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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.

 

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Resource Library

Grantwriting Training and Workshop Materials

Missed our most recent grant writing training? Want to refresh your memory about something covered in a past training? The OVPR Grantwriting Resource Library is here to help.

This NetID-protected repository contains handouts, slide decks, even videos from past OVPR-sponsored grantwriting training events and webinars. Our goal is to continually add to and update these offerings in order to build a rich collection of resources that address all aspects of the grantseeking process.

While you should feel free to make use of these resources yourself and share them with your UConn colleagues and students, we ask that these materials not be distributed outside of the University.

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GRANTS ESSENTIALS

Foundations of International Research - Presented on 10/7/2025 by panelists from Global Affairs, Universitas 21, NIUVT, and OVPR

Essentials of Competitive Proposals - Presented on 09/19/2025 by Hanover Research

Engaging Students in Research and Experiential Learning - Presented on 4/9/2025 by the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Institute for Student Success

Revision and Resubmission - Presented on 3/18/2025 by Hanover Research

Grantseeking in the Humanities - Presented on 10/25/2024 by Hanover Research

Authentic Community Partnerships in Research and Scholarship - Presented on 4/26/2024 by the UConn Office of Outreach and Engagement

How to Write a White Paper (DOD, DOE, NSF) - Presented on 2/3/2023 by Hanover Research

Talking to Program Officers: How, Why, and Yes! You Should Do It! - Presented on 5/13/2022 by Hanover Research

    Essentials of Competitive Proposals - Presented on 11/13/2020 by Hanover Research

    Crafting Great Aims and Objectives - Presented on 1/17/2020 by Hanover Research

    Revision and Resubmission - Presented on 1/17/2019 by Hanover Research

    Strategic Approaches to Grantseeking and Project Design - Presented on 9/14/2018 by Hanover Research

    The Grant Funding Landscape - Presented on 5/18/2018 by Hanover Research

      Funding in the Humanities - Presented on 11/17/2017 by Hanover Research

       

      EARLY CAREER GRANTS

      CETL Resources for Education and Assessment Plans - Presented on 4/1/26 by Dr. Martina Rosenberg, UConn Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

      NSF CAREER Introduction - Presented on 3/25/2026 by OVPR Research Development Services

      Note: The first session of this presentation was done in-person on 3/13/2026 and was not recorded. The slides below are reflective of both parts of the presentation, but the recording is only for the virtual second session.

      Pursuing NSF CAREER - Presented on 1/30/2026 by Melissa Cornish, Hanover Research

      Resources for Education and Assessment Plans - Presented on 2/27/2025 by Martina Rosenberg, UConn Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL)

      UConn Programs to Engage Students in Research and Experiential Learning - Presented on 4/19/24 by the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Institute for Student Success

      CETL Education and Assessment Plans for Grants - Presented on March 15 2024 by Martina Rosenberg, UConn Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

      Hanover NSF CAREER and Grants Learning Center Session - Presented on March 1 2024 by Hanover Research

      Hanover’s Grants Learning Center course for NSF CAREER contains hands-on tutorials, recent Hanover webinars, examples of winning proposals, annotated applications, and insights from past reviewers and Program Officers. You can access by registering here, using the referral code “RollSkies.” There is also a video walkthrough of the resource available here.

        Early-Career Grantseeking Strategies: Planning for Summer and Beyond - Presented on 5/21/2021 by Hanover Research

         

        MID-CAREER AND BEYOND

        Grant Seeking Strategies for Mid-Career Faculty - Presented on 2/19/2021 by Hanover Research

          Approaches to Center Grant Proposals - Presented on 4/12/2019 by Hanover Research

           

          SPECIFIC FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND FUNDERS

          William T. Grant Foundation Funding Interests and Opportunities - Presented by Dr. Kim DuMont, 10/16/2025

          NSF Science and Technology Centers (STC) - Information Session, 8/28/24

          ARPA-H Open BAA - Information Session, 8/7/23

          Hanover’s Grants Learning Center course for NIH R-series grants contains hands-on tutorials, recent Hanover webinars, examples of winning proposals, annotated applications, and insights from past reviewers and Program Officers. You can access by registering here, using the referral code “RollSkies.” There is also a video walkthrough of the resource available here.

                                Opening the Door to the NIH: Successfully Transitioning to NIH Funding  - Presented on 9/13/2019 by Hanover Research

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                                Research Environment Statements

                                Faculty can use these statements as a starting point for describing UConn resources within their research proposals (e.g., the NSF Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources document, the NIH Facilities and Other Resources document, or others.) Please review the statement and modify as appropriate for the faculty member or the research proposal. Contact ovpr-rds@uconn.edu with any questions.  More statements are in development!

                                University Resources

                                Schools and Colleges

                                  Centers and Institutes

                                  Upcoming Funding Opportunity Calendars

                                  The topic-specific calendars below are provided by our partners at Hanover Research. The first page of each document is a calendar overview of upcoming funding opportunities. Subsequent pages provide more detail on each program.  New calendars will be uploaded as they are refreshed by Hanover Research. Please contact ovpr-rds@uconn.edu with any questions.

                                  Grants Calendars

                                  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - August 2024 | Opportunities with deadline through February 2025

                                  Research Centers - July 2024 | Opportunities with deadlines through early 2025

                                  Student Success - June 2024 | Opportunities with deadlines through early 2025

                                  Minority Serving Institutions - May 2024 | Opportunities with deadlines through February 2025

                                  Engineering - May 2024 | Opportunities with deadlines through February 2025

                                  Health Equity - March 2024 | Opportunities with deadlines through January 2025

                                  Arts and Humanities - February 2024 | Opportunities with deadlines through February 2025

                                  Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning - January 2024 | Opportunities with deadlines through October 2024

                                  Interdisciplinary Research - January 2024 | Opportunities with deadlines through September 2024

                                  Environmental Sustainability - November 2023 | Opportunities with deadlines through September 2024

                                  STEM Education - September 2023 | Opportunities with deadlines through September 2024

                                  Early Career Research - Feb 2024 | Opportunities with deadlines through February 2025

                                    UConn Research slide deck for faculty presentations

                                    The linked slides below are provided by UConn Research Communications for faculty to use in their scholarly and research presentations. The title slide is editable, while the rest are images (not editable). Some slides are duplicated so that you can choose the image most relevant to your field. Please contact ovpr-rds@uconn.edu with questions or suggestions for future iterations.

                                    UConn Research Slide Deck

                                      Hanover Research – Consulting Services

                                      Working alongside the Research Development Services team, Hanover Research is a key OVPR partner, providing additional capacity for proposal review, consulting, and project management support for investigators at UConn/UConn Health.

                                      Hanover’s team of grant consultants provide a unique and valuable perspective on the grantseeking process. They are usually not content experts in your area of specialty (that’s what you as the faculty member bring to the table). Instead, they are experts in a variety of federal funders and funding mechanisms, and provide feedback on proposal alignment and competitiveness as well as assistance with general grantsmanship skills.

