Research Development

OVPR Internal Funding End Date / Project Change Requests

OVPR Internal Funding End Date / Budget / Scope Change Request

This form can be used by PIs or staff who wish to request changes to an awarded OVPR internal funding project. These changes can include the end date of the project, changes in how funds are to be spent, or substantial changes in project approach or scope. The information gathered on this form will help the OVPR understand the request and its impact on the project so that an approval decision can be made. Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Principal Investigator Information

  • Must be a valid UConn email address.
  • Administrative Contact Information

    In case information is needed. If you are submitting this form on behalf of the PI put your contact information here.
  • Award Information

  • For Storrs Awards, please provide KFS account. For awards based at UCH, please provide Banner account number.
  • Please indicate the OVPR program under which the award was made. A full list of OVPR programs can be found here: https://ovpr.uconn.edu/services/research-development/internal-funding-opportunities/
  • When was this award originally scheduled to end? If you requested and received a revised timeline at award setup, you can reference that revised end date. If you requested and received an end date extension after the project began, do not include that extended date here.
  • Please provide a brief summary of which project aims (as proposed in the original application) have been accomplished so far and what work remains to be completed before the project can be concluded.
  • Please provide a brief description of what delayed the project, and indicate whether those delaying elements have been resolved.
  • Will the project be able to proceed as described in the original proposal and budget? Or will there need to be changes in the plan of work and/or how the budget is spent? If so, what changes are anticipated and how do they impact the project)?

Research Deans Council

The membership of the Research Deans Council (RDC) consists of the Associate Deans for Research (or equivalent) of all UConn/UConn Health schools and colleges.  Please feel free to contact your associate dean or the RDC chair if you have research-related concerns, and in particular concerns that may involve or require collaboration / coordination among the schools/colleges or between the schools/colleges and the OVPR.

Business

David Souder
david.souder@uconn.edu

CAHNR

Kumar Venkitanarayanan
kumar.venkitanarayanan@uconn.edu

CLAS

Andrew Moiseff
andrew.moiseff@uconn.edu

Dental Medicine

Rajesh Lalla
lalla@uchc.edu

Education

Jason Irizarry
jason.irizarry@uconn.edu

Morgaen Donaldson
morgaen.donaldson@uconn.edu

Engineering

Emmanouil (Manos) Anagnostou
manos@uconn.edu

Leslie Shor
leslie.shor@uconn.edu

Fine Arts

Alain Frogley
alain.frogley@uconn.edu

Law

Anne Dailey
anne.dailey@uconn.edu

Medicine

Anthony Vella
vella@uchc.edu

Nursing

Nancy Redeker
nancy.redeker@uconn.edu

Pharmacy

Kyle Hadden
kyle.hadden@uconn.edu

Social Work

Jennifer Manuel
jennifer.manuel@uconn.edu

President’s Research Advisory Council

Members of the President's Research Advisory Council (PRAC) represent all UConn/UConn Health schools/colleges, as well as undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs.

 

Emmanouil Anagnostou
Engineering
manos@engr.uconn.edu
 
 

Jill Anderson
Law
jill.anderson@uconn.edu
 

Diane Burgess
Pharmacy
d.burgess@uconn.edu
 
 

Jeffrey Cohen
Business
jeffrey.cohen@uconn.edu
 
 

Lisa Eaton
CLAS
lisa.eaton@uconn.edu
 
 

Eric Jackson
Engineering
eric.d.jackson@uconn.edu
 
 

Angela Lanning
Engineering
Graudate rep
angela.lanning@uconn.edu

Se-Jin Lee
Medicine
sejlee@uchc.edu
 
 

Changchun Liu
Dental Medicine
chaliu@uchc.edu
 

Andy Jolly-Ballantine
CLAS
In-Residence rep
john-andrew.ballantine@uconn.edu
 

Bruce Mayer
Medicine
bmayer@neuron.uchc.edu
 
 

Gustavo Nanclares
CLAS
Faculty Senate rep
gustavo.nanclares@uconn.edu
 

Sherry Pagoto
CAHNR
sherry.pagoto@uconn.edu
 
 

Guillermo Risatti
CAHNR
guillermo.risatti@uconn.edu

Tom Scheinfeldt
Fine Arts
tom.scheinfeldt@uconn.edu
 
 

Juliette Shellman
Nursing
juliette.shellman@uconn.edu
 

Brandi Simonsen
Education
brandi.simonsen@uconn.edu
 
 

Carol Teschke
CLAS
carolyn.teschke@uconn.edu
 
 

Drew Tienken
CLAS
Undergraduate rep
andrew.tienken_jr@uconn.edu
 

Cristina Wilson
Social Work
cristina.wilson@uconn.edu

OVPR Internal Funding Final Report

Scholarship and Collaboration in Humanities and Arts Research (SCHARP)

NOTICE as of 5/05/2025: Due to the need to reserve funds for the EMERGE emergency funding program, all OVPR Internal Funding Programs are on hold-we will provide updates as more information becomes available.

The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) SCHARP Awards aim to support innovative works of scholarship and creative activities in the arts and humanities that have the potential to transform a field of study, impact the common good, or chart a new direction in scholarly, creative, or artistic development.  Proposal reviews will be conducted by a committee composed of representatives from UCHI, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the School of Fine Arts.

Program Overview:  SCHARP Awards will be given in two categories:

  • SCHARP Development Award
    • Supports the development of innovative research and creative works in arts and humanities. We seek proposals for significant and well-conceptualized projects that are still in the early stages of implementation.
    • Awards can include support for conducting archival research; visits to museums, galleries, cultural sites, or performances; for activities that foster collaborative relationships; and other activities/costs that will support the development of the project (including department-approved course releases and graduate student support)
    • Smaller projects, projects that are exploratory in nature, or projects that are already mature and need funding for publication/completion should be submitted for Scholarship Facilitation Fund awards.
    • Awards may be used over 1-2 years
    • Up to 4 Development Awards in the range of $5,000-$8,000 will be made.
  • SCHARP Breakthrough Award
    • Provides funding in support of innovative and transformative projects in the arts and humanities that have the potential to make significant scholarly and creative impact. We seek proposals for projects that are truly groundbreaking and exceed the scope of normal scholarly / creative work in your field.
    • Projects that transcend disciplinary boundaries, foster unique collaborations, or productively reshape fields of study/practice are strongly encouraged.
    • Awards may be used over 1-3 years, including up to 1 year for planning and project development purposes.
    • One Breakthrough Award of up to $50,000.00 will be made.

Timeline:

  • Development Award:
    • Full Proposals due December 16 by 12:00 noon.
    • Submissions should be made via the UConn Quest Portal. (you may be prompted to first log in and then to click the link again to access the application)
    • Award notices expected in May. Award setup will begin immediate after notice, pending the completion of compliance review.
  • Breakthrough Award:
    • Full Proposals due December 16 by 12:00 noon.
    • Submissions should be made via the UConn Quest Portal. (you may be prompted to first log in and then to click the link again to access the application)
    • Award notices expected in May. Award setup will begin immediate after notice, pending the completion of compliance review.

