uconn

IACUC Program Specialist (Program Specialist 1), UCP 6

The Office of the Vice President for Research, Research Compliance Services, is seeking an experienced IACUC professional to join our team of research compliance specialists.  Reporting to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (“IACUC”) Program Director in the Office of the Vice President for Research, Research Compliance Services, the IACUC Program Specialist will coordinate with the Chair, members of the IACUC, Animal Care Services staff and other university constituents to ensure that all animal care and use activities related to research and/or teaching conform to all applicable University, State, Federal and other external regulatory requirements and guidelines.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Performs pre-review of new protocols, three-year renewals, protocol modifications, and continuations for accuracy and completeness of submission, and coordinates review with the appropriate Environmental Health and Safety Committees.
  • Consults with principal investigators, staff and others in the preparation of new animal protocols or the amendment of existing protocols. Serves as a resource for investigators on regulations, policies and guidelines governing animal care and use.
  • Maintains internal database of animal protocols. Creates reports from database to meet internal and AAALAC, PHS, and USDA requirements.
  • Coordinates animal facility inspections, and animal care and use program evaluations. May assist in the preparation of semiannual inspection reports.
  • Participates in the preparation and presentation of training programs for IACUC members and animal users.
  • Participates in internal audit of animal care and use protocols and administers Post-Approval Monitoring (PAM) program to assist investigators in identifying deviations from approved protocols, and implements and documents corrective action.
  • Keeps current on federal, state, and local animal research regulations, guidelines, and policies. Ensures that changes are integrated into appropriate University policies, procedures, and Standard Operating Procedures.
  • Participates in the development of IACUC policies for review by the committee. Contributes to the writing of IACUC office Standard Operating Procedures.  Revises IACUC protocol forms and checklists as needed.  Prepares materials for dissemination and for the IACUC website.
  • Facilitates IACUC or other research compliance stakeholder meetings as needed, including logistical arrangements and preparation and distribution of decisions, of agendas, minutes, etc.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

  1. Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  2. At least two years of relevant experience in research compliance requiring knowledge and understanding of applicable regulations.
  3. Knowledge and ability to use independent judgment in the interpretation and application of federal and other laws, regulations, guidelines and procedures pertaining to the care and use of animals used for research and teaching.
  4. Experience creating training materials and ability to present information, training programs, and/or workshops to individuals or groups.
  5. Excellent organizational skills to effectively multi-task to meet deadlines and trouble-shoot problems.
  6. Ability to work under the direction of a supervisor, as well as exercise a high level of independence and discretion.
  7. Established interpersonal skills that promote building strong working relationships. Demonstrated ability to interact with colleagues in a positive and constructive manner.
  8. Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively with administrators, faculty members and staff in a diverse work environment.
  9. Demonstrated effective written and oral communication skills.
  10. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel.

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  1. Experience using animals in a research, medical or similar institutional setting and a demonstrated understanding of scientific methodology.
  2. Certified Professional IACUC Administrator (CPIA) or eligible within one year of hire.
  3. Record of appropriate certification, membership or affiliation with appropriate professional organizations.

 

TO APPLY

Applications must be submitted through the UConn Jobs website: https://hr.uconn.edu/jobs/ (under Staff Positions), and should include a cover letter,  detailed resume, preferred contact information, and the names and contact information for three (3) references.  Review of applications will begin immediately.  Employment of the successful candidate will be contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.  (Search #2018437)

 

For confidential inquiries or additional information please contact:

Laurie Pudlo, MPS HRM
Administrative Manager
Office of the Vice President for Research
University of Connecticut
laurie.pudlo@uconn.edu
860.486.4247

This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on March 18, 2018.

 

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

 

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.

 

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

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

      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

          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

                                This page is secured by UConn Net-ID login.

                                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

                                      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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                                      This page is secured by UConn Net-ID login.

                                      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

                                      CETL Resources for Education and Assessment Plans 2/27/2025

                                      When:  Thursday, February 27 from 11:00 – 12:00 

                                      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. 

                                      Registration is required. 

                                      Registration:  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LF4G00HMRQKIPgW4PGdnLg  

                                      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, February 25 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. 

                                      Engaging Students in Research/Experiential Learning 4/7/2025

                                      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. 