                                      Upon request and pending availability, the OVPR is pleased to allow faculty grantseekers access to Hanover’s core services, including:

                                      • Proposal Review (takes approx. 3 weeks). Hanover provides a strong written review and critique of faculty-drafted materials, helping the project team ensure compliance with submission guidelines and heighten the competitiveness of the proposal. In addition to written feedback, Hanover can arrange a debrief call with the reviewer to allow the PI to ask questions and get additional guidance and information.
                                      • Proposal revision (takes approx. 8 weeks). Hanover leads faculty through the process of reshaping a previous submission to incorporate new project elements, responding to reviewer comments, and heightening the proposal’s responsiveness to the solicitation.
                                      • Large Proposal Support (takes approx. 12 weeks). Hanover provides project management and partial proposal writing support to help faculty involved with large or complex proposals plan and manage the process, ensure that all necessary components are accounted for, and to keep teams on track for submission deadlines.

                                      Please submit a service request form to discuss the availability of these services. Please inquire well in advance of submission deadlines to ensure that adequate time remains to schedule your project.

                                      Grantwriting Training Calendar

                                      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.

                                      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.

                                      Telling Your Research Story Workshop 11/5/2025

                                      When:  Wednesday November 5, 2025 from 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

                                      Where:   Virtual via Webex

                                      Description:  

                                      The OVPR and Research Development Services are excited to host a virtual version of our workshop: Telling Your Research Story, which will provide you with hands-on guidance for telling an impactful and concise story about your research. The workshop will provide best practices and 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
                                      • Implement effective research communication strategies
                                      • Speak with a Research Communications representative about outlets for your research story

                                      Registration: https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/weblink/register/r722eb57b11393f83a9747db423eb4b43

                                      Contact: Please reach out to Quinn McAdam at ovpr-rds@uconn.edu if you have any questions about these events, and if you require an accommodation to participate, please reach out via email by Friday, October 31.

                                      William T. Grant Foundation UConn Visit: Presentation and Individual Meetings 10/16-10/17

                                      The William T. Grant Foundation invests in high-quality research focused on reducing inequality in youth outcomes and improving the use of research evidence in decisions that affect young people in the United States. Researchers whose work centers on these themes may find this presentation particularly relevant.

                                      Presentation

                                      When: October 16, 2025 from 1:30–2:30 pm

                                      Where: In-person, Gentry Building 144

                                      Description:  

                                      This in-person presentation by Senior Vice President of Program Dr. Kim DuMont will offer an introduction to the William T. Grant Foundation’s current goals, funding priorities, and application process. Dr. DuMont will take questions during the presentation to further describe what makes a competitive William T. Grant Foundation proposal.

                                      Registration: https://ovpr.uconn.edu/services/research-development/ovpr-rds-event-registration-2/

                                       

                                      Individual Meetings

                                      When:

                                      • Applications for individual meetings are due by 5:00 pm on Friday, September 26.
                                      • 20-minute meetings will take place on October 17, 2025 from 8 am–1 pm.

                                      Where: In-person, Whetten Graduate Center 313 (in OVPR office)

                                      Description:  

                                      Dr. DuMont will be offering limited spots for individual/small group consultations. The objective of these meetings will be to discuss alignment of UConn faculty research ideas with the goals of the William T. Grant Foundation. To be considered for one of these meetings, faculty should fill out the application below and include a brief paragraph (no more than 300 words) about their research that they would like to discuss with Dr. DuMont. Please submit this application no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, September 26.

                                      Application: https://ovpr.uconn.edu/services/research-development/ovpr-rds-event-registration/

                                       

                                      Contact: Please reach out to Quinn McAdam at ovpr-rds@uconn.edu if you have any questions about these events, and if you require an accommodation to participate, please reach out via the registration form or email by Friday, October 10 at 5:00 pm.

                                      Foundations of International Research Webinar 10/7

                                      When: Tuesday October 7, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm

                                      Audience: UConn and UConn Health researchers

                                      Where: Virtual via Webex

                                      Description: This webinar will introduce best practices for building strong international connections and pursuing international funding opportunities for researchers looking to diversify their funding options in the current federal funding agency climate. Panelists from Global Affairs, OVPR, Universitas 21, and more will give a presentation on ways to begin international collaboration and research, followed by a Q&A session. Registrants are encouraged to submit questions for panelists in advance on the registration form.

                                      Registration: https://uconn-cmr.webex.com/weblink/register/r4d512b190fbd48e8827981558fbc46a3

                                      Contact: Please reach out to Quinn McAdam at ovpr-rds@uconn.edu if you have any questions about this event, and if you require an accommodation to participate, please reach out by Friday, October 3 at 5:00 pm.

                                      Hanover Research Essentials of Competitive Proposals Webinar 9/19/2025

                                      When: Friday September 19, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm

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

                                      Where: Virtual via Zoom

                                      Description:

                                      This one-hour webinar focuses on the essentials of grantwriting, including an overview of how grantmaking works, what types of entities award funding and for what types of projects. This session will also concentrate on effective practices for developing proposals and breaking down common grant application requirements and components.

                                      Registration: https://hanoverresearch.zoom.us/meeting/register/8xUiM9tOQsWuFgQAn6PFnw
                                      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 September 18 at 12 noon.

                                      Burroughs Wellcome Fund Climate + Health Excellence (CHEX) Centers Information Session 6/10/2025

                                      When:  Tuesday, June 10, 2025 from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

                                      Where: In-person at Biology/Physics Building (BPB) 130, Storrs campus

                                      Description:  

                                      CHEX Centers are awards of up to $10,000,000 to stimulate the development of strong research, education, and public communications connections between fields that aim to understand and mitigate the impact of climate change on human health. This center grant opportunity will require high levels of interdisciplinary collaboration, training professional students, and valuing outward focus. This is a limited submission opportunity and only one application can come from UConn.

                                      The RDS Team will be hosting an information session for faculty who are interested in potentially being a part of a CHEX Center research team. While the overall focus must be the intersection of climate and health, the core interest chosen for the proposal and center is flexible within that topic. We encourage faculty from all disciplines to attend, including those who may not have participated in this area of research before but have an interest in doing so, along with faculty who have established research in this area.

                                      Following the presentation, there will be a Q&A session and networking opportunity to connect with potential team members.

                                      Please reach out to ovpr-rds@uconn.edu if you have any questions about this event, or if you have an interest in the CHEX Centers opportunity but cannot attend.

                                      Registration: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=fqjxFyUqqk65351DkDSwgCj4wBcWX_xClc88cZuMZP1UM0dZTFdVV1JNN0hQTUdGVUtDVUdGRUg5Ui4u

                                      All registrants will receive a calendar invitation one week prior to this event to reserve the space on their calendars.

                                      Contact: If you require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the RDS team at ovpr-rds@uconn.edu by Friday, June 6 at 12:00 PM.