Eligibility

SCHARP awards are available to individuals with a primary, full-time faculty appointment to UConn/UConn Health, within the following parameters:

  • Applicants must be tenure track, Clinical, Research, or in-Residence faculty at the rank of Assistant Professor or higher.  Faculty with Research Professor titles will need to have some institutionally-funded research time available in order to eligible.
  • Applicants may be from any department or discipline within the University, so long as the project makes a strong contribution to scholarship in the arts or humanities or a significant creative endeavor.
  • Faculty may submit only one project per academic year in each SCHARP category.
  • The same project may not be submitted for both a Breakthrough and Development award in the same academic year.
  • The same project cannot receive funds from SCHARP and the smaller Scholarship Facilitation Fund or the larger Research Excellence Program mechanisms
  • Because of the limited funding available, projects that receive a Development award are not eligible for another Development award.  However, such a project is eligible for a future Breakthrough Award.  Projects that receive a Breakthrough Award are not eligible for additional SCHARP funding.

Proposal Guidelines – Development Awards

Proposals for SCHARP Awards should contain the following elements and follow the structure and guidelines indicated.  All length guidelines assume 1” margins, 11-12pt fonts, single spacing and single side pages.

  • Cover Page: Title of Project, Applicant information, and a list of collaborators
  • Abstract: A lay summary of the project's activities and major goals
  • Project Narrative: Describe the project and its anticipated outcomes.  Project narratives should address the following and not exceed 2 pages for Development awards. References should be included and do not count against page limits.
    • Provide background on your project's field of study/practice to provide context for the work you are proposing.
    • Describe the work you wish to accomplish through project (scholarly / artistic approach, theoretical or methodological framework, specific activities that you propose undertaking, and the expected products of the project [e.g. performances, exhibitions, publications, media, public engagements, etc.]).
    • Explain how your proposed activities will contribute to the achievement of your scholarly/artistic goals and how the achievement of your scholarly/artistic goals will contribute to your field of study or practice.
    • Access and Resources: If the project requires special technical expertise, describe how this need will be addressed.  If the project requires access to archives/collections/resources at another institution, describe the arrangements that have been made to gain access to them.
  • Budget describing and justifying use of SCHARP funds.  Please see Internal Funding Budget Guidelines for instructions and a budget template.
  • Updated CVs for all key project contributors that includes most recent publications / performances / exhibitions or those that are most relevant to the work proposed.

Proposal Guidelines – Breakthrough Awards

Proposals for SCHARP Breakthrough Awards should contain the following elements and following the structure and guidelines indicated.  All length guidelines assume 1” margins, 11-12pt fonts, single spacing and single side pages.

  • Cover Page: Title of Project, Applicant information, and a list of collaborators
  • Abstract: A lay summary of the project activities and major goals
  • Project Narrative: Describe the project and its anticipated outcomes.  Project narratives should address the following and not exceed 5 pages for Breakthrough Awards. References should be included and do not count against page limits.
    • Provide background on the field with which your project will engage to provide context for the work you are proposing, describing current scholarly/artistic norms in your field, opportunities to build on or challenge those norms, or obstacles that need to be overcome before further progress can be made.
    • Proposed work: Describe the work you wish to accomplish with this project. Explain the scholarly or artistic approach and any theoretical or methodological framework you are applying, the specific activities that you propose undertaking to advance your project, and the outputs or products of this work (e.g. performances, exhibitions, publications, media, public engagements, etc.).  Proposals should specifically address the ways in which the project is innovative/novel compared to existing work within the discipline.
    • Impact and outcomes: Explain how your proposed activities will contribute to the achievement of your scholarly/artistic goals and how the achievement of your scholarly/artistic goals will be transformative for your field of study or practice.
    • Expertise/Skills, Access, and Resources: If the project requires special technical expertise, describe how this need will be addressed.  If the project requires access to archives/collections/resources at another institution, describe the arrangements that have been made to gain access to them.  If your project includes collaboration, describe how the skills and expertise of each scholar/artist contributes to the success of the project and explain how the collaboration is innovative/novel compared to what is common within the discipline.
  • Budget describing and justifying use of SCHARP funds. Please see Internal Funding Budget Guidelines for instructions and a budget template.
  • Updated CVs for all key project contributors that includes most recent publications/performances/exhibitions or those that are most relevant to the work proposed.

Budget Guidelines

Please see the general budget guidelines for the OVPR Research Development Internal Funding awards.

Review Process and Criteria

Review Process

All proposals will be evaluated by a peer-review team composed of the University of Connecticut faculty and overseen by the OVPR.

  • The Internal Competitions Advisory Board (ICAB) faculty Co-chairs are assigned to provide reviewer suggestions for proposals to the OVPR.
  • The OVPR in turn will invite and select reviewers based on disciplinary areas consistent with the proposal category, scholarly reputation, and whenever possible expertise and specialization consistent with the proposal topic.
  • ICAB Co-chairs will review the recommendations by the reviewers, identify the strongest proposals for funding, and make their recommendations to the OVPR, keeping the review criteria in mind.
  • The OVPR leadership will review all the recommendations and scores for award consideration. Final awards are made by the OVPR leadership based on the ICAB recommendations, program objectives, equity factors (including disciplinary representation), recent internal funding history, and alignment of projects with other institutional priorities or investments.

Criteria

  • Significance/Importance – Why does this project matter?
  • Innovation/Novelty – How is this project new?
  • Feasibility of Approach – How will the work be done?
  • Environment/Resources – What resources/facilities will be used
  • Team qualifications – Who will be working on this project, and how are they uniquely suited to accomplish this work?
  • Outcome – What value/impact will this work promise to return?
  • Assessment – How will success be determined?
  • Budget – Are funds to be used efficiently and effectively to achieve project goals?

 

 

Postaward Reporting

After awards are made and the project has been completed, the OVPR (Office of the Vice President for Research) would like to evaluate project progress and to learn more about the impact of the work that has been done.  To this end, you will receive a link to a short survey asking you questions about the outcomes and impacts of your project once your project has been completed and then again, one and three years post award project completion.

Program Contacts

  • Administrative contact: Charlotte Nelson, OVPR Internal Funding Coordinator. research@uconn.edu

 

Program in Accelerated Therapeutics for Healthcare (PATH)

Overview

PATH is a partnership that includes the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), the School of Pharmacy, and the School of Medicine to accelerate the translational pathway for researchers to convert their discoveries to new medical therapeutics.  Under PATH, funding will be provided to academic research programs designed to quickly develop novel therapeutic approaches focusing on well validated molecular targets for a specific disease areas with an unmet treatment need in the current commercial marketplace.  Projects focusing on a wide range of therapeutic interventions (small molecule, biologic, antibody, peptide, gene therapy) are eligible for consideration.  Projects related to medical diagnostics, medical devices, and digital health are not eligible.  Two levels of funding will be available through this mechanism: PATH Trailblazer Grants will provide up to $10K for preliminary work in support of treatment development while PATH Ascent Grants will provide $75K-$150K to accelerate the development of promising therapeutics.

