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  1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Faculty Grant Forms

Research Development Grant

Due: October 1

If you are requesting funding for travel, you must complete the travel request form and reference this project using the same project name.

Purpose

The Research Development Grant (RDG) program is a source of financial support for research and scholarly activities.

Eligibility

All faculty members in the tenure system are invited to apply for RDG funding.

Research and Scholarship Projects

Any of the following general types of research and scholarly activity are appropriate:

  • Conducting research that employs methodology acceptable in the applicant’s discipline
  • Producing an interpretation, analysis, or synthesis of existing knowledge in a form that will provide for critical review of other scholars in the applicant’s discipline
  • Developing new scholarly methods or research tools
  • Developing new applications of knowledge
  • Creating new artistic products or forms
  • Developing new theories, philosophical views, or position papers

The following may not be included in an RDG request:

  • Support for doctoral dissertation research
  • Support for summer stipends and supplemental salary
  • Travel to professional conferences
  • Routine course development and instructional improvement are excluded except as noted above
  • Purchase of equipment, unless part of an activity listed above
  • Support for page charges for articles to be published in refereed journals
  • Support for copyright permissions

While developing your proposal, consider the following:

  • Travel may be included, but the proposal must explain clearly why the travel is essential for the conduct of the research and scholarly activity.
  • Any travel support needed for an undergraduate research assistant should be included in a RDG request.
  • The purchase of software, printed material, supplies and other similar materials may be included, provided the applicant makes it clear in the proposal that the purchase is directly related to the activities of the project. Any equipment purchased with RDG funds becomes the property of the University and belongs to the campus.
  • For all proposals, budget items should be clearly itemized.
  • Funding for undergraduate research is more likely receive support when the work will result in a student-authored product (presentation, exhibit, poster, etc.). If students are being funded to do research, they cannot also receive credit for the same work. Please note the following funding resources for undergraduate research:
    • Student Engagement Network Grant 
    • Beaver Honors Program Mini-Grant
    • UP Undergraduate Research Conference Travel Support
    • UP Erickson Summer Discovery Grant Program

Award amounts

No amount of support is too small to request. Most funded proposals range from $500 to $1,500. Proposals that request funding at a level higher than $1,500 will be considered, but these requests must clearly demonstrate the need for more extensive financial support. The competition is more intense at higher levels and necessitates a discussion with the Director of Academic Affairs before proposal submission.

Review Process

RDGs are awarded on a competitive basis. Each proposal is evaluated by the DAA.  Due to limited budgets, proposals are not guaranteed funding. Some proposals may receive only partial support. Evaluations are based on the quality of the proposal and the potential contribution of the project activities to the applicant’s reputation as a scholar, teacher, and researcher.

Project Completion

Because of the temporary nature of the funds, project money must be expended by the end of the current fiscal year. Unspent funds will not automatically be held over into the next fiscal year budget.

Research Development Grant Application

Contact Information
Project Details
Please keep your proposal brief. The following topics must be discussed in plain English without discipline-specific language.
State clearly and briefly the objectives of the proposed project. What do you plan to accomplish?
State how this project will benefit your record of achievement in research and/or scholarly activity.
Describe project activities and explain how they are related to the objectives. Explain how you plan to accomplish each objective.
Describe the Research Development Grants you have received in the past three years, the funding, the dates, what the objectives were, and how they were met.

Itemized Budget Information

List your anticipated expenditures including:

  • individual trips;
  • materials and equipment;
  • wage-payroll or work-study employees, including compensation rates.

If you plan to travel, you must complete a travel request form and reference this project using the same project name.

Travel
Provide details on where, when, and why you need to travel. If your travel includes attending an event, please note the event. Avoid the use of acronyms.
Equipment
List the equipment you need and explain why.
Materials
List the materials you need and explain why.
Student Stipend

Please note that if you are hiring an honors student, you should apply for honors funding first. 

How many students do you need to hire, how many hours do you need each of them to work, and what is the pay rate?
Other
What are your other funding needs?
Totals
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Faculty Grant Forms

  • Professional Development Grant
  • Research Development Grant
  • Faculty Teaching Development Grant
  • Faculty Travel Requests
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