                                      W.M. Keck Research Program Information Session 5/29/2025

                                      When:  Thursday, May 29, 2025 from 12:00–1:00 PM

                                      Where: Virtual via Zoom

                                      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 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.

                                      Please reach out to ovpr-rds@uconn.edu if you have any questions about this event.

                                      Registration:  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/qLnQ-KSgSSme2_qF06MnKQ

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

                                      Contact: If you require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the RDS team at ovpr-rds@uconn.edu by Tuesday, May 27 at 12:00 PM.

                                      EMERGE Q&A 5/21/2025

                                      When:  Wednesday, May 21, 2025 from 12:00 - 1:00PM

                                      Where:   Virtual via Zoom

                                      Description: 

                                      Please join us virtually for a Q&A session on the new UConn Emergency Research Grant Expenditure (EMERGE) Program.

                                      The EMERGE Program provides short-term essential support when external funding for an investigator has been interrupted due to circumstances (broadly related to recent changes in federal policies and priorities) beyond the investigator’s control.

                                      Associate Vice President of Research Development Lindsay DiStefano and Research Development Services Manager Matt Mroz will be available to answer your questions about the program. To best address your questions, please submit them in advance via the registration form. We will also be taking questions live. We look forward to seeing you there!

                                      Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/WSVv_GmuSgOtiD9Q9T9XNw#/registration

                                      Contact: If you require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Victoria Lowther in the OVPR (research@uconn.edu) by Monday, May 19.

                                      Telling Your Research Story Workshop 5/21/2025

                                      When:  Wednesday, May 21, 2025 from 10:00–12:00 PM

                                      Where:   Virtual via Zoom

                                      Description:  

                                      After a successful in-person event in March, the OVPR and Research Development Services are excited to host a virtual version of our workshop: Telling Your Research Story, which will provide you with hands-on guidance for telling an impactful and concise story about your research. The workshop will provide best practices and 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
                                      • Gain insights into effective research communication strategies
                                      • Consider new platforms and formats to promote your research

                                      Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Bk9YiY8MTwu3Q3TOeUCn8g

                                      Contact: If you require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Jordan McMillan in the OVPR (ovpr-rds@uconn.edu) by Monday, May 19.

                                      How to Partner with Industry: Exploring Industry as an Alternate Funding Strategy 5/8/2025

                                      When:  Wednesday, May 8, 2025 from 1:00–3:30 PM

                                      Where: UConn Tech Park, Innovation Partnership Building

                                      Description:  

                                      The research funding landscape is evolving—and with that change comes new opportunities.

                                      Industry partnerships are one way to expand your research impact and diversify funding. These partnerships can lead to long-term collaborations, support applied research, and open pathways to move your ideas into the marketplace.

                                      If you haven’t explored working with industry, it can seem intimidating. Join us at this workshop, designed specifically for faculty, to learn how to start down this path.

                                      You’ll gain insights into:

                                      • Why industry partnerships are worth considering
                                      • What industry collaborators are looking for in academic research
                                      • How to initiate and structure successful collaborations
                                      • What resources UConn offers to support you in this space

                                      Whether you’re exploring the idea or ready to connect with industry, this session will give you tools and insights to get started with confidence. A tour of Tech Park will follow the presentations.

                                      Registration: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=fqjxFyUqqk65351DkDSwgA7Sq87-iBBHprDttBaTX89UMVZGU0pXRFlGVERDQVA0WFlGQjlNTVk1TC4u 

                                      Contact: Please contact techpark@uconn.edu if you have any questions or would like more information.

                                      Researcher Privacy Workshop 5/1/2025 and 5/2/2025

                                      When:  

                                      First session: Thursday May 1, 2025 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm

                                      Second session: Friday May 2, 2025 from 1:00 – 2:30 pm

                                      Where: HBL Instruction 1136

                                      Description:  

                                      In today's increasingly connected academic landscape, researchers face unique privacy and security challenges. This workshop provides UConn researchers with practical strategies to assess and protect their digital footprint, implement essential privacy measures, and respond effectively to potential issues. From managing your scholarly identity to handling controversial research areas, learn how to balance academic visibility with personal privacy. Suitable for researchers at all career stages who want to take proactive steps to secure their digital presence before privacy incidents occur.

                                      Learning Outcomes:

                                      • Assess your digital footprint and identify potential vulnerabilities specific to your academic work and online presence
                                      • Implement essential privacy protection strategies including password management, identity compartmentalization, and data removal techniques
                                      • Develop a personalized response plan for managing potential privacy threats related to your research activities

                                      This workshop is open for all UConn researchers. Please note: this event will not be recorded. 

                                      Related LibGuide: ORCID by Jennifer Schaefer

                                      Registration is required. There are a limited number of seats available for each session. 

                                      Registration:

                                      Session 1: https://uconncalendar.lib.uconn.edu/event/14501065

                                      Session 2: https://uconncalendar.lib.uconn.edu/calendar/workshops/ResearcherPrivacy2

                                      NSF CAREER Q&A 4/23/2025

                                      When:  Wednesday, April 23 from 12:00 – 1:00  

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

                                      Where: Virtual webinar via Zoom

                                      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.  Attendees will hear from successful CAREER awardees about their experiences with the program, and they will have an opportunity to ask questions about all aspects of the program: application process, experience with research or education projects, and more!

                                      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 attendees are encouraged to prepare questions for panelists in advance. The event is provided free of charge, but 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/ag60AgEFR2O2fuo9ERJaeg

                                      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 Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 12 noon.

                                      Navigating Media and Social Media to Tell Your Research Story 4/21/2025

                                      When:  Monday, April 21 from 11:00 – 12:00  

                                      Registration Deadline:  Friday, April 18.

                                      Where: Virtual webinar via Zoom 

                                      The OVPR is continuing the important conversation on how researchers can tell their own stories and promote their work in the current landscape with a one-hour, virtual workshop: Navigating Media and Social Media to Tell Your Research Story. All UConn researchers are encouraged to join the OVPR and University Communications for expert insight and guidance on navigating social media, storytelling through UConn and external channels, and how to handle wanted (and occasionally unwanted) media attention.

                                      During this workshop, you will have the chance to:

                                      • Learn about successful social media practices to ensure that you and your work are getting positive recognition and exposure
                                      • Understand how to promote your story through UConn Today, as well as media sources both internal and external to the University
                                      • Receive introductory media training
                                      • Explore the resources offered by UConn Research Communications

                                      Registration is required. 

                                      Registration:  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/yVLfPKhsSpy_e-LPFOkbbA

                                      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 Jordan McMillan in the OVPR (ovpr-rds@uconn.edu) by Friday, April 18 at 12 noon.

                                      Engaging Students in Research/Experiential Learning 4/9/2025

                                      When:  Wednesday, April 9 from 11:00 – 12:00  

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

                                      Where: Virtual webinar via Zoom 

                                      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 diverse 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/-bjEAUPkSJSbsRU97YacNw  

                                      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, April 7 at 12 noon. 