 

Program/Award Details:

  • PATH Trailblazer Grants
    • Up to 5 awards of $10K will be made each year ($50K total available funding).
    • Award period will be one year. No cost extensions are possible, but are typically only approved when extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the PI exist.
    • IP: UConn will own IP produced by UConn/UConn Health faculty.  Agreements regarding IP for joint projects involving UConn/UConn Health and external investigators will need to be established at time of award.
    • Proposals will be reviewed by external experts and by representatives from the UConn schools and colleges involved. Award decisions will be made by the Vice President for Research.
  • PATH Ascent Grants
    • 1-2 award of $75K-150K will be made each year ($150K total available funding). Funding will be provided in six-month installments (specific amounts will vary according to the needs of the project), pending completion of project milestones.  Additional matching funds from schools/colleges may be provided.
    • Initial award period will be 1-2 years, extendable for up to a total of three years pending completion of project milestones.
    • Proposals should include plans for the full duration of the intended effort (not just the initial one-year award period).
    • Proposed plan/budget should include significant work to be carried out by UConn’s Connecticut Initiative for Molecular Intervention (CIMI) core services. This can include making use of existing services or using the award to fund the extension of those services.
    • IP: UConn will own IP produced by UConn/UConn Health faculty.  Agreements regarding IP for joint projects involving UConn/UConn Health and external investigators will need to be established at time of award.
    • Proposals will be reviewed by external experts and by representatives from the UConn schools and colleges involved. Award decisions will be made by the Vice President for Research.

 

Eligibility

  • Primary Appointment: PIs must be full-time faculty whose primary appointment is at UConn/UConn Health, CCMC, or who have UConn-JAX joint appointments. Investigators with primary appointments to TIP companies or other institutions are not eligible to lead projects, but they may be named as Co-PIs, collaborators, or consultants on an eligible PI’s project.  Proposals that include external Co-PIs should be careful to describe how responsibility for the project will be divided between institutions, and ideally they will include cost-sharing commitments from external partners.
  • IP: PATH Projects should have intellectual property at their core. To be eligible, one of the following should be true: a project-related UConn patent or patent application exists, a UConn invention disclosure has been submitted to Technology Commercialization Services , or it is anticipated that IP will be generated and disclosed as a likely outcome of PATH-funded activities.  Agreements regarding IP rights and/or other investment terms may be required prior to receiving PATH Funding.
  • Effort and Salary: Although no minimum effort level is required for PATH projects, a UConn/UConn Health PI/Co-PI must have departmental research time available during the award period or address in the application how they will handle the time commitment required by the project.  PIs/Co-PIs must each make significant and distinct intellectual contributions to the design and direction of the project. Generally speaking, PATH awards are only available to UConn/UConn Health faculty in tenured, tenure-track, and APiR (Storrs) positions, as well as full-time joint UConn/JAX appointees.  Research Professors / those whose positions are contingent on grant-funding (soft money positions) are not eligible to apply as PI.  Faculty with projects that could involve grant-dependent faculty should contact the OVPR. Questions regarding eligibility should be directed to the OVPR before applying.
  • Eligible faculty may only submit one proposal per year as PI or Co-PI. Investigators may serve as collaborator on multiple projects.
  • Faculty with previous or ongoing continuing PITCH, START, or SPARK awards are eligible to apply for PATH awards for a distinct scope of work (either a clear next-phase of the previously funded project or a new approach or project).
  • Projects based on IP that has already been licensed to an industry partner or startup are generally not eligible for PATH funding.  Please contact the OVPR if you have any questions or concerns about eligibility based on this guideline before applying.

UConn CIMI Services Available

UConn’s Connecticut Initiative for Molecular Intervention (CIMI) is a multidisciplinary collaboration across UConn Storrs and UConn Health designed to support academic drug discovery.  CIMI can provide the services listed below (full descriptions are available on the COR2E website) on a fee-for-service basis.  Faculty interested in working with CIMI can contact Dr. Dennis Wright (dennis.wright@uconn.edu) or Dr. Sandra Weller (weller@uchc.edu) for more information. CIMI was established to assist UConn/UConn Health faculty in moving drug discoveries to the commercial marketplace and is well positioned to facilitate PATH projects.  Awards can be used to fund the use of existing CIMI services or to fund the extension of those services as appropriate.

  • Consultation on the Identification and Validation of Appropriate Targets for Drug Discovery
  • Target Protein Expression and Purification
  • Assay Development
  • Biophysical Characterization and NMR
  • Protein X-Ray Crystallography
  • Computer Simulations and Docking
  • High Throughput Screening
  • Hit-to-Lead Studies
  • Medical Chemistry (Lead Optimization)
  • Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics

Path Trailblazer Proposal Guidelines

Proposals for PATH Awards should contain the following elements and following the structure and guidelines indicated.  All length guidelines assume 1” margins, 11-12pt fonts, single spacing and single side pages.

  • Cover Page: Title of Project, Principal investigator(s) with contact information, List of other team members,
  • Abstract: A lay summary of the project activities and major goals (no more than 1 page)
  • Project Plans: Describe the project, how it will be conducted, and anticipated outcomes. Project plans should address the following areas and shouldn’t exceed 2 pages in length
    • Medical Need: Addressing unmet medical need in drug development is a key criterion for medicine prioritization.  Provide epidemiology on the disease to be treated (disease prevalence and incidence), currently available treatments, new treatments under development (preclinical or clinical trials, limitations of current and developing approaches, and existing obstacles impeding progress in producing effective treatments
    • Overview of Proposed Approach: Discuss the proposed approach to a novel/improved way to for disease intervention, how it addresses unmet needs and overcome current treatment obstacles, and any preliminary data available supporting this approach either through your work or others in the field.  Proposal should explain approach in a non-confidential manner)
    • Proposed Activities: Describe and justify the experiments or other activities being proposed to advance the development of this approach toward becoming a viable treatment. Also provide a timeline for the completion of proposed work.
    • Next Development Steps: Explain how you envision this project moving forward, should it receive PATH Trailblazer funding. What are the next steps should the proposed experiments conclude successfully?  What are alternative strategies you might use if they prove unsuccessful?
  • Budget describing and justifying use of PATH funds.
  • Biosketches / CVs for all PIs and Co-PIs

Path Ascent Proposal Guidelines

Proposals for PATH Awards should contain the following elements and following the structure and guidelines indicated.  All length guidelines assume 1” margins, 11-12pt fonts, single spacing and single side pages.

  • Cover Page: Title of Project, Principal investigator(s) with contact information, List of other team members,
  • Abstract: A lay summary of the project activities and major goals (no more than 1 page)
  • Project Plans: Describe the project, how it will be conducted, and anticipated outcomes. Project plans should address the following areas and shouldn’t exceed 10 pages in length
    • Medical Need: Addressing unmet medical need in drug development is a key criterion for medicine prioritization.  Provide epidemiology on the disease to be treated (disease prevalence and incidence), currently available treatments, new treatments under development (preclinical or clinical trials, limitations of current and developing approaches, and existing obstacles impeding progress in producing effective treatments
    • Overview of Proposed Approach: Discuss the proposed approach to a novel/improved way to for disease intervention, how it addresses unmet needs and overcome current treatment obstacles, and any preliminary data available supporting this approach either through your work or others in the field.  Describe why the proposed treatment will be more successful than other approaches and how it will improve the lives of patients.  (Proposal should explain approach in a non-confidential manner)
    • IP Position: Please note any existing granted patents, patent applications, or invention disclosures related to this project. Please research and note any competing patents.  Describe steps to be taken to protect the proposed approach in the future and/or a patenting strategy you have in mind
    • Proposed Activities: Describe the experiments or other activities being proposed to advance the development of this approach toward becoming a viable treatment. Specify any in vitro cell based models, preclinical models that are available and would be used for testing.  Include a discussion of anticipated scientific or technical hurdles to be faced, how you plan to overcome them, and alternate approaches that may be taken if problems arise.  If activities include a clinical trial now or in the future, describe what that process would look like and what specific patient populations would be tested.  Please include a timeline with project milestones indicated for each six-month period of the project
    • Commercialization Plan: Describe the anticipated process and timeline for bringing this therapeutic approach to market.  Include information about clinical trials needed, regulatory approvals needed, market size, and go-to-market strategy (licensing, start-up etc.).
    • Follow-up Funding plan: If project is successful, what will the follow-up funding targets be? Include all anticipated funded needed and funding that could be applied for at each specific milestone. Please include specific opportunities and mechanisms.
  • Budget describing and justifying use of PATH funds including significant work to be carried out by UConn’s Connecticut Initiative for Molecular Intervention (CIMI) core services. .
  • Biosketches / CVs for all PIs and Co-PIs.
  • Letters of support from any facilities providing support or services during the PATH award period.

