Funding Support for Research - Basic Information for Proposal Preparation

Research Opportunities

• All Students and Faculty
  
• Faculty / Postdoctoral Associates
  
• Graduate Students
  
• Undergraduate Students
  

• Sigma XI Increases Astronomy Student Research Grants to $5,000
  
• Research Impacted by Hurricane Katrina
  
• Minimum Postdoc Salaries
  
• NSF Audit Findings
  

• Salaries
  
• Benefits
  
• Tuition
  
• Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs

Research Opportunities / Resources

All Students and Faculty

The following links are of interest to all students and faculty.

• The Community of Science - This is an excellent database with a large number of funding opportunities in all professions for every level of student or faculty.

• UNC Internal Funding Opportunities - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has many internal funding opportunities for all levels of students and faculty from a wide area of interests.

• Research Support Newsletter - The Research Support Newsletter is a monthly publication from UNC's GrantSource library. In addition to a large array of funding opportunities, the newsletter also notes important campus and federal news events, along with other useful information. Also, make sure to check out the Between Issues Newsletter available after the middle of the month.

• E-mail alerts - It is recommended that anyone interested in pursuing funding opportunities sign themselves up for e-mail alerts catered to their interests. Sites such as Grants.gov and The Community of Science allow users to set up customized e-mail alerts for new opportunities in your field. For more information on how to set up a funding alert, please click here.

• InfoEd Sponsored Programs Information Network (SPIN)

General tips for search engines are as follows:

• Keywords: Carefully choose the keywords, such as "physics", to yield a list of matches based on relevance. If the results are too broad, add more keywords to further refine your search. If the results are too small, try removing more specific keywords or removing other criteria.
• Other recommended fields to fill in values - if available - include Award Type, Geographical Location, Citizenship, and Applicant Type (undergraduate student, graduate student, etc.).
• To make multiple selections from lists of options in each category, hold down the control key (Command key on the Mac) while clicking on the desired choices.
• In certain search engines, categories are linked by "AND" logic by default. Choosing more categories will narrow the focus of your search, thus producing fewer but more specific hits. Values within each category are linked by the word "OR" (note that the Keyword category provides "AND" logic capability). Boolean AND, OR, or NOT logic may be utilized within search categories.
• If, after adding a criterion, you wish to delete it from the search, or to clear the entire search screen, click the appropriate button on the search engine (may have labels such as, "View Criteria/Delete Items" or "Clear Screen").
• Make sure you meet all the criteria for the funding opportunity before applying, including location eligibility, level of discipline, and any deadline restrictions.
• If you have detailed questions about a search engine, many sites have help pages to assist you. The Physics and Astronomy Research Services Administrator may also be able to help if you can not find the information you're looking for.

Faculty / Postdoctoral Associates

Grants.gov lists funding opportunities from various federal agencies and provides an internal search engine to help find them. Agencies included in the search include, but not limited to: The Department of Energy (DOE), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Department of Defense (DoD) along with its subdivisions (including the Army Research Office).

A full list of all federal agencies can be found here.

Other agencies of interest to faculty may include:

• American Chemical Society
• Petroleum Research Fund
• Research Corporation
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
• Department of Education
• American Physical Society
• American Association of Physics Teachers
• American Institute of Physics
• American Nuclear Society
• Burroughs Wellcome Fund

• FastLane Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
• ANS Graduate Scholarships
• National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG)
• NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP)
• Internship and Fellowship Opportunities in Science
• Nuclear Engineering and Health Physics Fellowship Program
• Specialized Information for Graduate Students (NSF)
• Nuclear Energy Institute Scholarships, Fellowships, Internships
• Michelson Graduate Student Fellowship Program
• DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship
• UNC Graduate Student Workshops

Undergraduate Students

There are plenty of funding opportunities for undergraduates here at UNC, regardless of your major! Many physics/astronomy related opportunities, along with other categories of science, come from various "Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)" programs or other scholarships. These opportunities can be found on The Community of Science and SPIN databases.

Funding opportunities for all undergrad majors can be found at the UNC internal funding database relating to research, travel, and various other awards.

For best results on all of the following databases, be sure to specify your "Applicant Type" (or other equivalent) to "Undergraduate Student".

News / Announcements

Research Impacted by Hurricane Katrina - September 16, 2005

OSR has prepared these /interim/ guidelines on how to manage NIH or NSF sponsored research that has been affected by Hurricane Katrina. As we receive updated information from these two sponsors we will keep you apprised of any changing conditions. If you have any questions please contact Hamilton Brown, Director for Pre Award Services (843-0874 or hlbrown@email.unc.edu)

*NIH*

New Grant Applications: NIH will not extend application due dates for new grants as a result of Hurricane Katrina (except as described in the next paragraph). Only those institutions directly affected by the storm are being allowed to submit late applications. If you are considering a new application that includes one of these institutions as a proposed sub-grantee please contact OSR immediately so we can coordinate with the institution and the NIH on the appropriate steps to take.

The exception - NIH will allow for the submission of late grant applications to those Principal Investigators directly involved with hurricane relief efforts. Only PIs, _not_ other participants listed in the grant application, may submit an application late because of their immediate participation in hurricane recovery efforts. They should include a cover letter that documents the time period of their direct involvement in assistance for hurricane relief. NIH will endeavor to extend this consideration for the time period of the hurricane assistance; however, the timing of the review meetings must also be considered. Therefore, applications due October 1 must be received by October 25 and those due November 1 by November 25. Principal Investigators submitting applications for RFAs that have special receipt dates should contact the NIH institute or center that issued the RFA to discuss the opportunity for a delayed submission; this may not be possible in some cases.

Continuing Grants: If you have an on-going sub-agreement with any institution affected by Hurricane Katrina it is important that you take the following steps.

