a generous seed funding mechanism for new investigators –Layman Grants –Research Council Seed Grants –Research Council Grants-In-Aid Preference in each of these funding mechanisms is given to non-tenured junior faculty Preference in each of these funding mechanisms is given to non-tenured junior faculty

Layman Grants: Selection Criteria Scientific or scholarly merit Scientific or scholarly merit Potential for generating external funding Potential for generating external funding Priority to projects that are consistent with current national funding priorities Priority to projects that are consistent with current national funding priorities Importance of Layman funding to the applicant’s success Importance of Layman funding to the applicant’s success

Layman Grants Requirement to submit an external funding proposal within two years Requirement to submit an external funding proposal within two years Applications due January 22, 2008 Applications due January 22, 2008 Funding starts July 1, 2008 Funding starts July 1, 2008 Maximum $10,000 award Maximum $10,000 award Some limitations on how funds are allocated (e.g., not for faculty salary) Some limitations on how funds are allocated (e.g., not for faculty salary)

Research Council Faculty Seed Grants Annual Research Council review, early October submission deadline Annual Research Council review, early October submission deadline Similar guidelines to Layman, including priority for junior faculty Similar guidelines to Layman, including priority for junior faculty Maximum $10,000 Maximum $10,000 Expectation to submit a grant proposal within one year of completion Expectation to submit a grant proposal within one year of completion

Research Council Grants- In-Aid Annual award, early October submission Annual award, early October submission Up to $6,000 individual, $10,000 for a joint proposal Up to $6,000 individual, $10,000 for a joint proposal More broadly funding scholarship, unlike Layman and seed grant program, no expectation for subsequent grant submission More broadly funding scholarship, unlike Layman and seed grant program, no expectation for subsequent grant submission

How Can SSP Help? Consult with you on your project Consult with you on your project –Overall research design –How aims tie to analytic strategies –Sampling –Data collection –Analytic models –Power analyses –Budget and timeline

SSP Core Contact Info Mindy Anderson-Knott 107 Benton Hall