                                      Revision and Resubmission 3/18/2025

                                      When:  Tuesday, March 18 from 1:00 – 2:00  

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

                                      Where: Virtual Training via Zoom 

                                      In this presentation, Hanover Research will help grantseekers understand reviewer comments and scores and provide direction on responding to these comments. 

                                      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 is required. 

                                      Registration:  https://hanoverresearch.zoom.us/meeting/register/HW5huYZpTfSdWKcAPb4Ogw 

                                      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 Friday, March 14 at 12 noon. 

                                      Hanover Research Communicating the Impacts of Your Research Webinar December 2024

                                      When:  Thursday December 19, 2024 at 12:00 pm EST 

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

                                      Where: Virtual via Zoom

                                      Description: The OVPR is pleased to share this upcoming webinar from Hanover Research.

                                      This webinar will focus on helping researchers articulate the significance and broader implications of their work, including an overview of research impacts, the importance of dissemination, and methods for communicating impact.  Specifically, Hanover will cover how publications, presentations, stakeholder engagement, and broad public dissemination should factor into your plans.​

                                      Registration is required.

                                      Registration: Webinar Registration - Zoom

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

                                       

                                      OVPR Funding in the Humanities Training October 2024

                                      When:  Friday October 25, 2024 from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

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

                                      Where: Virtual via Zoom

                                      This training, presented by Hanover Research, will provide an overview of grant writing essentials tailored to the needs of arts and humanities faculty, covering some key agencies and programs that fund work within the arts and humanities. Attendees will also learn about effective proposal development practices, common grant application components, and how to best approach the proposal writing process.

                                      Registration is required. This training will be recorded for future use.

                                      Registration: https://hanoverresearch.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrcO6qrT8tE9Y5EmZglMjGzQ3raHNOcG8C

                                      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 Wednesday, October 23 at 12 noon.

                                       

                                      OVPR NSF CAREER Award Workshop (2-Session In-Person Training) October 2024

                                      OVPR NSF CAREER Award Workshop (2-Session In-Person Training) October 2024

                                      When:

                                      Session 1: Thursday, October 10 from 1:00 – 5:00 PM (4-hour session)

                                      Session 2: Friday, October 11 from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (4-hour session)

                                      Registration Deadline:

                                      Registration is now closed.

                                      Where:

                                      Storrs campus

                                      Homer Babbidge Library, Instruction Room 1102

                                      Description:

                                      The OVPR Research Development Services is pleased to announce an NSF CAREER award grant writing workshop to be conducted by Dr. Amanda Welch of the AtKisson Training Group.

                                      This in-person training, which consists of two sessions on back-to-back days, will explore the unique and important features of the NSF CAREER funding mechanism and important guidelines of the CAREER program that applicants must consider. It will also provide attendees with a detailed introduction to the application’s overview page.  It will include a combination of presentation, discussion, and hands-on exercises.

                                      The OVPR is making this workshop available to 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.

                                      Registration is required and is limited to 30 participants. Registration includes both sessions of the training and a copy of ATG’s grant writing workbook. Lunch will be provided for the Thursday session, while coffee and pastry will be provided for the Friday session.

                                      Note: attendance at both sessions is required to fully complete the training.  Due to the interactive nature of the training, the sessions are not being recorded for later viewing. Please reach out to Quinn McAdam (OVPR-RDS@uconn.edu) if you have interest in the workshop but have concerns about scheduling.

                                      Information: https://ovpr.uconn.edu/funding/grantwriting/training-calendar/

                                      Registration: Closed.

                                      Contact:  ovpr-rds@uconn.edu

                                      If you require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Research Development Services at ovpr-rds@uconn.edu by Monday, September 30, 2024 at 5 PM.

                                       

                                      Grantwriting Training and Resources Overview

                                      Researchers in all disciplines face a dilemma: grant funding is increasingly necessary for fueling research advances while grants keep getting harder to win. The competitiveness of the grantseeking landscape means that funders can be more selective about funding the projects that most closely align with their goals and mission. It also means that most funders can have a lower tolerance for proposals that distract from the research/scholarship proposed by not following grantwriting best practices.

                                      The good news? There are skills and techniques that faculty can learn that will make their work more attractive to funders.

                                      The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) is pleased to provide a number of training opportunities, resources, and services to help our faculty build these skills and to assist them in producing grant applications that are as compelling as the research activities they propose.

                                      Our Training Calendar lists upcoming workshops and webinars addressing grantwriting-related topics. Most require registration and some require approval from your school/college, so please read the description of each event carefully. You can contact research@uconn.edu or call 860.486.6378 with any questions about listed events or to request that a University-sponsored grantwriting training be added to the calendar.

                                      Hanover Research provides the OVPR consultation services aimed at improving grantseeking competitiveness. Upon request (and subject to availability), the OVPR can make Hanover’s services available to grant teams or individual faculty members. We especially invite faculty who are working on grant resubmissions or on preparing large (over $3 million) or complex grant proposals to contact us well in advance of submission deadlines.

                                      Our Resource Library is a NetID-protected repository, accessible to UConn Faculty, Staff, and Students, that contains handouts, slide decks, even videos from past OVPR-sponsored grantwriting training events and webinars. Our goal is to continually add to and update these offerings in order to build a rich collection of resources that address all aspects of the grantseeking process.

                                      SPARK Submission Guidelines

                                      Letter of Intent (LOI) Instructions

                                      SPARK LOIs consist of 2 forms and a PDF file upload.

                                      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?

                                      SPARK Application Form

                                      • Project Title:
                                      • Estimated Funds Requested ($50K max for initial funding term, up to $100K if follow-on funding is anticipated)
                                      • Resubmission Y/N
                                      • Has an invention disclosure been submitted for this innovation?
                                      • Has a patent been filed / granted
                                      • 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: 0-10
                                      • Key Personnel: Co-PIs, department affiliation, role on project

                                      LOI document (PDF Upload)

                                      Your LOI must be no longer than two pages  (12-pt font and 1” margins; single spacing and single-side pages). Please include the following information:

                                      1. Unmet Need/Problem: Please describe in concise terms the current unmet need in the market.
                                      2. Product/Solution: Please describe how your product or solution addresses or solves the unmet need.
                                      3. Target Customer: Who is the potential customer for this solution? Ex: Who is going to buy the product?
                                      4. Competitive Advantage: Describe current solutions and why your solution is better than currently available solutions in the market? Ex: Faster/Better/Cheaper
                                      5. Market Size: Please describe the potential market size for this product or technology.
                                      6. Intellectual Property: List all filed/granted patents and invention disclosures filed related to the technology.
                                      7. Regulatory pathway/Reimbursement: Succinctly describe the regulatory pathway and reimbursement if applicable.
                                      8. Revenue Model: How will your product make money? Ex: Subscription/Fee/Capital Expense.

