Huge Turnout for Research Growth Initiative Workshop

By Laura L. Hunt

A crowd of nearly 300 gathered on Friday to ask questions about – and learn how to apply for – research seed funding through the recently announced Research Growth Initiative (RGI) at UWM.

The centerpiece of Chancellor Carlos E. Santiago's broad university program to grow research, scholarship, and creative activities on campus, the initiative establishes equal access to seed funds that are available annually through so-called 101-4 funds in the UW System budget.

Staff members from the Graduate School challenged faculty to think creatively when writing their grant proposals.

Under RGI, faculty and staff can apply to receive one-time funding for periods of one to three years for research projects that will, ideally, become self-sustaining after the seed funding phase, said Vice Chancellor for Research and Dean of the Graduate School Abbas Ourmazd, who is directing RGI.

"What's different about RGI is the up-front support that is available," L&S Associate Dean Mark Harris told the faculty. "We've never done this before on our campus."

RGI redistributes current 101-4 research money that previously was not tied to project outcomes and not available to all faculty. By making the funds available to anyone with a good research idea, Ourmazd said, UWM hopes to increase its research activity, enhance its national standing, and increase its extramural funding.

RGI will encourage more multidisciplinary research on campus and make it possible for researchers to secure multiple extramural funding streams. Faculty members can submit more than one proposal.

"The issue is not to use RGI funds to do a piece of work and then stop," said Ourmazd. "The intention is for the seeded activity to continue to produce results and be funded at the same level after the seed funding ends."

Harris pointed out that not everyone will be successful in generating a three-fold return on the seed grant investment. "This is a very competitive place we are asking faculty to go," said Harris. "But this is designed to put you [faculty] in a position to be successful. Ask yourself what kind of research project can you do that has an afterlife."

The program will be monitored at every step in order to make adjustments or improvements before the next round.

"This is an experiment. I know of no experiment where you get it right the first time," said Harris

What will give one proposal a better chance at seed funding than another? The most important aspect is that the project have measurable objectives, said Harris. Other requirements are:

• A list of milestones (if proposal is for more than a year)
• A list of deliverables
• A list of anticipated extramural funding
• A statement on the likelihood of a financial return of 3:1

Researchers will choose which of five sub-panels they want to review their proposals:

• Life and Health Sciences
• Arts and Humanities
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Natural & Mathematical Sciences and Engineering
• Multidisciplinary

Ourmazd said there is a commitment to fund projects in all areas. "We will put together a balanced portfolio," he said.

The panels will produce a list of recommendations and forward them to the Chancellor, Provost and Ourmazd, who will put together a portfolio of projects balanced in terms of areas, risks, and rewards, he said.

Applicants can be individuals or groups, centers, or new clusters. Harris said he expects the amount requested by each grant applicant will vary widely.

Timeline:

• Nominations for review panel members taken through the end of the year.
• Proposals due Jan. 23 at 4:30 p.m.
• Review panels in place by the end of January and finish in April
• Awards made in April or May.
• Projects begin on July 1.

For more log onto www.uwm.edu/Dept/Grad_Sch/rgi/ for "Frequently Asked Questions."

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