Research Steps

Identifying Funding Opportunities

Before you can apply for external funding you must:

• Complete the RFAST training
• Conflict of Interest forms must be updated once per year or after you receive new funding

Find funding:

• Assistance in finding funding
  • Proposal Development Specialist
  • Department Head
  • Associate Dean
• Use the ArtSci External Funding site
• Use the SPO External Funding site

Once funding opportunity is identified:

• Consult with either the Proposal Development Specialist, Department Head, or Associate Dean to ensure opportunity aligns with USU’s Mission
• Become very familiar with the Notice of Funding Opportunity/Request for Proposal
• Contact the Funding Opportunity’s Program Officer (if applicable)
• Create a plan for writing and submission

Additional Resources & Optional Trainings

• Read USU Policies
• Attend a proposal writing workshop
• Read the Best Practices in Grant & Proposal Writing

Write Your Proposal

6 weeks+ prior to deadline:

• Identify all the documents needed for submission
• Create Kuali Proposal
• Develop Budget
• Write Proposal narrative
• Finalize all required documents

The Office of Research Proposal Development Specialist Team can assist with all steps.

Additional Resources & Optional Trainings

• Read the Best Practices in Grant & Proposal Writing
• Sponsored Program applicable policies
• Facilities & Administration Rates (F&A), indirect costs (IDC)
• Research Data Management Plans (DMP)

Submit Proposal

Before you can submit you must:

• Verify Kuali and application with Proposal Development Specialist
• Ensure you are submitting 5 business days prior to deadline for internal routing

Sponsored Programs will either submit proposal or work with Principal Investigator (PI) on submission.

If awarded, moves to SPO post award processing which takes at least 3 weeks.

Post Award

USU accepts the award and creates an index number, at which point funding will be available.

Business services managers will assist PI in index tracking. Contact them early once you receive an award.

Reporting:

• PIs are responsible for writing required reports to sponsors (Proposal Development Specialists do not write these reports)
• PIs should work with PDS on any Kuali submission necessary for reporting

No-cost extensions:

• PIs should make careful note of their project end date and no-cost extension due date
• PIs must request a no-cost extension typically 31 days before project end date
• PDS can assist, but will not request this on behalf of PIs

Sharing Research

The College encourages faculty to share their research in ways most appropriate to their field.

Publishing Support:

• Editorial Assistance: Through a C.A.R.E. Award, ArtSci faculty can pay for editorial support including copy editors, indexers, and for image permissions.
• Publication Subvention Fund: Paid directly to a press, a subvention fund can help lower the cost of publication. Also available from the USU Office of Research
• Open Access Policy: ArtSci does not currently provide open access fees to faculty, graduate, or undergraduate students. Check the USU Library for their Open Access Fund and other opportunities to make your scholarship open access.

College Communications:  Contact College Communications to share your research highlight.