College Initiatives
COS Research Enhancement Seed Grants Program
The main goal of the College of Sciences (COS) Research Enhancement Seed Grants Program is to invest in new, innovative, and high impact faculty research programs with a potential for large funding from external agencies such as NIH, NSF, DOD, DOE, NASA, and USDA. Annually COS seeks to support grant proposals in two different categories: (i) Individual Research Projects (IRPs) led by one to three faculty members and (ii) Collaborative Research Clusters (CRCs) consisting of a larger team of faculty. Program and application details can be found here.
COS BRIDGE to Research Success Initiative
The College of Science at UTRGV is offering the Faculty Bridge to Research Success initiative with the goal to increase grant application success among midcareer and senior faculty. We invite applications from tenured faculty who have kept a strong record of research publications but had difficulties to attract external funding in recent years.
The program will provide funds to support research-related activities that will help to increase the chances of a successful grant submission. Examples of activities can be short visits to other institutions to explore/start new collaborations, a trip to the DC to discuss your proposal ideas with a Program Director, attendance at and/or presentation in a relevant conference in the discipline. Faculty receiving the Bridge award are required to apply for a major research grant within a year of the award. Program and application details can be found here.
COS CAREER pathway program
The College of Sciences is offering the COS CAREER pathway program with the aim to increase the number of COS faculty receiving a CAREER grant. The program is available to all Tenure Track faculty of the college of Sciences who work in an area fundable by the Federal Agencies (such as NSF, NIH and DOD) and satisfy the CAREER grant eligibility criteria.
The COS expects to fund 5 COS CAREER pathway awardees each year. Each will receive $1000 to be used to support their research as they see fit, including travel during academic year of the award. Program and application details can be found here.
Digital21 pilot program
COS has launched the Digital21 initiative to begin Spring 2020. Digital21 is a three-year pilot program in classroom instruction which aims to use technology to maximize the success of our students, better prepare them for the jobs of the future, and create equal access to quality educational experience in all UTRGV campuses. Each instructor and student will be provided with a loaned iPad (at no cost to the student) and will meet via Zoom in their respective classrooms while the instructor teaches from his/her office and conducts lecture and active learning activities using the iPad and Zoom. The program will offer workshops and training for the participant faculty on combining these digital tools with active learning teaching. Application details can be found here.
COS Women in Science Network (WISE)
The mission of WISE is to catalyze a constant and transparent communication that is essential to inspire and support female faculty to succeed.
WISE is a COS network of faculty committed to nurture, sustain and inspire women faculty activism to ensure an environment of inclusiveness and equal opportunities for career success.