Budget Guidelines

  • Allowable costs include: UConn CIMI services, graduate research assistant salary (AY and Summer), Postdoc or other Research Assistant salary, Undergraduate Researcher salary, Course buyouts (approval letter from Department Head required), Fringe costs, equipment purchases, travel to conduct research or meet with collaborators, materials and supplies, participant support costs, animal/animal care costs, contractual services
  • Unallowable costs include: clerical or administrative personnel salaries, including personnel whose primary purpose is to explore funding sources and/or prepare grant applications; service/maintenance contracts on equipment; laboratory renovations, or other infrastructure renovations; institutional memberships in professional organizations; travel to professional meetings to present the results of the research; travel to explore extramural funding opportunities; costs associated with the publication of results of the research, including page charges, purchase of reprints, or journal costs.

Review Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated in relation to these core criteria.  Awards will be made based on the quality of the proposed projects and University funding priorities.

  • Significance/Importance – why does this project matter?
  • Innovation/Novelty – how is this project new?
  • Feasibility of Approach – how will the work be done?
  • Environment/Resources – Are available resources/facilities sufficient?
  • PI/Team qualifications – who will be working on this project, and how are they uniquely suited to accomplish this work?
  • Outcome – what value/impact will this work promise to return?
  • Assessment – how will success be determined?
  • Budget – are funds to be used efficiently and effectively to achieve project goals?

Postaward Considerations

  • Reporting requirements: Ascent PIs will need to prepare a brief report summarizing project progress every six months.  At the end of each award year, progress will be evaluated to determine if extension of the award is justified.
  • Each time an award is renewed for an additional year, a revised budget will be requested. If significant budget changes (i.e. unanticipated new costs or significant shifts of funding between categories) are needed within an award period, PIs may contact research@uconn.edu to request approval.  Please describe the change and what motivates it and the impact the change may have on the project.

Program Contacts

  • Administrative contact: Matt Mroz, PhD, OVPR Internal Funding Coordinator. research@uconn.edu; 860.486.6378
  • Program Director: Mark Aindow, PhD, Executive Director for Innovation, External Engagement, and Industry Relations. aindow@uconn.edu; 860.486.1339

Convergence Awards for Research in Interdisciplinary Centers (CARIC)

NOTICE as of 5/05/2025: Due to the need to reserve funds for the EMERGE emergency funding program, all OVPR Internal Funding Programs are on hold-we will provide updates as more information becomes available.

CARIC is an initiative of the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) that supports the development of collaborative interdisciplinary teams to bid for major (>$5M) federally funded initiatives, such as research centers. CARIC provides funding for planning, outreach to strategic partners, and proof-of-concept research activities that will prepare the team to bid competitively for these prestigious federal awards. All applications must demonstrate that the teams proposed are new collaborations that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries or include a significant expansion/deepening of existing interdisciplinary collaborations. The federal funding initiative being targeted must be identified explicitly.  It is expected that proposed teams be diverse, including investigators from underrepresented groups and a mixture of early-career and more senior investigators. It is also expected that the planning activities proposed include activities that prepare for future work that will have significant broader impacts.

Timeline:

  • Full proposals due annually on December 15 by 12 noon.
  • Submissions should be made via the UConn Quest portal. (you may be prompted to first log in and then to click the link again to access the application)
  • Award notices expected by March 1.  Award setup will begin immediate after notice, pending the completion of compliance review.

Program/Award Details:

  • The OVPR plans to make up to 2 new CARIC awards per year.
  • Each award will begin with an initial one year award period, and each will be eligible for an additional year of funding pending a competitive renewal process and completion of project milestones.
  • Proposals should include plans for the full duration of the intended effort (not just the initial one-year award period).
  • Budgets for the initial award period should reflect the needs of the project for that year.
    • Year 1 award budgets for previously awarded projects have ranged from $100K-$150K.
    • Budget outlines are requested as part of the application package.  Detailed final budget documents will be requested from finalists.  Final budget targets for awards will be set at this stage.
    • Budgets larger than $150K will be considered only in unique circumstances and with compelling justification of need.
  • Proposals will be reviewed by a committee of faculty and administrators from the schools and colleges involved and award decisions will be made by the Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship.  External reviewers may be engaged if necessary.
  • If the targeted mechanism is a limited submission opportunity, a CARIC-awarded team will be granted one competition-free opportunity for submission for that mechanism only. Teams may apply for other related mechanisms, but they will not have automatic submission priority. If a team wishes to resubmit for a targeted mechanism after receiving feedback, the OVPR Limited Submission Resubmission Policy will apply.

Eligibility

  • Primary Appointment:
    • PIs must be full-time faculty whose primary appointment is at UConn/UConn Health.
    • Investigators with primary appointments to CCMC, Jackson Labs, TIP companies, or other institutions are not eligible to lead projects, but they may be named as Co-PIs, collaborators, or consultants on an eligible PI’s project.
    • Proposals that include external Co-PIs should be careful to describe how responsibility for the project will be divided between institutions, and ideally they will include cost-sharing commitments from external partners
  • Effort and Salary:
    • Although no minimum effort level is required for CARIC projects, a UConn/UConn Health PI/Co-PI must have departmental research time available during the award period.
    • Research Professors / those whose positions are contingent on grant-funding (soft money positions) serving as co-PI must include details about their institutionally-funded research time as part of the budget justification to confirm eligibility to participate.  Faculty salary is not an allowable cost on CARIC awards.
    • PIs/Co-PIs must each make significant and distinct intellectual contributions to the design and direction of the project.
  • Eligible Faculty Ranks:
    • As CARIC awards are intended to seed major externally-funded research centers, they require lead PIs who have the research and administrative experience needed to successfully lead such large-scale efforts. Accordingly, to be eligible for a CARIC award, lead PIs must be tenured Full Professors with a strong record of accomplishments in these areas.
  • Application Limits: Eligible faculty may only submit one proposal per year as PI or Co-PI. Investigators may serve as collaborator on multiple projects.

Proposal Guidelines

CARIC applications consist of 2 forms and several pdf file uploads.

Faculty Applicant Information Form (some information may pre-populate into the form):

  • Submitting PI Name
  • Home Department
  • School/College
  • Email
  • Phone
  • Faculty/Academic Rank
  • Primary Employer
  • Question - is your position contingent on grant funding?

