Creation of a Faculty Creativity Fund

The School of Dentistry would like to create a fund to help faculty further develop their research programs by providing them the opportunity to apply for funds to initiate, support, or supplement research projects, meetings, or initiatives that will have a high likelihood of resulting in funded research projects. These funds will be awarded in addition to any start-up funds they may have, and will be made available on a competitive basis. This program will be set up under the following conditions:

1. The Faculty Creativity Fund will be created in the Research Trust Fund account to provide funds to further research and scholarship for faculty in the School of Dentistry.
2. Preference will be given to young faculty, although this program is open to all full-time faculty in the School of Dentistry. Young faculty will be defined as any full time faculty member at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in the tenure, research, or clinical track that has not yet attained tenure or who has been a faculty member in the institution at the rank of Assistant Professor or above for less than 7 years.
3. The fund will grant awards of a maximum of $5,000 based on a successful application for these funds. These funds can be used to support the scientific, scholarly or artistic efforts of faculty. They may be used for costs such as collecting pilot data, research-related travel, research equipment or supplies, or the costs of smaller-scale projects. It will be expected that FCR grants will be used to support projects which lead to extramural support.
4. Applications will be virtually identical to the format for University Research Council Grants, including a limit of 3 pages.
5. Forms are available from the Office of the Associate Dean for Research, or download the .pdf file from the bottom of this page.
6. To apply for these grants: Submit original proposal not to exceed three pages plus FOUR (4) copies to the Office of the Associate Dean for Research. The proposals will be judged by the Research Advisory Committee three times a year, with deadlines for applications being April 1, August 1, and December 1 of each year.
7. A grant must be used in the accomplishment of faculty member's research that (a) is in the general area of the principal investigator's teaching responsibility (b) is of scholarly significance, (c) gives promise of more than temporary value, and (d) is susceptible to completion, either in whole or in specified part, in one year. Investigators can apply for additional funding to continue support for the same project by submitting a new application at the end of one year.
8. Grants, except when otherwise specified in the proposal are for a maximum period of two years. Requests for an extension of time may be made to the Associate Dean for Research.
9. Grant funds may be expended for (a) specialized research equipment and materials, books, microfilm, photocopies, and manuscripts for research; (b) statistical, research and transcription services; (c) communication costs; (d) travel pertinent to the project (including travel to a foreign country or to professional meeting); (e)wages to assist in carrying out the applicants's/PI's research project (but no faculty salary support); and (f) other purposes deemed by the Research Advisory Committee to be necessary to the successful prosecution of the proposed project and in line with the general policies of the University. Supplies and equipment are to be acquired through the regular University channels.
10. Equipment purchased with funds from one of these grants becomes the property of the University department or research unit with which the principal investigator is affiliated.
11. Research involving human or animal subjects, radioactive material, or potential biological hazards must be reviewed in accordance with the University's general assurance policies. Prior to involvement of subjects and substances in any activity supported with these funds, the activity shall be reviewed and approved by the appropriate committee and reported to the URC. The principal investigator should attach a copy of the approval letter to the proposal if approval has been obtained. An award will not be made until all committee approvals have been obtained and a copy of the approval letter is received in the office of the Associate Dean for Research.
12. A final report shall be submitted to the Office of the Associate Dean for Research at the conclusion of the grant period. The final report shall inform the RAC of the results of the research and include a brief financial statement. This report should be submitted at the end of the grant period, at the end of any extension granted, or prior to departure if the investigator should leave the University. Unused funds revert to the FCF.
13. The FCF will be maintained in the Research Trust Fund account 6-69012. Funds for creation of the Faculty Creativity Fund will be initially provided by the Associate Dean for Research. Continuation of the funds will be from creation of a fee on any residual funding from all non-federal projects upon completion of these projects and transfer of these residual funds to the research trust fund. This fee for residual projects will begin on July 1, 2006, and will be assessed at the level of 25% to all residual money from grants or contracts being transferred into the Research Trust Fund.
14. The amount of awards and number of awards provided each cycle by the FCF will be contingent upon the availability of funds.

Click Here to Download Application Forms.

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