                                      LOIs should be uploaded as a single PDF to the Quest Portal (you may be prompted to first log in and then to click the link again to access the application) by the LOI due date.

                                       

                                       

                                      Full Proposal Submission Instructions

                                      Elements to include in the full application are as follows:

                                      1. A one-paragraph abstract (type or copy/paste into a form on Quest).
                                      2. 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 (type or copy/paste into a form on Quest).
                                      3. Project plan document (five page maximum, 12-pt font and 1” margins), including
                                        1. Problem/Unmet need: Describe the problem or unmet need that the innovation targets.
                                        2. Description of the Product: Describe in detail the product or technology concept.
                                        3. Estimate Market Size:
                                          1. Please describe the total available market this invention addresses (TAM)
                                          2. Estimate serviceable available market (SAM)
                                          3. Estimate serviceable obtainable market (SOM)
                                        4. Competing Products:
                                          1.  Identify any currently available products/technologies, and explain why they do not adequately satisfy the problem or unmet need.
                                          2. Explain how the proposed innovation is different from or better than those that are already available.
                                        5. Intellectual property (IP): Describe your IP position, and the competitive IP landscape. List your current patent applications or patents pending as well as any granted patents related to this project. If you currently have no patent applications, please mention plans for future invention disclosures.
                                        6. Commercialization Plan:
                                          1. Describe major milestones required to enter market?
                                          2. Describe the pathway to market?
                                          3. Expected time to enter market and financing required to enter the market
                                        7. Regulatory Pathway & Reimbursement:
                                          1. Please describe in detail the regulatory pathway if applicable.
                                            1. Medical Devices: 510(k), DeNovo or PMA
                                            2. Pharma 505(b)(1) or 505 (b) (2) .
                                          2. Please describe reimbursement strategy if applicable.
                                        8. Potential Exits: Is it an acquisition, licensing or IPO?
                                        9. Preliminary evidence: Summarize any preliminary data available that substantiates the proposed innovation usefulness for the applications envisioned.
                                        10. Proposed work with project milestones: Outline the proposed scope of work approaches with timelines and a clearly defined set of objective milestones to be completed by the end of the initial award period.  Please include an analysis of how the proposed activities will sufficiently de-risk the innovation to allow for further commercial development.
                                      4. Biosketches/CVs: Please include brief biosketches/CVs (formatted as appropriate for your field) for all PIs/Co-PIs.  Include your most recent publications or those most relevant to the work proposed.  Also include current/pending support from external sponsors and UConn sources (including start-up funding). This may be appended to the end of the CV/biosketch or integrated within it, if your discipline’s format already provides space for current/pending.  Biosketches/CVs may be uploaded as one PDF or as separate PDF documents.
                                      5. Budget: Provide a preliminary budget estimate and proposed use of funds. Please see Internal Funding Budget Guidelines for instructions and a budget template.
                                      6. The budget spreadsheet should be converted to PDF format prior to upload.

                                      Full Proposals will only be accepted from applicants who have submitted an LOI and received an invitation to proceed with a proposal. Invited applicants should upload their proposal documents the Quest Portal (you may be prompted to first log in and then to click the link again to access the application) by the full application due date of February 24, 2025.

                                      SPARK Full Proposal Budget Guidelines

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

                                      • Allowable costs: graduate student stipends/summer support, postdoc salaries, faculty summer fellowships (limited to $3000 per PI) only available to faculty on less than 12-month appointments with room for summer support), other research assistant salaries, associated fringe costs, instrument use fees, materials and supplies, contractual services (external consultants or fee-for-service providers). Other commercialization-related costs not specified here or in the not-allowed list below should be listed in the budget and justified.  No more than 50% of funds in any budget period can be used for salary/fringe costs.
                                      • Not-allowable costs: faculty academic year salary, large equipment acquisition costs, publication costs, travel for the purpose of presenting research results, costs related to basic research aims, graduate tuition, any overhead or F&A, costs related to establishing a start-up company.  If a faculty-owned company already exists, costs that occur within/related to the company are not allowable.  All University financial conflict of interest policies must be observed.
                                      • Any changes to the budget of an awarded project must be approved in advance by the program director. Requests for rebudgeting can be made to research@uconn.edu.
                                      • Note: All contractual services and materials and supplies must be procured following University purchasing policies.

                                      SPARK Technology Commercialization Fund

                                      NOTICE as of 3/09/2026

                                      The SPARK Technology Commercialization Fund will re-open for applications on 8/17/2026

                                      The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) SPARK Technology Commercialization Fund supports the translation of research discoveries into products, processes, and other commercial applications. We are eager to identify and support UConn-developed inventions and technologies that address unmet needs and have strong potential for commercial application. We invite proposals from across all disciplines for projects that aim to advance these technologies forward toward commercialization.

                                      Process and Timeline

                                      The SPARK competition is organized into a two-step review process. 1) Applicants are asked to first submit a letter of intent designed to allow applicants to demonstrate that the project is ripe to transition from basic research to commercialization and to familiarize the review committee with the projects. The applicants with the most competitive projects will be invited to submit full proposals. Those invited to submit a full proposal will be required to meet with the Director, Venture Development prior to submitting the full proposal. 2) All full proposals will be reviewed to evaluate the project’s scientific background and commercial potential. Reviews will be conducted by a team of commercialization experts.  The proposals which demonstrate the most promise for commercial success will be selected for funding.

                                      The SPARK program allows for awarded projects to receive a total of $100K between the initial award and one-time follow-on funding.  Follow-on funding is dependent on meeting established milestones, meeting program requirements, and demonstration of success.

                                      Timeline

                                      • August 17, 2026, 12 noon: Open for applications
                                      • September 28, 2026, 12 noon: LOIs are due
                                      • by November 30, 2026:  Notifications of invitations for full proposals
                                      • January 11, 2027: Full proposals are due