CARIC Application Form

  • Federal Opportunity Targeted: Please name the Federal funder and specific mechanism your team will be targeting. Please include the mechanism's award range and the date you are targeting for submission
  • Size of Team: 0-8
  • Key Personnel: Co-PIs, department affiliation, role on project
  • Project Title:
  • Project Abstract / Lay Summary: Succinctly state (for a non-specialist audience) your project's key activities and major goals.
  • Results from prior OVPR-funded projects: If you've received funding in the past from OVPR internal seed grants or commercialization grants, please give a brief account of the outcomes of those projects and any research products generated.
  • Keywords: List 4-5 keywords relevant to project

Project Plan and Supporting Documents (PDF Uploads)

Project Plans for CARIC Awards should contain the following elements and follow the structure and guidelines indicated.  All length guidelines assume 1” margins, 11-12pt fonts, single spacing and single side pages.
  • Cover Page: Title of Project, Principal investigator(s) with contact information, List of other team members, Specific funding mechanism targeted, Target submission date
  • Abstract: A lay summary of the project activities and major goals (no more than 1 page)
  • Project Plans: Describe the project, how it will be conducted, and anticipated outcomes. Project plans should address the following areas and should not exceed 10 pages in length.  References should be included and do not count against the page limit.
    • Core Research Questions to be addressed and their significance
    • Summary of proposed externally-funded center/major research project (approach / novelty / organization / anticipated impact on research question)
    • Currently available resources and personnel and how they will support the project
    • Proposed activities under CARIC Award and how they will improve competitiveness for targeted mechanism
    • Management plan describing how resources and personnel will be organized to prepare for external submission
    • Timeline indicating major development milestones leading to submission. This must include milestones being targeted for the end of year 1.
  • Budget describing and justifying use of CARIC funds. Please see Internal Funding Budget Guidelines for instructions and a budget template.
  • Biosketches / CVs for all PIs and Co-PIs: Please include an updated biosketch consistent with NIH (max 5 pg)/NSF (max 2 pg) format.  If your field is not typically funded by NSF/NIH, please include a brief CV following your discipline’s conventions.
  • NSF/NIH-style Letters of support from any facilities providing support during the CARIC award period

Budget Guidelines

Please see the general budget guidelines for the OVPR Research Development Internal Funding awards. Given the unique nature of the CARIC mechanism, we understand that these guidelines may not include all budget items that are necessary to enhance competitiveness for your targeted external mechanism.  If you have a budget need that does not fit within these guidelines, you may include it, but we ask that you provide strong justification in support of the request.

Review Criteria

  • Targeted Future Activities
    • Significance/Merit—Does the team being formed aim to address significant scientific questions / technical problems in the proposed research area?  Is the proposed approach promising and methodologically sound?  Does this work require sustained, interdisciplinary efforts?
    • Innovation/Novelty – Does this project approach the problem/research area in a new/innovative way?
    • Environment/Resources – Are available resources/facilities sufficient to successfully complete the work?
    • PI/Team qualifications – Who will be working on this project, and how are they uniquely suited to accomplish this work?  Does the team have the required expertise to be successful?  Does the team demonstrate interdisciplinary and diversity?
  • Proposed CARIC Activities
    • Significance/Merit—are the proposed research and development activities well-designed/conceptualized?  Do they build on existing collaborations and extend them in ways that expand the capacity of the team?
    • Feasibility of Approach – are the proposed research and development plans feasible and likely to succeed?
    • Outcome – will the activities proposed adequately prepare the team to achieve their scientific and broader impact goals and to be competitive for the external funding opportunities they have targeted?
    • Assessment – Does the project have a reasonable plan for measuring and determining success?
    • Budget – Are funds to be used efficiently and effectively to achieve project goals?

Reporting and Renewal

  • Reporting requirements: After awards are made and the project has been completed, the OVPR (Office of the Vice President for Research) would like to evaluate project progress and to learn more about the impact of the work that has been done.  To this end, you will receive a link to a short survey asking you questions about the outcomes and impacts of your project once your project has been completed and then again, one and three years post award project completion.
  • Renewal:  the CARIC program is designed to provide multiple (in most cases up to three) years of funding support for projects that will enable UConn teams to be competitive for large federal funding mechanisms in the near future.  Year 1 awards are given on the strength of initial proposals, and subsequent years of funding can be awarded on the basis of strong results from prior funding years and on the presentation of compelling plans for future activities.  These future plans must demonstrate that further work is needed to achieve competitiveness, and that the activities proposed are necessary for enabling future external funding success.
    • Applications for CARIC renewal should be submitted according to these guidelines:
      • A report on the prior years' activities, results, and accomplishments and how that work has improved the team’s competitiveness for the targeted external opportunity.
      • A project plan for the next year that presents the new aims and timeline, describes how this work will build on prior results to reach larger project goals, and further enable competitiveness for external award.
      • New budget form with justifications.
      • Updated Biosketches for all PI/Co-PI or personnel with key expertise for project success
      • Renewal Applications are limited to 10 pages, plus references, budget, and biosketches.
    • Awardees will receive an invitation to submit a renewal NOI one month before the close of their current funding period.
    • Renewal applications can be accepted any time after NOI completion and will be due no later than 15 days after the end of the current funding period.
    • Note: CARIC awards cannot be renewed to support project activities after the targeted external submission has been made.
  • Post-award reporting requirements:
    • PIs will need to prepare a brief report, using this Award Report Template to summarize project progress within one month of posting final expenses unless an extension from the OVPR has been received.
    • Further reports on project outcomes may be requested in the future to track return on investment.

    Program Contacts

    • Administrative contact: Charlotte Nelson, OVPR Internal Funding Coordinator, research@uconn.edu
     

    Research Advisory Groups

    The Office of the Vice President for Research’s (OVPR) mission of supporting and advancing faculty research greatly depends on involvement and input from faculty and from UConn’s schools/colleges.  To that end, the Vice President for Research (VPR) has established research advisory groups to facilitate communication and collaboration between the OVPR and stakeholders across the university.  These groups meet regularly to discuss research-related issues that impact UConn/UConn Health faculty and provide opportunities for faculty to convey concerns to the VPR and the OVPR executive team and to work together to identify and implement solutions.

    The President’s Research Advisory Council (PRAC) was created by the Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Radenka Maric, and President Thomas Katsouleas. The membership of the PRAC consists of faculty representatives from each school and college, including UConn Health, as well as student and postdoctoral representatives. The PRAC will serve as a forum to discuss issues and concerns related to research, scholarship, and creative works at UConn and UConn Health and to provide input and guidance to the President and Vice President on relevant institutional policies, practices, and strategic initiatives.  The PRAC will meet twice a semester.  A list of the Council members is available on the membership page.
    2022-2023 Meeting dates: TBD

    The Research Deans’ Council (RDC) includes Associate Deans for Research of all UConn/UConn Health schools and colleges.  The RDC is charged with communicating the research priorities of the schools/colleges to the OVPR and representing their interests in discussions regarding research-related policy.  RDC members also advise on internal funding and limited submission internal competitions.  The RDC meets twice a semester during the academic year.  If you have an issue/problem/request that you would like the RDC to consider, please contact the RDC chair or your school/college’s Associate Dean(s) for Research.
    2022-2023 Meeting dates: Sept. 22, Nov. 14, Feb. 6, April 11

    The Health Center Research Advisory Council (HCRAC) advises the Vice President for Research and the Research Deans on the development, management, and disposition of the Health Center’s central research resources and intramural grants programs.  For more information on HCRAC responsibilities and programs, please visit their pages on the UConn Health website.