                                      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

                                      https://lib.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/FloorMap_Level-1single-1.pdf

                                      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 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 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

                                      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.

                                      Important Dates (all due dates by 12 noon) 

                                      • 9/16/24 – FY25 program opens.
                                      • 10/28/2024 - 2-Page Letter of Intent. Click here for LOI submission details
                                      • 1/13/2025 (or earlier) Invitations to submit full proposals will be sent.
                                      • 2/24/2025 Full Proposal deadline (by invitation)
                                      • Award Notifications are expected in May, 2025

                                       

                                      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 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.
                                        • Additional guidelines will be provided in the near future.
                                      • 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.
                                        • Annual Reports: Recognizing that investments made by the OVPR can often take some time to produce their full results, we will be asking that all recipients of OVPR Internal Funding, including SPARK, submit annual reports over the life of the project. This will allow us to better understand the impact of internal funding and make the case for it continuing / increasing.
                                        • Reporting requirements: PIs will need to prepare a brief report, using this Award Report Template to summarize project progress within one month of posting final expenses unless an extension from the OVPR has been received.
                                          • We’ll be interested in hearing about the results of your project,
                                          • the significance of those results, and
                                          • gathering statistics about graduate students supported, publications, external grants / patents received, other projects launched, etc.
                                          • Other questions may also be included as needed. The OVPR may request updates annually for up to five years following the end of the award period to track the development of the project longitudinally.

                                      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

                                      Directions & Parking

                                      Nathan Whetten Graduate Center building

                                      Address

                                      Whetten Graduate Center
                                      University of Connecticut
                                      438 Whitney Road Extension, Unit 1006
                                      Storrs, CT 06269-1006
                                      Phone: 860.486.3619
                                      Fax: 860.486.5381

                                       

                                       

                                      Directions

                                      Driving

                                      From the West:

                                      Interstate 84 East to Exit 68. From exit, take a right onto Route 195, and follow for 7 miles to campus.

                                      Alternate directions from the West:

                                      Interstate 84 East to Interstate 384 East. At end of Interstate 384 East, take left fork to Route 44 East. Follow Route 44 East to intersection with Route 195. Take a right onto Route 195 and follow the signs to campus.

                                      From the East:

                                      Interstate 84 West to Exit 68. From exit, take a left onto Route 195, and follow for 7 miles to campus.

                                      From the Southeast:

                                      Interstate 95 to 395 North. Take Exit 81 West to Route 32 North. Follow Route 32 North to Willimantic. In town, turn right and go over bridge. Continue straight through the light and follow 195 North for 8 miles to campus.

                                      Personalize your directions with Google Maps.

                                      View the campus map or download the PDF version.

                                       

                                      Parking

                                      Visitors may park in the South parking garage. See the garage self-pay parking rates for further details. For additional information about parking on campus, please consult the Department of Parking and Transportation Services website at http://www.park.uconn.edu.

                                      Walking from South Garage to Whetten Graduate Center
                                      • Exit garage, turn right and head northeast on Jim Calhoun Way towards Hillside Rd
                                      • Cross Hillside Rd between the new Student Recreation Center and the School of Business.
                                      • Follow the sidewalk and walk straight between these two buildings.
                                      • The Whetten Graduate Center building is directly in front of you.
                                      • The distance from the garage is approximately 0.02 miles.

                                      Student Web Developer (Level IV)

                                      Pay Range: $14-20/hr commensurate on experience

                                       

                                      The Office of the Vice President for Research is seeking a qualified individual to work with IT staff in rebuilding internal legacy web applications using modern tools and best practices. The individual will be tasked with using modern web languages such as PHP and Java to rebuild existing functionality while simultaneously improving the design, implementation, and user experience of these applications to best support the needs of OVPR staff.

                                       

                                      Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. Interview candidates will be contacted. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your software development skills while gaining paid work experience.

                                       

                                      Required Skills:

                                      * Experience developing web or client-side applications using one or more modern languages (such as Java, PHP, JavaScript, etc.)

                                      * Working knowledge of CSS, HTML and JavaScript

                                      * Basic knowledge of MVC architecture

                                      * Experience with common JS frameworks such as (but not limited to) jQuery, Angular, backbone, etc.

