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

PROPOSE

• Am I eligible to apply to an internal funding seed grant competition? If I am a....
  • Tenure-track, tenured faculty or clinical, research, extension and in-residence faculty with Assistant Professor rank or higher - YES
    • those whose positions are contingent on grant-funding (soft money positions) must include details about their institutionally-funded research time as part of the budget justification to confirm eligibility.
  • PhD student - NO
  • Postdoc - NO
  • Research Scientist - NO
  • Research Specialist - NO
  • Primary appointment is to either CCMC, Jackson Labs, or TIP companies?  Not eligible to apply. Primary appointment of PI needs to be at UConn/UConn Health

• Is there a minimum PI effort level for the project? 
  • Although no minimum effort level is required for REP projects, a PI/Co-PI must have institutionally-funded research time available during the award period.
• If I am not eligible to apply as a PI can I serve as a collaborator/consultant on an eligible PI’s project? 
  • Yes
• Can I submit two applications as PI to the same competition?
  • Only one submission per PI for the same competition
• Can I apply to more than one competition in the same year for the same project?
  • Yes, however, you will not receive more than one award for a specific project
  • You can submit multiple applications to different competitions with different projects
• Why can't I make changes to the budget spreadsheet?
  • You can only complete the green areas in the budget spreadsheet. Formulas are set up to autofill the fringe and totals within the budget spreadsheet
  • If you have any questions about the spreadsheet, please email resarch@uconn.edu
• How do I indicate that it is a two-year budget when completing the budget sheet?
  • Although projects are expected to be completed within one year, there are exceptions. You can download the budget sheet from the budget guidelines webpage and save it as year 1 and then again as year 2 prior to completing it

SETUP

• When will the awards be announced?
  • Check the overview of internal funding competitions and a timeline for information pertaining to individual programs that are being offered
• When will the project be funded?
  • Once you have uploaded your signed award letter and completed the compliance section, then the Research Finance Team will review the information, reach out to you if they have any questions and fund your IDC account for the SFF award or set up a new account for the other awards.

MANAGE

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

CLOSEOUT

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

OTHER

• Who are the Internal funding program award recipients?
  • Award recipients can be found here at this link
• Are there other sources of seed funding available outside of the OVPR at UConn?
  • InChip
  • CLAS
  • IBACS
  • Faculty Travel Funding
  • BIRC Seed Grants

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

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