Increasing WVU Faculty Competitiveness for External Funding
One of the primary missions of the WVU Research Corporation is to actively assist faculty and student researchers in their efforts to pursue external funding for support of their important work. The WVU Research Corporation carefully crafted a set of programs and activities to help increase the competitiveness of WVU faculty.
All faculty members who are in pursuit of external funding, especially from federal agencies, are encouraged to take advantage of these programs and opportunities to increase their competitiveness in a very competitive arena before submitting proposals to any external agency. There is no personal cost to participate in these opportunities.
For additional information, contact the Office of the Associate Vice president for Research and Economic Development at 304 293 5913.
The Write Winning Grants Seminar
The seminar is presented by a nationally-respected external consulting agency and is funded by the Research Office, participating colleges and the Health Science Center. The seminar presents sharp, concise information designed to help faculty write better grant proposals. For information about the seminar and its proven track record, click here . For a registration form click here .
Frequently Asked Questions on Research Proposal Preparation
A very helpful resource for researchers as they prepare to create proposals for funding is an extensive Frequently Asked Questions document devoted to covering every aspect of responding to requests for proposals. This valuable resource contains key information that every researcher will need as they seek funding for their programs.
Workshop to Develop a Competitive Proposal
The workshop is a four-month program for WVU faculty principle investigators (PIs) to work one-on-one with a professional grant writer/mentor. PIs must be nominated by their Research Associate Dean/Dean for this program. The current workshop began in mid-September 2008 and runs through February 2009. A maximum of 30 applicants will be selected to participate in the next workshop. Visit this site to learn about future participation opportunities. The Research Office, participating colleges and HSC provide the funding for this program.
Grant Writing Mentoring Program
The mentoring approach assigns individual PIs to a grant writing mentor from a cadre of 21 WVU faculty who are experienced grant writers. PIs request a mentor through the Office of the Associate VP for Research.
To request participation in the Mentoring Program, click below,, fill out the form, and return to deanna.whorton@mail.wvu.edu.
Mentor Request FormReview of a Draft Proposal
Draft proposal reviews by an external consulting firm is available to WVU faculty PIs. The review is conducted by a Washington, DC-based consulting firm with proposal expertise. Proposals for review are submitted through the West Virginia EPSCoR Office in Charleston through the WVU Office of the Associate Vice President for Research. All reviews are returned to the PI in time to make revisions prior to submission. Proposals must be submitted for review one month in advance of the federal agency submission date.
When requesting an external review:
1. Submit the proposal in Word format
2. Include the original RFP or solicitation notice
3. Complete the review request sheet
To request an external review, click below, fill out the form and e mail to deanna.whorton@mail.wvu.edu.
External Review Request FormProgram to Stimulate Competitive Research (PSCoR)
PSCoR is an annual Research Office program that provides funding for research that will leverage external funding opportunities. As a condition of the award, each PI is required to submit a proposal to an external agency. That specific proposal must be internally or externally reviewed prior to submission. Calls for proposals are released in late fall with an early January submission date.
Program to Stimulate Interdisciplinary Research (PSIR)
PSIR is a WVU Research Office program providing funding for interdisciplinary research activities and collaborations to create multidisciplinary Centers that will become competitive for federal agency funding. Up to one new award may be made each fiscal year. Calls for preproposals are released in late fall with a mid-December submission date for a pre-proposal. Pre-proposals are reviewed by Research Office personnel and one or more preproposals may be selected for submission as a full proposal by mid-March 2008. Proposals are sent out for external review before a final selection is made. A PI for this program should be a faculty member who already has an established research program at WVU. However, new or more junior faculty members can participate as Co-PIs.
Other programs to increase faculty grant-writing skills and competitiveness are under development.