    Research Development Proposal Support Requests

    Internal Funding Opportunities – Overview

    The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) supports faculty research, scholarship, and creative endeavors through a wide range of internal funding programs.  OVPR internal grants serve as high-leverage, strategic investments in outstanding faculty research projects that are at critical stages of development.  Our internal funding mechanisms are designed to competitively identify projects that fit our key funding criteria--projects that meet the highest disciplinary standards for excellence and are at a "tipping point" where specific work can lead to breakthroughs, external funding, and/or significant recognition.

    Recognizing that those crucial moments occur at various stages of the research process (and require different levels of funding to address, depending on your discipline), OVPR internal funding programs include large and small dollar mechanisms that focus on seed funding, completion/publication funding, and commercialization funding. If you are a UConn/UConn Health faculty member who has a project that is ready to move to the next level, we invite you to browse our program guidelines to learn more.

    Frequently asked Q & A

    The FAQ is organized into five sections; proposal stage, set up stage, manage stage, close out stage and other. Email research@uconn.edu with any other questions and/or suggestions for questions to be added. 

    PROPOSE

    • Am I eligible to apply to an internal funding seed grant competition? If I am a....
      • Tenure-track, tenured faculty or clinical, research, extension and in-residence faculty with Assistant Professor rank or higher - YES
        • those whose positions are contingent on grant-funding (soft money positions) must include details about their institutionally-funded research time as part of the budget justification to confirm eligibility.
      • PhD student - NO
      • Postdoc - NO
      • Research Scientist - NO
      • Research Specialist - NO
      • Primary appointment is to either CCMC, Jackson Labs, or TIP companies?  Not eligible to apply. Primary appointment of PI needs to be at UConn/UConn Health
    • Is there a minimum PI effort level for the project? 
      • Although no minimum effort level is required for REP projects, a PI/Co-PI must have institutionally-funded research time available during the award period.
    • If I am not eligible to apply as a PI can I serve as a collaborator/consultant on an eligible PI’s project? 
      • Yes
    • Can I submit two applications as PI to the same competition?
      • Only one submission per PI for the same competition
    • Can I apply to more than one competition in the same year for the same project?
      • Yes, however, you will not receive more than one award for a specific project
      • You can submit multiple applications to different competitions with different projects
    • Why can't I make changes to the budget spreadsheet?
      • You can only complete the green areas in the budget spreadsheet. Formulas are set up to autofill the fringe and totals within the budget spreadsheet
      • If you have any questions about the spreadsheet, please email resarch@uconn.edu
    • How do I indicate that it is a two-year budget when completing the budget sheet?
      • Although projects are expected to be completed within one year, there are exceptions. You can download the budget sheet from the budget guidelines webpage and save it as year 1 and then again as year 2 prior to completing it

    SETUP

    • When will the awards be announced?
    • When will the project be funded?
      • Once you have uploaded your signed award letter and completed the compliance section, then the Research Finance Team will review the information, reach out to you if they have any questions and fund your IDC account for the SFF award or set up a new account for the other awards.

    MANAGE

    • Can I move funds from one budget category to another?
      • You will need to complete a no-cost extension request form  and explain in it how moving funds from one category to another will or will not impact the scope and aims of the project
    • Can I extend the account end date?

    CLOSEOUT

    • Once the project is complete, do I need to submit a report?
      • Yes, you will be emailed a link to complete a report (survey format) 3 times so the OVPR can hear all about the wonderful impacts made as a result of your internal funding award.
        • You will receive an email once your project has ended
        • You will receive an email one year from the project end date
        • You will receive an email three years from the project end date

    OTHER

     

    Contact Information

    Charlotte Nelson, MPA, M.Ed, Internal Funding Coordinator; research@uconn.edu

    Internal Funding Program Office Hours: Click the Internal Funding Office Hours Link and schedule a virtual meeting with the Internal Funding Coordinator to ask questions, share your research projects and to discuss which internal funding mechanisms best align with your project needs.

    Overview of Internal Funding Opportunity Timelines

    (Last updated 9/23/26)

    Program

    Applications open

    Applications due (12 noon)

    Target for Notifications

    Project Regenerate Cycle 1 In review September 14, 2026 October, 2026
    UConn Transformative Research Impact Award In review October 5, 2026 Sometime during the 2nd part of the fall 2026 semester
    SPARK Commercialization Technology fund In review October 5, 2026 (LOIs due), January 11, 2027 (invited full proposals due) April, 2027
    Scholarship Facilitation Fund Fall 2026 (FY27) Open  December 1, 2026 December 31, 2026
    Emerge Emergency Funding Program Open rolling basis Typically within a 3-5 weeks of application submission
    EMERGE Bridge Support Open  rolling basis Typically within 3 weeks of application submission
    Project Regenerate Cycle 2 December 1, 2026 January 7, 2027 February, 2027
    Urgent Seed Grant Program Not open September 14, 2026 October, 2026

    Table Key:

    Not open
    Open for Applications In Review

     

    OVPR Research Bridge Funding

    OVPR Research Bridge Funding Match Program

    The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) Research Bridge Funding Match Program, in partnership with departments and schools/colleges, provides short-term support to maintain critical elements of currently funded, productive research programs when they are faced with a gap in financial support, until pending funding is received.

    Bridge funding can only be provided for established programs confronted with a funding gap. PIs seeking support for new projects are encouraged to apply to OVPR initiatives like the Scholarship Facilitation Fund and the Research Excellence Program. PIs seeking support for commercializing projects should apply for the SPARK Technology Commercialization Fund.

    As a “match” program, OVPR bridge funds are intended to be the last piece of a funding plan that includes commitments from other sources, usually the PI’s IDC funds and support from departments, school/colleges, and centers/institutes totaling at least two-thirds of the total amount of the requested funding. The OVPR program will only consider funding requests for no more than one-third of the total amount needed by the PI. Please note that budget limits may restrict the OVPR’s ability to fund (or fully fund) every request received.

    Eligibility/Guidelines

    • The OVPR Research Bridge Funding Match Program is open to faculty based at the Storrs/Regional Campuses. Faculty at UConn Health may apply to UCH Emergency Grant Program.
    • In order to be eligible for OVPR bridge funding, PIs must first secure the support of their department/center/institute and school/college.
    • As PI salary is excluded from this program, faculty who are dependent on grant support for their salary are not eligible to participate.
    • The project must contain elements that require maintenance in order for the program to continue once external funding is restored (e.g. the retention of key personnel such as postdocs and technicians and the maintenance of key resources such as animal care). Applications will not be considered for projects that do not contain such elements.
    • Bridge funding is typically limited to one year. If additional time is necessary, PIs must reapply at the end of the funding period.