                                       Award Details

                                      • The OVPR anticipates funding up to 4 projects each cycle.
                                      • Each award will begin with an initial award period of up to 1 year.  Awarded project is also eligible for up to 1 year of follow-on funding pending the completion of specific milestones agreed upon at the time of the initial award.
                                      • Each award period (initial and follow-up) will be funded in two equal payments.  The first payment will be made at the start of the award period.  The second payment will be made six months into the award period, pending completion of milestones, submission of a brief report, and adherence to program guidelines.
                                      • Proposals should include plans for the full duration of the intended effort (including a follow-up award period, if one is anticipated), and they must include a list of objective proposed milestones to be completed, with a timeline.
                                      • Budgets for the initial award period should reflect the needs of the project for that period, up to $50K.  Follow-on funding can be requested in amounts that would bring the total award size up to $100K. (Ex. $50K initial and $50K follow-on or $40K initial and $60K follow-on.
                                      • Standard award periods for both initial and follow-on funding are one year.  We encourage applicants to submit well-defined scopes of work that can be completed within 1-2 years.
                                      • No-cost extensions are possible for SPARK awards but are typically only approved when extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the PI exist. Extensions needed because of compliance delays or to allow financial transactions to finalize are also allowed. Adequate justification / documentation will be required, and the program director may request a revised budget and timeline before extensions are approved. Requests for extensions can be made using the IFP Project Change form.
                                      • SPARK awards are intended to support the development of new innovations within the labs / research groups of UConn/UConn Health faculty members.  SPARK funds cannot be used for a) continuing existing commercialization projects, b) costs related to creating/operating start-up companies, or c) development activities that take place in faculty-owned companies.
                                      • Projects that make use of UConn resources, core facilities, or that include significant interdisciplinary partnerships will be prioritized
                                      • No more than 50% of SPARK project budgets can be used to support salary & fringe for graduate assistants, postdocs, research associates, or technicians.  Please see SPARK budget guidelines for more detail.
                                      • SPARK Awardees will be connected with commercialization experts from OVPR’s Technology Commercialization and Venture Development group.  Awardees should expect to work closely with TCS to discuss progress/obstacles, undergo commercialization-related training, and to gain access to advice and resources that will enhance the project’s chances for commercial success.  Awardees are expected to begin working with TCS's IP team to protect their innovation (target: provisional patent filing 6 months to 1 year after project launch).

                                       

                                      Eligibility / IP & Licensing Requirements

                                      The SPARK program is available to UConn/UConn Health faculty members, within the following parameters:

                                      • IP: Projects should have intellectual property at their core. To be eligible, project-related UConn IP must exist or the proposed scope of work must have a high likelihood of leading to a UConn invention disclosure by the end of the initial award period.  Projects based on IP not developed by UConn are not eligible. Projects that have not produced an invention disclosure by the end of year 1 of funding will not be eligible for follow-on funding.
                                      • Startups and License Options: If a startup related to the SPARK project exists at the time of award, an option agreement must be taken within 6 months of the award.  If a startup company related to the project is formed at any point in the future, an option agreement must be taken within six months of the startup creation.
                                      • Effort and Salary: Although no minimum effort level is required for SPARK projects, a 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 a SPARK project. Generally speaking, SPARK is only available to tenure-track, clinical, and (Storrs/Regional Campus) APiR faculty. Research Professors / those whose positions are contingent on grant-funding (soft money positions, including UCH in-residence faculty) are not eligible. Faculty with potential SPARK projects that involve grant-dependent faculty should contact the SPARK program director before applying.
                                      • UConn Primary Appointment: SPARK PIs must be faculty whose primary appointment is at UConn / UConn Health. Faculty with primary appointments to CCMC or Jackson Labs are not eligible to apply. PIs with a primary appointment at a TIP company are also not eligible. Individuals who are not eligible to apply as a PI may be able to serve as a collaborator/consultant on an eligible PI’s SPARK project.
                                      • Number of submissions: Eligible faculty can only submit one LOI/full proposal per year as lead PI. Investigators may serve as collaborator on multiple projects.
                                      • Past SPARK Winners: Projects/technologies that have received one round of initial and follow-up funding and projects/technologies that received SPARK funding prior to FY22 are not eligible for additional SPARK awards.  Prior SPARK awardees may apply for SPARK funding for new projects/technologies that are distinct and independent of those funded with past SPARK awards. All past SPARK awardees are asked to consult with the program director prior to submission to ensure eligibility.

                                      Review Criteria

                                      SPARK LOIs and Proposals will be scored based on the following criteria:

                                      Market Need—does the innovation address an unmet need and is there evidence that there is a market for the proposed solution?

                                      • Does the applicant make a strong case that there is a need/problem that needs to be met?
                                      • To what degree will the innovation satisfy the unmet consumer, industry or medical need?
                                      • Does the proposal include market data and a compelling estimate as to what share of the market the innovation may realistically capture?

                                      Innovation and Novelty—Is the innovation novel and/or does it make a significant improvement over currently-available solutions?

                                      • Does the proposal make a convincing argument that the innovation is novel and or makes a significant improvement over currently-available solutions?
                                      • Is there existing or the potential for intellectual property protection?
                                      • To what degree does the innovation solve the unmet need differently (e.g., better, faster, cheaper) than the current state-of-the art?
                                      • If novel, is the innovation a disruptive technology, a platform technology, or an incremental improvement over the current state-of-the art?

                                      Commercialization Plan—Is there a realistic path for commercializing the innovation?

                                      • Does the proposal present a path to bring the innovation forward to market?
                                      • If so, is the path chosen (licensing, startup, etc.) the most promising for the innovation?
                                      • Does the proposal contain reasonable estimates of the time needed to enter the market?
                                      • Does the proposal present plans for future financing of the project, such as SBIR/STTR or industry investment?
                                      • For future development, will this technology require regulatory approval?  If so, does the proposal address plans for successfully navigating the process?
                                      • Does the applicant point to any obvious potential licenses / commercial partners for this innovation?

                                      Approach and Feasibility—Are the activities proposed attainable in the proposed timeline and are they consistent with the high scientific/scholarly standards?

                                      • Does the investigator/team have appropriate expertise and laboratory facilities available to conduct the work?
                                      • Does the project include the involvement of a UConn core facility or a third party be required to complete the work (e.g prototype development)?  If so, have appropriate commitments been obtained?
                                      • To what degree will the activities proposed de-risk and advance the development of the innovation?

                                      Postaward Considerations (Reporting and Follow-on Funding Policies)

                                      SPARK awardees agree to provide regular progress reports to the OVPR during and after the award period. Reports fall into four categories:

                                      • Consultations with TCS: Awardees are expected to connect regularly throughout the award period(s) with their point of contact within OVPR Technology Commercialization Services to discuss progress, to talk through potential problems, and to consider future steps and additional resources that may be of use. Each PI will work with their TCS contact to set up the best check-in schedule, but it is expected that consultations would happen at least on a quarterly basis.
                                      • Six-month Reporting: After six months of each award period (typically in September/October), applicants will be asked to submit a brief progress report via the Quest Portal.  After satisfactory review of this report, the second payment of the award period will be made to the award account.
                                        • Applies to projects that begin in FY25 and beyond.
                                        • To renew the SPARK project for 6 months;
                                          • You will need to complete a form to provide an update on required milestones
                                            • Indicate submission of Invention disclosure and reference number
                                            • Indicate if you are working with TCS Intellectual Property team to ensure filing of a provisional patent within 6 months of the project start.
                                            • Indicate if a startup exists
                                            • Indicate if an option license has been accepted from UConn
                                            • Indicate if an application for UConn TIP membership has been submitted
                                          • Upload one page report on progress and plans for the next 6-month period. If your experiments were not successful as planned, please describe what alternate approaches you will take in the next 6-month period.
                                      • Application for Renewal/Follow-on Funding: At the end of the initial award period, awardees will have an opportunity to request follow-on funding to support continued development of their innovation. The renewal process will proceed as follows:
                                        • One month prior to the completion of the initial award period, awardees will receive an invitation to submit a renewal NOI (indicating whether they would like to renew, request an extension, or allow the project to close out).
                                        • Awardees who select the renewal option will be able to submit a renewal application in the Quest system immediately after completion of the NOI.
                                        • Renewal applications should include the following:
                                          • A brief oral presentation (20 min, followed by Q&A) on project activities and accomplishments and plans for the follow-on award period. The presentation should address the milestones agreed upon at the start of the initial award period and demonstrate that they have been satisfactorily completed.  The OVPR will reach out to awardees to schedule this presentation after receiving their follow-on funding NOI.
                                          • A revised scope of work for the follow-up award period, detailing proposed activities and how those activities will move the technology forward along its path to market
                                          • A new budget with justifications outlining how follow-up funds will be used.
                                          • Renewal applicants are limited to 3 pages, plus references and budget
                                          • Invention Disclosure(s): It is expected that all SPARK awards should lead to at least 1 UConn invention disclosure within six months of the close of the award period. Invention disclosures are required prior to receiving a second year of funding.
                                      • Post award project completion reporting: After 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