                                      * Basic knowledge of SQL

                                      * Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

                                      * Must have excellent communication and computer skills

                                       

                                      Preferred Skills:

                                      * Experience working with legacy codebases

                                      * Experience using git and github as part of a team

                                      * Experience with relational database design and SQL

                                      * Experience with Laravel is a big plus

                                       

                                      Please email your resume to laurie.pudlo@uconn.edu.

                                      IACUC Post-Approval Monitor (Project/Program Specialist)

                                      The University of Connecticut (UConn) Office of the Vice President for Research, is seeking an experienced research compliance professional to engage in post-approval monitoring activities for an estimated 15 hours per week. This is a part-time, temporary professional position, subject to extension based upon performance and availability of funding.

                                      The IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) Post-Approval Monitor (Project/Program Specialist) will directly report and work under the direction of the IACUC Program Manager and in collaboration with other members of the University’s Animal Care and Use Program (ACUP) to ensure that research and teaching activities involving animal subjects are in compliance with all applicable University, State, Federal and other external regulatory requirements and guidelines. The IACUC Post-Approval Monitor’s role is to observe activities using live animals and review records, processes and procedures, to assist investigators in identifying deviations from approved protocols and in implementing corrective action, and to document and report the findings to the IACUC.

                                      Representative Duties and Responsibilities:

                                      • Conducts internal auditing procedures of animal subjects protocols as part of the post-approval monitoring program.
                                      • Conducts reviews in response to allegations and findings of noncompliance with Animal Care and Use Program (ACUP) and sponsor requirements.
                                      • Prepares reports on audit/monitoring findings.
                                      • Serves as a compliance resource to the research community and other internal interested parties.
                                      • Assists with semiannual facility inspections and program reviews.
                                      • Performs other duties as required.

                                      Minimum Acceptable Qualifications

                                      1. Bachelor’s degree in biological, social/behavioral sciences, or a related area; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
                                      2. Experience with research compliance requiring knowledge and understanding of applicable regulations.
                                      3. Ability to collegially interact with others to provide guidance and assistance in meeting regulatory requirements and resolving problems.
                                      4. Excellent writing, communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to articulate compliance issues and enforce compliance standards.
                                      5. Ability to work with animals.
                                      6. Ability to work at Storrs and branch campuses.

                                      Preferred Qualifications

                                      1. Knowledge of federal laws, regulations and procedures pertaining to the use of animal subjects in research and teaching including, but not limited to, AWA, AWAR, PHS Policy, HREA, etc.
                                      2. Two or more years of experience with the use of animal subjects in research, and/or experience in working with an IACUC.

                                       

                                      This is a part-time, temporary professional position, subject to extension based upon performance and availability of funding. Optional State employee health insurance may be available for purchase at group rates.

                                       

                                      Please forward a letter of application, resume, and the names and contact information of three professional references via email to:

                                      Laurie Pudlo, Administrative Manager
                                      Office of the Vice President for Research
                                      438 Whitney Road Extension, Unit 1006
                                      Storrs, CT 06269
                                      Email: laurie.pudlo@uconn.edu

                                      Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Employment of the successful candidate may be contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check. All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

                                       

                                      The University of Connecticut is an EEO/AA employer.

                                      The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a Land Grant and Sea Grant college and member of the Space Grant Consortium, and is ranked among the top 19 public universities in the nation according to the 2016 U.S. News and World Report. In support of an ambitious state investment in economic development, higher education, and research, the Office of the Vice President for Research seeks highly motivated, skilled, and engaged individuals to work within an increasingly diverse and complex research environment.

                                      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 available in Spanish.

                                       

                                      Register now to see if ResearchMatch might be a useful recruitment tool for your health-outcomes research study:

                                      Use this link to register as a researcher: https://www.researchmatch.org/researchers/. You do not need to be a Principal Investigator to register. The registration process takes less than 10 minutes and when you are finished, you will be granted “feasibility access” to do a feasibility search of aggregate data regarding the current ResearchMatch volunteer population. You will be able to see the demographic and health information breakdown for the volunteers within a designated geographic area.

                                       

                                      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 ResearchMatch Liaison, Ellen Ciesielski, eciesielski@uchc.edu.