    Application Process

    • PIs who are exploring bridge funding must begin in the PI’s home department/institute/school/college. Please follow any processes established by your school/college for requesting bridge funding.
    • Once commitments for at least two-thirds of the requested budget have been secured, the PI can request that his/her dean seek the remaining funds from the OVPR.
    • OVPR bridge funding requests can only be initiated by the dean of the PI’s school/college. Requests submitted directly by PIs will not be considered.
    • Deans may send their request directly to Associate Vice President for Research Julie Schwager (schwager@uchc.edu).  Requests should identify the PI seeking funding, provide a justification for the request (e.g., overview of funding history, plan for securing external funding, and specific funding need during the bridge period), and should provide a basic breakdown of the funding commitments that have been secured.
    • Once the dean’s request has been received, the OVPR may reach out to the PI for additional materials.

    Contact
    If you have questions about the application process, the materials needed, or regarding a funded request, please contact Dr. Matt Mroz at research@uconn.edu or 860.486.6378.

    OVPR Faculty Survey Archive

    From time to time, the OVPR conducts surveys of faculty to gather feedback on OVPR research support services and other topics related to research.  We are very grateful to the faculty who take the time to respond to these surveys, and we commit to using the feedback they provide to shape our efforts to continually improve the experience and success of faculty and staff engaged in research and research-related work.

    This NetID-protected repository allows faculty and staff the opportunity to view reports, slide decks, and other documents that present the results/takeaways of these wide-scale surveys.

     

    ______________________________________________________________________________

    This page is secured by UConn Net-ID login.

    Grantwriting Training Calendar

    Contact Information and Requests

    You can reach out to us at ovpr-rds@uconn.edu with any questions or feedback on our faculty development events. Please fill out this form to request a topic for an upcoming grantwriting training session or resource. For materials from our past presentations, you can access our Resource Library with NetID login.

    Upcoming Events

    From Idea to Award: A Proposal Strategy Discussion with Provost Pamir Alpay – POSTPONED

    What the QuantumCT experience teaches us about developing a successful large-scale proposal. 

    WHEN: New date and time to be announced soon

    WHERE: Location will be confirmed with new date/time

    AUDIENCE: UConn and UConn Health faculty

    DESCRIPTION: This in-person event featuring Provost Pamir Alpay, the PI of the QuantumCT NSF Engines award and the program's chief architect, will describe the experience of the NSF Engines team in developing a successful bid for large-scale funding. The NSF QuantumCT Engine will serve as a case study on how to build a competitive program and develop a successful, large-scale proposal. QuantumCT Engines proposal manager Anna Gault Galjan and proposal strategist Bethany Javidi will provide expertise on how to deliver a proposal that is complete, on time, and on target. The presentation will be paired with a Q&A session to offer a full range of proposal strategy insights. Attendees are encouraged to submit their existing questions in advance on the registration form.

    WHAT TO EXPECT:

    • A presentation from Provost Pamir Alpay, Anna Gault Galjan, and Bethany Javidi
    • A Q&A session featuring a mix of questions submitted through the registration form and questions taken live during the event
    • Refreshments will not be provided during this event
    • Please register as soon as possible, as seating is limited

    REGISTRATION: A new registration form will be available with the new date/time announcement. Questions submitted with the previous registration form have been recorded and will be kept for the rescheduled date. 

    Registration is required and is limited to 100 faculty members. Please reach out to us via email if:

    • You get notification that registration is full. We will add you to the waitlist.
    • You have registered and can no longer attend, so that we can open the spot to someone on the waitlist.
    • You are interested but cannot attend. We will send out copies of event materials afterward.

    CONTACT: If you have any questions or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Quinn McAdam at ovpr-rds@uconn.edu.

    Past Events

    Know When to Go: Using Self-Assessment to Focus on Proposals that can Win 10/29/2026

    When: Thursday, October 29 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

    Where: Virtual on Zoom

    Audience: All UConn and UConn Health faculty

    Description: Pursuing funding opportunities involves major investments of faculty time and effort. This presentation presents a framework research teams can use to decide whether an external funding opportunity makes strategic sense based on key criteria that are strongly correlated with competitiveness and success.

    Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/x8SyGJiRQYSCkbEONDZlJg

    Contact: If you have any questions or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Quinn McAdam at ovpr-rds@uconn.edu.

    NSF CAREER Introduction 10/16/2026

    When: Friday, October 16, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

    Where: Storrs campus, Homer Babbidge Library Room 1102

    Audience: Tenure-track UConn and UConn Health faculty (assistant professor or equivalent) who are interested in applying to NSF CAREER

    Description: This in-person introduction to NSF CAREER, presented by the OVPR Research Development Services team, provides an in-depth foundation for a strong CAREER proposal. It will focus on the unique and important features of the NSF CAREER funding mechanism and important guidelines of the CAREER program that applicants must consider. The session will cover planning for an effective CAREER proposal and the required proposal components, and will include a combination of presentation, discussion, and hands-on exercises.

    Additional Details:

    • Coffee, tea, and water will be provided. Attendees are welcome to bring their own snacks and lunch, or they can plan to get lunch on campus during the scheduled break.
    • Each registrant will receive a copy of the AtKisson Training Group’s “Handbook for Planning & Writing Successful Grant Proposals.”
    • Registrants will receive a calendar invitation ahead of the event to reserve the time on their calendars and communicate key reminders.

    Registration: https://ovpr.uconn.edu/services/research-development/grant-writing-registration-career/

    Registration is required, is limited to 30 faculty members, and will close on October 14, 2026 at 5 p.m. If you receive a notice on our form that registration is full, please email us at the address below to be added to the waitlist. If you have registered and can no longer attend, please reach out to us so that we can open the spot to someone on the waitlist.

    Contact: If you have any questions or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Quinn McAdam at ovpr-rds@uconn.edu.

    Telling Your Research Story Workshop 9/23/2026

    When:  Wednesday September 23, 2026 from 11:00 AM–1:00 PM

    Where: Virtual via Zoom

    Presenter: OVPR Research Development Services

    Description: 

    This workshop provides hands-on guidance for telling an impactful and concise story about your research, including best practices, a template for communicating research to the public and stakeholders, and time to workshop your own story. During this workshop, you will have the chance to develop a compelling one-page research story and quad chart that highlights the impact of your work.

    The Art of Prospecting Webinar 8/5/2026

    When: Wednesday, August 5, 2026 from 12:00–1:00 pm 

    Where: Virtual via Zoom

    Audience: UConn and UConn Health faculty

    Description: This session will focus on the art of “prospecting”: identifying funders and funding opportunities that align with your research and programming interests.

    We will offer an overview of public and subscription research tools available to find appropriate opportunities, discuss University resources you can use to support your search, and highlight best practices to make the process easy.

    Registration is required. 

    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

    Registration: https://hanoverresearch.zoom.us/meeting/register/UKwL-XgDQce2AwMgVDcZ9Q#/registration

    Contact: If you have any questions or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Quinn McAdam at ovpr-rds@uconn.edu.

    NSF CAREER Q&A 6/12/2026

    When: Friday, June 12, 2026 from 12:00-1:00 PM

    Where: Virtual via Zoom

    Audience: UConn and UConn Health faculty who are interested in applying for NSF CAREER this year

    Description: The OVPR, in partnership with the College of Engineering and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is pleased to offer this panel discussion and Q&A session in support of faculty from all disciplines who are intending to apply for an NSF CAREER award.  Panelists will include members of the OVPR Research Development Services Team and past CAREER awardees from UConn, with questions covering all aspects of the CAREER program and proposal process.

