Greetings, faculty!
Please see the list of announcements, funding opportunities, and resources below. Archives of previous updates are available on ORSP’s blog.
Announcements
- Beginning May 20, 2024, NSF and other federal agencies will begin requiring each key/senior personnel who participate in a proposal/project to certify that they “are not a party to a malign foreign talent recruitment program” at the time of proposal submission, during just-in-time requests before an award is made, and at each annual project report during an award period. Any individual who cannot provide such a certification will be ineligible from participating on federally sponsored projects. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) defines a “malign foreign talent recruitment program” in this document. ORSP will provide additional information and guidance on UTC’s process for addressing this requirement in the coming weeks.
- COGR, an association of research institutions, has released a PDF summary of current and upcoming Federal Research Security Requirements, cross-referencing disclosures, training, and other resources, as well as a matrix of science and security laws, regulations, and policies organized by federal agency. ORSP encourages all investigators who currently conduct or plan to conduct federally sponsored research to review both resources to understand how changes in federal regulations will affect you. Please feel free to reach out to ORSP or the Office of Research Integrity with any questions.
- The US Patent and Trademark Office has released new guidance that clarifies only inventions “conceived by a human” can be patented. Human inventors can use AI tools but must make a significant contribution to the conception of the claimed invention for it to be patentable. Read the full guidance here.
Reminders
- The UTC Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is hosting a Quantum Conversations event on February 29 from 4:30 to 6:00 PM. Discussion leaders include Charlie Brock, CEO Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative, Dr. Reinhold Mann, UTC Vice Chancellor for Research, and Jim Ingraham, EPB VP Strategic Research. Register here for this free event.
- The UT System has launched the Grand Challenge Grants program, soliciting proposals for innovative projects poised to impact one of three areas: Strengthening Rural Communities, Overcoming Addiction, and Advancing K-12 Education. The program is open to faculty and staff at all UT campuses. Visit the program webpage to learn more. Applications are due April 30. Register here to be added to the contact list for upcoming virtual information sessions.
Limited Submission Competitions
| Sponsor/Program | Competition Link | Internal Deadline | Limitations or Special Considerations |
| The Camille & Henry Dreyfus FoundationHenry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards | Notice of Intent | February 26, 2024 | UTC is limited to 1 nomination. Eligible faculty must hold a full-time, tenure-line academic appointment in a department that grants a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the chemical sciences, including chemical engineering, AND be after the fourth and not after the twelfth years of their independent academic careers, and engaged in independent research and teaching primarily with undergraduates. You must submit an NOI to be eligible for selection if an internal competition is held. |
| NSF Innovations in Graduate Education | Notice of Intent | February 26, 2024 | UTC is limited to 2 proposals. An individual can participate in only 1 proposal as PI/Co-PI per competition. |
Other Funding Opportunities
If you are interested in applying to any of the opportunities below, please notify ORSP at least 4-6 weeks in advance of the deadline. Proposals with fewer than 5 business days notice may face barriers to submission. More information about ORSP’s proposal development timeline and services is available here.
| Sponsor/Program | Deadline | Limitations or Special Considerations |
| NIJ FY24 Measurement of Community Perceptions of Policing and Public Safety | May 2, 2024 | NIJ will host a webinar on this solicitation on March 14 from 1:30-2:30pm ET. Register here to attend. |
| NIJ FY24 Research and Evaluation on School Safety | May 7, 2024 | NIJ will hold a webinar on this solicitation on March 11, 2024 at 1 p.m. ET. Register here to attend. |
| NSF Developmental Sciences | July 30, 2024 | An individual may be listed as a PI, co-PI, faculty associate or subaward lead on only one proposal. This program deadline will move to January 30 beginning in 2025. |
| NSF Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP) | No deadline | Project teams of all sizes (single investigators, small groups, consortia of investigators, etc.) are permitted. |
| NSF Division of Integrative Organismal Systems Core Programs | No deadline | Proposers are strongly encouraged to contact a cognizant program director prior to submission to obtain advice on suitability of the project idea for the IntBIO Track. |
| NSF Division of Environmental Biology Core Programs | No deadline | The Small Grants category has been replaced by STAR (Special Targeted Awards for Research) Grants with a maximum budget of $400,000. |
Sponsored Projects Policy Spotlight: Gift Cards
Gift cards are a common way to improve participation rates in programming and research. However, fiscal policy limits how and under what circumstances gift cards can be purchased. Per FI0313, gift cards may be purchased with grant funding if all of the following conditions are met:
- it is allowable by the sponsor
- the purchase is explicitly listed in the approved budget and budget justification
- it is explicitly listed in the approved IRB application and informed consent of participants is sought and documented.
Still have questions? Reach out to ORSP and/or ORI to learn more.
Best,
Ashley Ledford,
Director of Pre-Award Services
Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
Book a meeting with me!