                                      Program Contacts:
                                      The SPARK program is jointly administered by OVPR Technology Commercialization Services and Internal Funding Program.

                                      Program Director
                                      Dr. Vivek Ramakrishnan
                                      Director, Venture Development, OVPR Technology Commercialization Services
                                      vivek.ramakrishnan@uconn.edu

                                      Dr. Matt Mroz
                                      Manager, Research Development Services
                                      matthew.mroz@uconn.edu

                                      Program point of contact (Contact for information on program/process, application status, award management/extensions)

                                      Charlotte Nelson
                                      Internal Funding Coordinator
                                      research@uconn.edu

                                      ResearchMatch

                                      ResearchMatch.org is a national online recruitment tool for health research, funded by the National Institutes of Health and maintained at Vanderbilt University. ResearchMatch connects health researchers with individuals interested in volunteering, through its secure online matching tool. UConn is part of the ResearchMatch Network. There is no cost to UConn researchers to use ResearchMatch. There are currently over 120,000 registered volunteers across the country. ResearchMatch is also now available in Spanish and simplified Chinese.

                                       

                                      To see if ResearchMatch might be a useful recruitment tool for your health-outcomes research study, use this link to register: https://www.researchmatch.org/researchers/. You do not need to be a Principal Investigator to register. The registration process takes less than 10 minutes. Once registered, you will be granted “feasibility access” to search volunteer aggregate data, including geographic and health demographics. Please note that you may not use ResearchMatch to recruit for a registry.

                                       

                                      If you decide to use ResearchMatch to conduct participant recruitment, you will need IRB approval:
                                      1. The Vanderbilt IRB provides oversight for ResearchMatch as a recruitment tool and this has been documented within the ResearchMatch IRB Letter of Understanding (available upon request), but to use ResearchMatch as a recruitment tool for a specific study, you will first need to get UConn IRB approval.
                                        1. For the IRB submission, the following language may be used to describe ResearchMatch as a recruitment method: Potential volunteers will be contacted by ResearchMatch via an email contact message containing IRB-approved recruitment language for this study (not including direct study contact information such as study phone number). Volunteers will then have the option of replying by clicking ‘yes’ or ‘no’  in the contact message. If a volunteer chooses to respond in the affirmative, they will authorize ResearchMatch to release their contact information to the PI (or ResearchMatch designee) who will be responsible for managing that information according to institutional guidelines.
                                        2. The contact message consists of the language to be used in the email sent by ResearchMatch on your behalf to potential participants. Please note that your contact message must not include your direct study contact information (email or phone), and must not exceed 2000 characters. If the study involves in-person participation, you may want to include the geographical location of the study site. If you intend to include healthy controls, specify that in your contact message, otherwise, a healthy control volunteer may decline participation. Please see contact message examples provided by ResearchMatch as well as this form that offers additional tips for creating an effective contact message.
                                      2. Once ResearchMatch is an IRB-approved recruitment method, you may then register as a researcher to request “recruitment access” in ResearchMatch. You will need to upload your IRB approval letter and your IRB-approved contact message. Recruitment access will give you the ability to send your contact message to potential participants that you select. If a potential participant agrees, you will then have access to his/her contact information in order to contact about possible study participation.

                                       

                                       

                                       

                                      For questions about about how to use ResearchMatch for your health research, please contact UConn/UConn Health ResearchMatch Liaison, Ellen Ciesielski, eciesielski@uchc.edu.

                                      NASA Restrictions on Funding Activities with China

                                      In guidance documents issued in February 2012, NASA noted that appropriation bills for the past two years (NASA’s 2011 continuing resolution and NASA’s fiscal year 2012 appropriation) contain a funding restriction with respect to China. Specifically, the funding statute states that none of the funds appropriated may be used by NASA to:

                                      • develop, design, plan, promulgate, implement, or execute a bilateral policy, program, order, or contract of any kind to participate, collaborate, or coordinate bilaterally in any way with China or any Chinese-owned company unless such activities are specifically authorized [by law.]

                                      Although the statute does not define “China” or “Chinese-owned company,” NASA’s procurement guidance states that the terms mean the People’s Republic of China, any company owned by the People’s Republic of China, or any company incorporated under the laws of the People’s Republic of China.

                                      The statute applies to any NASA grant, cooperative agreement, or contract and applies to all subrecipients at any level. Therefore, the restriction prohibits UConn from collaborating with or issuing a subaward to the Chinese government (e.g., the China National Space Administration), a government-owned company, or a company incorporated under Chinese law. This includes using NASA funds for the U.S. side of a collaboration with these entities that is performed on a “no-exchange-of-funds” basis. The restrictions do not apply to commercial items of supply needed to perform a grant or cooperative agreement.

                                      The appropriations law does not restrict the use of NASA funds to support Chinese national students or visiting researchers as long as they do not have a current affiliation with a Chinese university. NASA grants guidance document states participation by Chinese nationals will be reviewed by NASA grant and technical officers prior to awarding grants or cooperative agreements (including amendments).

                                      You can view this PDF for more information, and also go here to see NASA’s FAQs on the topic.

                                      Please contact exportcontrol@uconn.edu with any questions.

                                      International Travel

                                      To Countries of Concern

                                      All  UConn faculty, staff or students planning international travel to a country sanctioned by the U.S. Government must clear their travel plans with the Export Control office (exportcontrol@uconn.edu) to ensure that any required approvals or licenses are in place prior to departure.

