Research Enhancements
The Office of the Vice Provost for Research (OVPR) seeks to create and maintain a supportive environment for research, creative, and scholarly endeavors, and encourages faculty, students, and staff to seek and secure external funding for projects that support the university’s mission and advance their professional interests. The OVPR manages the process of allocating resources strategically to accomplish these research enhancement goals.
2008 UMass President's Office Initiatives Funds
The solicitations for the 2008 UMass President's Initiatives Funds are now available. Now in its fifth year, both program funds have been increased. The Science and Technology (S&T) Fund will award $1.175 million and the Creative Economy Fund will award $350,000. These funds represent UMass's continued commitment to advancing its central role as the Commonwealth's public research university and to ensuring that we significantly contribute to our state's social and economic development.
The timeline for submitting required information to either competition appears directly below. Concept papers and proposals emanating from UMass Boston must be submitted to the Office of the Vice Provost per the instructions directly below.
Friday, March 7, 2008 Concept papers (2 pages maximum length) are due to the UMass Boston Office of Vice Provost for Research. An applicant must have the endorsement of his or her department head and dean before submitting a concept paper. The vice provost for research will then forward all concept papers to the President's office. |
Wednesday, April 2, 2008 Deadline for applicants to receive feedback on their concept papers. Applicants will receive this feedback from the President's office via the UMass vice provost for research. Note: Applicants who submit the strongest concept papers will be asked to submit full proposals. In some cases, where opportunities for synergy exist, applicants from two or more campuses may be advised to combine their ideas into a single proposal. |
Friday, April 25, 2008 Full proposals (5 pages maximum length) are due to UMass Boston Office of Vice Provost for Research. An applicant must have the endorsement of his or her department head and dean before submitting a proposal. The vice provost for research will then forward all proposals to the President's office. |
Friday, June 27, 2008 Awards are announced. Recipients will receive an award letter from the UMass Boston vice provost for research. |
Complete details (criteria for awards, application and review process, guidance for concept papers, guidance for proposals) are contained in the RFP for the Science & Technology Fund as well as the RFP for the Creative Economy Fund.
William Brah and John Ciccarelli are available at (617) 287-7723 and (617) 287-7893 respectively to answer your questions and provide you with assistance.
UMass Boston internal grant competitions
The office administers annually the UMass Boston internal grant competitions to provide support for research and scholarly activities of faculty, projects that enhance the university’s public service mission, the preparation of competitive proposals for submission to an external funding agency, and for dissertation research by doctoral candidates.
Book Publication Subvention Fund
To assist UMass Boston faculty members who are asked to underwrite the cost of publishing a book through a publication subvention, the provost has established a Book Publication Subvention Fund to be managed by the OVPR.
Funding databases
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs subscribes to several electronic databases to assist researchers in their search for funding opportunities (e.g., SPIN, Community of Science). The office also pays the membership fees necessary to obtain university-wide access to resources that increase our competitiveness for federal and private grants (e.g., Grants Resource Center, Federal Demonstration Partnership).
In addition, the OVPR provides funds for these research enhancement programs and services:
- New faculty startup packages
- Cost sharing, in partnership with departmental and deans’ offices, for selected grant programs (e.g., NSF or NIH instrumentation and equipment grants)
- Laboratory renovations and upgrades
- Travel for faculty members to meet with program officers to discuss sponsored program opportunities
- Research incentive and research mentorship programs in various colleges
- Support for research compliance programs (e.g., Institutional Review Board, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Radiation Safety Committee, Institutional Biosafety Committee, Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property)
- Startup or interim support for core research facilities
For information about these research enhancement opportunities, call the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at 617-287-5370 or send a message to orsp@umb.edu.