First, Carolina PIs must attempt to contact their scientific counterparts to discuss how the research project has been adversely affected. As soon as investigators and institutions are able to assess the damage to their NIH-supported research programs they should contact OSR. OSR will work with PIs in order to forward to NIH requests for administrative supplements for extensions in time that include personnel costs and replacement of equipment, supplies and unique resources damaged or lost as a result of the storm. Each supplement application must state that the requested support does not represent a duplication of benefits, e.g., from insurance. The request should be submitted by the Authorized Organizational Official (AOO) of the affected institution to the OSR contract specialist who signed the sub-award agreement. The request should include the sub-agreement number and/or UNC account number, the name of the grantee, the name of the Carolina PI, the PI's telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address, and comparable identifying information for the affected institution's AOO.

OSR will be flexible in devising mechanisms for facilitating the continuity of investigators' research, and understands that research projects may be relocated temporarily to other locations as each institution rebuilds from the hurricane. Additional details and answers to Frequently Asked Questions will be posted on the NIH website dedicated to post-Katrina information for investigators and grantees (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/katrina/index.htm).

*NSF*

In the short term, for to institutions in the disaster area, NSF will extend existing awards that are scheduled to expire before October 1, 2005. OSR will do the same for any sub-agreements that include NSF flow-down funds. The Foundation also will make every effort to assist in the transfer of awards for faculty and students who temporarily change institutions, including movement of fellowship stipends, as appropriate, to new awardees. If this occurs on one of your NSF grants please contact OSR immediately so we can assist in the transfer of these administrative responsibilities.

Similar to the NIH guidelines, for all sub-agreements with affected institutions it is critical that each Carolina investigator contact his or her scientific counterpart as soon as feasible to discuss how the NSF-supported project has been impacted. With that information in hand, OSR will work with PIs to forward to NSF requests for extensions in time that may include personnel costs and replacement of equipment, supplies and unique resources damaged or lost as a result of the storm.

Finally, NSF also has established a hotline specifically dedicated to Hurricane Katrina where institutions, faculty and students may address questions relating to NSF awards at (800) 381-1532. Questions may also be addressed by e-mail to katrina@nsf.gov . The Foundation also will be posting updated information regarding specific assistance opportunities on its web site at http://www.nsf.gov/, with answers to FAQs for researchers at http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/katrinafaqs.jsp

Minimum Postdoc Salaries - June 13, 2005 (modified June 23, 2005)

Update - This policy has been modified. Effective July 1, 2006, the minimum stipend for a Postdoctoral Scholar shall be no less than $34,200. This level will be assessed annually by the Postdoctoral Advisory Committee and it is projected that this minimal salary level will increase approximately 3% per year. It is recommended that prior to July 1, 2006, all Postdoctoral Scholars be paid no less than $34,200.

NSF Audit Findings - April 4, 2005

NSF has identified some significant audit concerns. One of special importance is they are not doing enough to ensure that principal investigators submit annual and final progress reports. These reports allow program officers to identify potential problems and to hold recipients accountable for their use of federal funds. In the past five years, 47 percent of the annual and final reports required were submitted late or not submitted at all. NSF is considering denying awards to any researcher with overdue annual or final reports. NSF is taking steps to do a better job of reminding principal investigators when reports are due and overdue, and to clarify the responsibilities of staff members, and the recipient institutions themselves to ensure the reports are submitted but it is the responsibility of the PI to get these reports done in a timely manner. NSF is developing a comprehensive system to track reports and notify investigators when the reports are not submitted.

NSF is also being urged to devote more of their staff and money to site visits of grantee institutions to evaluate whether they were making appropriate use of NSF funds. They intend to refine their model for better identifying institutions at high risk of mismanaging grants and to improve their oversight of both high risk institutions and low risk institutions.

OSR is prepared to work with you in making a more concerted effort to prepare and submit NSF progress reports in a timely manner. Please contact us if you need assistance. As recipients of grant funding, we need to continue to be mindful that we are spending our research dollars appropriately.

Budget Preparation

The Office of Sponsored Research (OSR)
104 Airport Dr. Ste. 2200, CB #1350
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-1350
Telephone: 966-3411 Fax: 962-3352

Contact: Donna Braxton, (2-7167) Department Manager, who will direct to appropriate support staff for help with proposal preparation.

Information needed for support staff to assist with proposal preparation:

• Funding Agency Website for program, forms, and guidelines
• Title of the proposal
• PI name
• Beginning date and duration of support requested
• Abstract
• Budget needs and budget explanation page

Matching Funds: If matching funds are required by the funding agency, see the Chair as soon as possible. Negotiations among the Department, the Dean's office and the office of the Vice Chancellor for Research take time. The allocation of matching funds is confirmed by a form which must be routed to all three offices for signature before the proposal can be submitted to OSR for approval.

BUDGET PREPARATION:

Salaries:

Tenure-track Faculty are on a 9-month academic year contract starting July 1. Summer salary: 3 months maximum (3/9th).
12-month appointments can request support for part of their time but do not request summer salaries.
Graduate Research Assistants: $21,360/calendar year ($1,780/mo).

More information on tuition rates can be found here: http://osr.unc.edu/information/fringe_benefit_rates.php

Tuition: $1,706.50/semester ($3,413/calendar year). Current projections for the next year are at $1806.50/semester ($3613/calendar year). This number is subject to change.

Facilities and Administrative Costs (F&A costs):

Negotiated with the Federal Government, Department of Health and Human Services. Present agreement dated March 14, 2003. Rates in force from 07/01/03-06/30/05 until amended:

• 46.0% for on-campus research,
• 28.0% for off-campus research within 10mi radius of UNC-CH
• 26.0% for off-campus research outside of commuting area.