                                       

                                      Highest Risk (countries which have OFAC sanctions or embargoes in place)

                                      Country Type of Sanction
                                      Belarus  No contact or business with certain individuals and their associations.*
                                      Burma (Myanmar) No imports, no financial transfers to Burma, no investments with companies primarily dealing in or with Burma.
                                      Crimea, Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia Regions of Ukraine (annexed or ongoing conflict by Russia) Comprehensive embargo.  No travel without prior written approval by OVPR Senior Export Control Officer.  No imports, no exports, restrictions on financial transactions.  No contact or business with certain individuals and their associations.*
                                      Cuba Comprehensive embargo.  No travel without prior written approval by OVPR Senior Export Control Officer.  No imports, no exports, no financial transactions, no trade in Cuban goods. No contact or business with certain individuals and their associations.*
                                      Democratic Republic of the Congo No contact or business with certain individuals and their associations.*
                                      Iran Comprehensive embargo.  No travel without prior written approval by OVPR Senior Export Control Officer.   No imports, no exports, no financial transactions, no trade in Iranian goods.  No contact or business with certain individuals and their associations.*
                                      Iraq Contact Export Control Office
                                      Ivory Coast No contact or business with certain individuals and their associations.*
                                      Liberia No contact or business with the former Liberian regime of Charles Taylor.*
                                      Libya No contact or business with the Libyan regime of Moammar Gadhafi.
                                      North Korea Comprehensive embargo.  No travel without prior written approval by OVPR Senior Export Control Officer.   No imports, no exports, no financial transactions.  No contact or business with certain individuals and their associations.*
                                      Russia No contact or business with certain individuals and their associations.*
                                      Somalia No contact or business with certain individuals and their associations.*
                                      Sudan Contact Export Control Office
                                      Syria No contact or business with certain individuals and their associations.*
                                      Zimbabwe No contact or business with certain individuals and their associations.*

                                      *Contact the Export Control office (exportcontrol@uconn.edu) for screening of contacts.

                                       

                                      High Risk Countries (The government holds a general policy of license denial for ITAR* or dual-use goods) Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burma/Myanmar, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Iviore, Cuba, Cyprus, Eritrea, Fiji, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Palestine, People’s Republic of Korea, Russia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Saudia Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Vietnam, Venezuela, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.

                                       

                                      With Equipment (Including Computers), Data or Software

                                      All  UConn faculty, staff or students planning international travel with equipment or a laptop or other mobile computing device that has encryption software installed should be aware that certain equipment and encryption technology may be subject to export controls by the U.S. and other countries. The U.S. Department of Commerce and the Department of the Treasury have rules prohibiting the transportation of certain controlled equipment encryption technology into certain countries. All travelers who will be carrying or shipping equipment or encryption technology out of the U.S. are strongly encouraged to consult with the UConn Export Control office (exportcontrol@uconn.edu) or review this PDF for more information.

                                       

                                      International Shipping

                                      Everything that leaves U.S. borders is considered an export. Shipments of items (e.g., materials, equipment, technical data, software) sent to international entities are subject to U.S. export control laws. Prior to shipping an item internationally, UConn and UConn Health employees are required by policy to perform a due diligence check and communicate with the appropriate UConn offices to help ensure you are lawfully shipping your item.

                                      Shipping is managed by the individual UConn or UConn Health employee creating the shipment. UConn and UConn Health employees are responsible for contacting UConn (Export Control Office) ECO to review shipments sent internationally to ensure export control requirements are met.

                                      • Restricted Party Screening: The ECO will conduct Restricted Party Screening of the intended recipients and recipient organizations to ensure those individuals/organizations are not on a federal government restricted parties list.
                                      • Classifying and Licensing: Items listed on the USML or with an ECCN may require export licenses with the relevant federal agencies. If you know your item’s classification or you are unsure of your item’s classification, please contact UConn ECO to help classify the shipment contents and/or determine if a license is required to ship the item(s).
                                      • Biological Materials: Shipments of biological materials (e.g., microorganisms, cell cultures, animal, plant or human samples, etc.) to a collaborator, industry partner, or back to the University from a field research site must comply with Dangerous Goods (Hazardous Materials) shipping regulations. Individuals planning to ship biological materials must complete training through Environmental Health and Safety at the Storrs and regional campuses or UConn Health to learn how to properly classify, identify, package, mark, label, and document shipments of biological materials and dry ice.
                                      •  Hazardous Materials: Shipments of hazardous chemicals, batteries, wastes, and other materials must comply with regulations of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), International Air Transport Association (IATA), and International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) when shipping by ground, air, or vessel.
                                      • Material Transfer Agreements (MTA): An MTA is a contract that governs the transfer of various biological and research materials between two or more organizations. MTAs are reviewed by and UConn ECO. If you have questions regarding your MTA or if your shipment items require an MTA, please contact Ana Fidantsef (fidantsef@uconn.edu) at UConn TCS or UConn ECO.

                                      To learn more about exports and international shipping, UConn offers FREE export control training through CITI to provide additional guidance on international shipment requirements. This training is freely available to all UConn and UConn Health faculty, employees, and students with a NetID. UConn Policy requires all export control project personnel affiliated with a Technology Control Plan (TCP), Technology Control & Security Plan (TCSP), or Access Control Plan (PICACP) to complete international shipping training.

                                      UConn’s Export Control Office works with shipping partners across the university to quickly review international shipping requests.

                                      Please contact exportcontrol@uconn.edu with any questions regarding international shipments.

                                      Research Reporting Request Form

                                      SCRO Contacts

                                      Name Title Phone Email
                                      Meg Johnson, JD, CIP Director, Conflicts of Interest and Research Integrity 959.262.4139 meg.johnson@uconn.edu
                                      Audrey R. Chapman, PhD Chair, SCRO Committee 860.679.1590 achapman@uchc.edu
                                      Ellen Ciesielski SCRO Coordinator 860.679.6004 eciesielski@uchc.edu

                                       

                                      SCRO Committee Members

                                      Audrey R. Chapman, PhD, Committee Chair, Professor, School of Medicine, Public Health Sciences

                                      Peter Barwick, MD, Physician (retired), Community Member

                                      Eric Bernstein, JD, EdD, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Dental Medicine

                                      Stephen Clark, PhD, Associate Professor Emeritus, School of Dental Medicine, Genetics and Genome Sciences

                                      Caroline Dealy, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Dental Medicine, Craniofacial Sciences

                                      Jaime Imitola, MD, Vice Chair of Research in Neurology, School of Medicine

                                      James Mulrooney, PhD, Dean, Professor,  Central Connecticut State University, Biomolecular Science

                                      Leonard Paplauskas, UConn Health, Associate Vice President, Research Administration (retired)

                                      Ted Rasmussen, PhD, Associate Professor, UConn, Pharmaceutical Sciences

                                      Ernst Reichenberger, PhD, Professor, School of Dental Medicine, Center for Regenerative Medicine and Skeletal Development

                                      Richard Tombaugh, PhD, Theologian, Community Member

                                      Isolde Bates, ex officio member, Business Services Manager, Genetics and Genome Sciences

                                      Maureen Sansone, ex officio member, IRB Administrator, The Jackson Laboratory

                                      Ellen Ciesielski, SCRO Coordinator, UConn Health, Research Integrity & Compliance