    This event will focus exclusively on the NSF CAREER award, and it is open to all faculty who are eligible for and interested in pursuing a CAREER award in the near future. The event will be most useful for those who have attended previous OVPR CAREER trainings, and it will not be recorded.

    Registration is required, and attendees are encouraged to submit their questions for panelists in advance on the registration form.

    Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/WGreHxBLRBicau6OugWSJQ

    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

    Contact: If you have any questions or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Quinn McAdam at ovpr-rds@uconn.edu.

    W.M. Keck Foundation Research Program Information Session 4/23/2026

    When:  Thursday, April 23, 2026 from 11:30–12:30 PM

    Where: Virtual via Zoom

    Audience: UConn and UConn Health faculty who are interested in the W.M. Keck Foundation as a potential funder for their research

    Description: This event is designed to strengthen applications to the W.M. Keck Research Program for the next grant cycle. During this information session, we will cover:

    • Components of competitive Keck projects
    • The OVPR limited submission and Keck processes
    • An overview of application expectations

    The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session. Researchers who are considering applying to the W.M. Keck Research Program are strongly encouraged to attend this information session, and there will be a webinar recording available afterward.

    Registration:  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/SSj1rAIMQi2HBS3Dq9C74w

    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

    Contact: If you have any questions or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Quinn McAdam at ovpr-rds@uconn.edu.

    Engaging Students in Research and Experiential Learning 4/24/2026

    When:  Friday, April 24 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm

    Registration Deadline: Registration will be accepted up to the start of the webinar

    Where: Virtual webinar via Zoom

    Description: Join representatives from the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Institute for Student Success to find out how faculty can get involved in UConn’s programs to expand research access, support experiential learning, and involve students from UConn and local communities in STEM initiatives and programming.

    The webinar is provided free of charge to all UConn/UConn Health faculty and staff members.

    Registration is required.

    Registration:  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/dtEQKNe3SX-mSD_979VahQ

    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

    Contact info: If you have any questions or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Quinn McAdam at ovpr-rds@uconn.edu.

    NSF CAREER Webinar Featuring Program Officers 4/9/2026

    When: Thursday April 9, 2026 from 12:00-1:00 pm

    Registration deadline: Registration will be accepted up to the start of the webinar.

    Where: Virtual via Webex

    Audience: Faculty and staff from participating New England research institutions

    Description: This information session will include an overview of NSF CAREER directly from a panel of NSF program officers. There will be an initial presentation from panelists, followed by a Q&A. Attendees should submit their CAREER-related questions (especially related to any policy changes) in advance on the registration form or via email to ovpr-rds@uconn.edu. Panelists will answer as many pre-selected questions as time allows.

    Registration: https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/weblink/register/r843001d9d3f3d38afd82875775314e25

    Registration is required. Once you have submitted the form, you will receive email confirmation of your registration.

    Contact info: ovpr-rds@uconn.edu

    If you require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Quinn McAdam in the UConn OVPR (ovpr-rds@uconn.edu) by Friday, April 3 at 5:00 pm.

    CETL Resources for Education and Assessment Plans 4/1/2026

    When:  Wednesday, April 1 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm

    Registration Deadline: Registration will be accepted up to the start of the webinar

    Where: Virtual Training via Zoom

    This webinar from the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) will focus on building education and assessment plans for grant proposals, with a strong emphasis on the NSF CAREER funding opportunity. Topics covered will include:

    • Basics of evaluation and assessment and how they relate to measuring education outcomes
    • How to collect and analyze information in educational settings
    • Strategies for developing / writing an education plan as part of your NSF CAREER proposal

    While this webinar will focus on the education plan required for the NSF CAREER proposal, it is open to all faculty interested in this topic area. The webinar is provided free of charge to all UConn/UConn Health faculty and staff members. It will be recorded and uploaded to the RDS resource library.

    Registration is required.

    Registration:  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/7YKNLobfTtyJc_38-YHS-A

    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

    Contact info:  ovpr-rds@uconn.edu

    If you require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Quinn McAdam in the OVPR (ovpr-rds@uconn.edu) by Monday, March 30 at 12 noon.

    Engaging in Culturally Responsive International Research Workshop 3/25/2026

    When: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

    Registration Deadline: Registration will be accepted up to the start of the webinar.

    Where: Virtual via Webex

    Description:  The Office of Outreach and Engagement is excited to host Dr. Meseret Hailu, Assistant Professor Assistant Professor of Higher Education at the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia, and Dr. Kayla Johnson, Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation at the University of Kentucky College of Education for a virtual workshop on culturally responsive international research, with a focus on research design, ethics, challenges, and working with marginalized communities.

    Registration: https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/weblink/register/r3e3aca61d6c8fae5af2b97c13b653ff5

    Research Development Services NSF CAREER Introduction 3/13/2026

    When:  Friday March 13, 2026 from 1:30 pm –4:30 pm

    Registration Deadline: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 5:00 pm

    Where: Storrs campus, Homer Babbidge Library, Instruction Room 1102

    Audience: All UConn/UConn Health faculty members who are eligible for NSF CAREER Awards (generally tenure-track Assistant Professors or equivalent).  Please contact ovpr-rds@uconn.edu with any questions about eligibility for this workshop. 

    Description: This in-person introduction to NSF CAREER, presented by the OVPR Research Development Services team, is focused on providing an in-depth foundation for a strong CAREER proposal. It will focus on the unique and important features of the NSF CAREER funding mechanism and important guidelines of the CAREER program that applicants must consider. This session will cover planning for an effective CAREER proposal and the required proposal components, and will include a combination of presentation, discussion, and hands-on exercises.

    The event is provided free of charge.

    Registration:

    OVPR NSF CAREER Award Training Registration | Office of the Vice President for Research

    You will receive confirmation of your registration to your email once complete. Registration is required and is limited to 30 participants. Registration includes the presentation session and a copy of the AtKisson Training Group’s grant writing handbook.  

    Contact info:  ovpr-rds@uconn.edu

    If you require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Quinn McAdam in the OVPR (ovpr-rds@uconn.edu) by Wednesday, March 11 at 5:00 pm. 

    Preparing for the NSF CAREER Submission Cycle with Hanover Research 1/30/2026

    When:  Friday January 30, 2026 from 11:00 am –12:00 pm

    Registration Deadline: Registration will be accepted up to the start of the webinar

    Where: Virtual Training via Zoom

    Description: NSF CAREER is one of the most prestigious grant awards for tenure-track Assistant Professors working to advance highly innovative research and education initiatives. This one-hour session will provide guidance on how to develop a competitive proposal that encompasses both a compelling research agenda as well as a meaningful outreach and education plan. The presenter will also discuss NSF merit review criteria and processes, and how to engage your program officer before you even submit your proposal.

    This webinar is open to all faculty interested in this topic area. The webinar is provided free of charge to all UConn/UConn Health faculty and staff members.

    Registration:

    https://hanoverresearch.zoom.us/meeting/register/K5J-VIIARTC6PzLd9Lnqfg

    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

    Contact info:  ovpr-rds@uconn.edu

    If you require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Quinn McAdam in the OVPR (ovpr-rds@uconn.edu) by Thursday, January 29 at 12 noon.