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The Research and Sponsored Program Office at Penn State Altoona was created to support the faculty of this College in their pursuit
of external funding for teaching and research. Toward this end, the Office:
- presents workshops for faculty and staff on proposal writing, identifying sources of external support, and other topics relevant to the acquisition of external support;
- maintains a close working relationship with the Office of Sponsored Programs at University Park;
- assists faculty in proposal writing and formulation of budgets; and
- can act as an intermediary between faculty on this campus and faculty, institutes, centers, departments, and colleges on other campuses of the university.
Research Advisory Committee
- Mark Agee, PhD, Business and Engineering (MDA4@psu.edu)
- Brian Black, PhD, Arts and Humanities (BCB4@psu.edu)
- Amir Marvasti, PhD, Education, Human Development, and Social Sciences (ABM11@psu.edu)
- Peter Shull, PhD, Business and Engineering (PJS18@psu.edu)
- Darin Zimmerman, PhD, Mathematics and Natural Sciences (DTZ1@psu.edu)
Conducting Research at Penn State Altoona
- Anyone seeking to engage in research at Penn State University (whether funded or not) is subject to review by the Office of Research Protections (ORP) ORP approval for research involving human participants, animal subjects, biohazardous materials or radioisotopes should be obtained at the same time that grant applications are submitted. Faculty should review these policies carefully and abide by all regulations.
- All requests for external support--regardless of the nature of the activity--that in any way obligate the resources of the university and result in a contract of some sort, must be reviewed before submission to a granting/contracting agency. The appropriate forms for this review are the:
This office will assist faculty and staff in completing these forms and obtaining the required signatures.
Submission of Proposals
Below are links to some of the popular US Government funding agencies. Each agency has a diversity of programs with varying application dates.
Online Search Sites
Below are links to search sites that faculty may want to investigate for possible funding sources.
Including Match in Your Proposal
Typically, you should not include a match in your proposal unless required as a condition of a grant or contract. There are two types of match at the university:
- Equipment Match. For equipment costing in excess of $75,000, you may request that the university provide a 22.5% match.
Of that amount, 15% comes from the Vice President of Research and 7.5% comes from Penn State Altoona. The requests must be made prior to submission of the proposal and are not automatic. A letter of support from the Dean indicating his support for the project is required as part of the submission. See policy.
- General Match. This may include all portions of the budget, not simply equipment. Any agreement for match - which may consist of your time, travel, waived indirect, and the like - must be arranged with and approved by your division head prior to submission of the proposal.
Please contact this office for assistance in arranging any type of match prior to submission of the proposal.
You got the money. Now what?
Listed below are a number of scenarios that routinely occur when a grant or contract is funded. Described are the actions that need to be taken by the PI or others to insure that people get paid, money is available to purchase supplies, and other important things.
Assume that you have been notified that you have received an award and that your project:
- Will permit you to reduce your teaching load by one course during the spring semester.
Your Division Head has approved this course reduction (signed approval form) prior to submission of the proposal. Simply inform him/her that the proposal has been funded and the planned-for course reduction will occur. Work with the Division Head to identify substitute instructor.
The Division Head should contact the Bursar's Office to confirm that the funds are available. Salary savings will remain in the division's budget.
- Will cover two months of your summer salary.
Inform the Division Head and Division Staff Assistant that summer salary monies are being received and identify the appropriate account number.
- Will allow you to hire undergraduate students to work on the project.
Contact the Business Office to obtain personnel packets that are required to place a person on wage/payroll. As hours are worked, submit reports to Division Staff Assistant.
- Will enable you to hire a graduate student at University Park.
Contact the Business Office to arrange appointment at Penn State Altoona. Prepare a memo to the Bursar's Office informing them of the appointment.
- Includes a 22.5% equipment match (15% UP/7.5% Penn State Altoona).
Upon notification of the award, Research and Sponsored Programs Office will provide the letter from VP for Research and a copy of budget to Bursar's Office. No action is required from the faculty member.
- Requires you to purchase supplies and equipment.
Contact your Division Head to acquire use of purchasing card for supplies costing less than $2000. For supplies in excess of $2000 or for equipment, arrange purchases through the Business Office.
- Want to know current status of project budget.
Request an IBIS update on your budget through the Division Staff Assistant or through the Bursar's Office.
- Want to request the return of indirect in order to foster further grant development.
Obtain and complete the "Request for Return of Indirect" form from the Research and Sponsored Programs Office (W110 Smith). This office will obtain the required approvals and, when complete, the form will be submitted to the Bursar's Office. Contact the Division Staff Assistant to request use of this money.
- Intend to take a .10 FTE overload during the fall or spring semester.
Request a workload adjustment by the Division Staff Assistant.
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