Office of Sponsored Research & Programs Frequently Asked Questions

What can EARDA Research Development Program (RDP) do for faculty?

Assist faculty in submitting proposal and getting grants
Assist faculty to locate funding opportunities
Help ensure compliance with Funding Agency and University policies
Facilitate the grant writing, and grant funded research process
Train faculty, students & staff about grant writing and management

Submit your Research Project Profile request here for evaluatiion and development
Submit your Faculty Expertise Profile here

How will FRD support the Proposal / Grant Process?

Receive approved proposal with budget using Grant Concept Approval Form
Review proposal for institutional and external compliance
Return proposal to PI for submission to funding sponsor, assist with editing/budgets
Assist with Electronic Grants submission (eRA Commons, Grants.gov, FastLane)
Negotiate awards
Notify Grants and Contracts Accounting of award receipt
Issue sub-awards as needed
Verify that all required grant reporting is submitted in a timely manner
Close out completed awards

    What is a sponsored project?

Sponsored Research is simply defined as a project, grant or contract funded by an outside agency through a competitive application and award process – typically an “investigator initiated project” with specific outcomes delineated in a proposal that describes research, training, or service activities. In contrast, a "gift" is an unrestricted donation of funds, materials or property to the university.

    What are the benefits of writing a grant?

Grants can advance an academic career by helping faculty accomplish a research project of special interest; building their professional reputation; enhancing their resume of accomplishments for promotion and tenure; and helping faculty to better network among professionals with similar interests; while at the same time attracting additional resources, such as equipment or student support. Grants allow faculty to conduct their research program, and the external funding can provide opportunities to reduce one’s teaching load to focus more on research, create new research opportunities for student research assistants, and to purchase state-of-the-art equipment needed for scientific exploration. Faculty with Grants gain experience managing an important project, while at the same time, advancing the knowledge in their field.

     How do I locate funding opportunities?

The FRD can assist you to locate Funding Opportunity Announcements. These range from Local to State and Federal opportunities from Government agencies as well as private foundations.
Some links to research funding sites are included on this RDP web page

Please contact the FRD at 305-628-6557 or see the RDP Calendar for the schedule of training workshops, and for answers to other questions, such as -
What deadlines are involved in preparing a research proposal?
Who can submit an application for a grant or contract?
What are the different kinds of proposals?
What are the key steps in writing a grant application?
What are the duties of a principal investigator?
Who do I contact if my proposal involves use of human subjects?
What is Institutional Review Board?
What if my application is rejected the 1st time it was reviewed?
How is the grant budget developed?
Can I partner with other researchers at other universities?
How do we place students in extramural internships?

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I am so busy teaching. Can FRD write a research funding proposal for me?

No. The RDP staff do not have sufficient knowledge of your field or practices to effectively write your proposal for you. Today’s funding environment is very competitive and it will take a very detailed and well-conceived proposal to be successful. As the Principal Investigator (PI) of a funded proposal, the project will be your responsibility - and only you can write about your specific aims, explain the background and significance of your proposal, detail the methods you will employ and the outcomes you expect. The RDP is here to help you write a good proposal and meet the requirements of submission, and grant awards.

The RDP can assist you in the development of your proposal - from identifying funding sources to helping you with the submission. After your grant is successfully funded, the RDP will help you to ensure compliance with post award requirements. Grant writing tips and other training sessions (see below) will be offered by RDP to help you to develop your best proposal. Faculty should plan ahead to commit the time and effort needed to ensure the project that best reflects your expertise and interests. Faculty can apply for pilot-research awards, including requests for release time from teaching from their academic unit, or even plan to use the summer period to fully develop a proposal. The RDP is here to help you (but is not a "grant-writing" service).

How can I learn more about grant funding for my project?

View RDP's online Calendar of Events to find out when you can develop your grant writing and management skills.

for our research database and development prospecting