Application Instructions
For all proposals, the total application must be submitted online through the Research Board Grant Application System as well as one paper copy of a completed proposal, with signatures, must be sent to your campus official's office.
Campus officials may require additional forms and additional copies of the proposal (click here for information).
Summary and Support Form:
Proposal Summary
The summary of the proposed project must be kept within the designated space, but should be as descriptive as possible. It is critical to the success of an application. Supply major and specific objectives, the general approach and the significance to the area and to the stature of the university.
Support Information
Use "P" for Pending, "A" for Awarded, or "D" for Declined/Rejected to indicate status. Failure to provide the following information in the prescribed format will result in return of the proposal.
- List other funding for this project and indicate any overlap with other funding in the format requested.
- List all funding, including start up funds, for your other research and creativity activity in the format requested. If there are none, enter "NA."
- Previous research board Applications/Support by Primary Applicant and All Co-Applicants
List any previous research board applications/support (as primary applicant or co-applicant). If primary applicant, you must include a copy of the award report; if co-applicant, list PI, title of project, and amount of award. Award reports for the past five years should be included in the award report section of the application. Additional accomplishments resulting from the award may be described in this section.
Suggested Reviewers
Applicants should LIST AT LEAST THREE appropriate reviewers. However, past and present collaborators of the applicant(s) and members of their primary department(s) are ineligible to serve as reviewers. External reviewers (non-UM) may be listed as well. DO NOT LIST REVIEWERS FROM YOUR HOME DEPARTMENT(S).
Biographical Sketch Forms
Complete an abbreviated 2-page biographical sketch form for each applicant directly involved on the proposed project (additional forms should be completed for co-applicants). Accomplishments section may not exceed two pages. No additional biographical information shall be submitted unless specifically requested by the board. Biographical information for non-university consultants may also be submitted in this section, but no other biographical information shall be included unless specifically requested by the board. SUBSTITUTION OF ANY OTHER BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH FORMS IS NOT ALLOWABLE.
Budget Section and Justification
A detailed budget and justification must be included on the online Detailed Budget Page after the narrative with descriptive titles and names, if available. Specify salaries, fringe benefits (up to 33.87 percent of benefit eligible employees; 0 percent for students, 8 percent for part time employees), and number of months on this project. All personnel costs including teaching replacement costs are to be placed in the personnel section on the budget form. Indicate each item of equipment with detailed cost breakdown, categorize supplies (e.g., glassware, radioisotopes, canvas, oils), list costs associated with travel (research site only), computer software, etc. Travel costs (travel/meals/lodging) are ONLY allowed for visiting research sites or collaboration on the project. Expenses which are considered "other" could be for lab animals, animal housing, or participant costs, etc. Round all budget items to the nearest dollar. Proposed budget allocations to co-applicants must be specified. If project is multi campus, budget items must be specified in the budget justification section.
Narrative
Beginning with page 1, each page must be consecutively numbered. The narrative should be brief, yet consistent with critical peer review. Normally, the narrative will be at least two pages; however, it must not exceed 10 pages excluding the bibliography. The narrative must be double spaced (3 lines per inch); and you may not exceed 15 characters per inch. The narrative should have 1-inch margins. The references may be single spaced. If images/graphics are inserted into your narrative, we suggest that you convert to JPEG files before inserting. The narrative should address the following items:
- A statement of overall and specific objectives
- Significance of the project to research or creative activity in the specific field, and its potential value in enhancing the stature of the University
- Background and rationale
- Preliminary work/results
- Project design and procedures proposed to accomplish the objectives
- Resources and environment (describe relevant support facilities and services, intellectual resources, etc.)
- Explanation of the reason the research board is asked to support the project (is external support unavailable, insufficient, interrupted, etc.)
- Plans for future support for this or closely related projects; specifically, state how research board support would increase your potential to obtain extramural funding, and
- REVISED PROPOSALS should include your response to previous peer reviews. Your response should be on page one of your narrative and you will be allowed up to one additional page in your narrative for this section. Your rebuttal should explain how the proposal has been changed (or not changed) in response to the previous peer reviews.
Bibliography Section
A maximum of two pages is allowed for a bibliography as it relates to this project. Include full titles and may be single-spaced.
Compliance with Oversight Committees
If your proposal involves human subjects, vertebrate animals, rDNA or biohazards or export controls or select agents, approval must be obtained from the oversight committees on your campus. Verification must be received in the designated campus official's office prior to setting up an account.
Research Parks & Incubators
Office of Intellectual Property Administration
Funding Opportunities
Office of Research & Economic Development