AY 2021-22 Faculty Research and Professional Development Program Keys to Research

Workshops will take place on the following dates from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.

Workshop 1
September 24, 2021

Workshop 2
October 29, 2021

Workshop 3
November 19, 2021

Workshop 4
December 16, 2021

Workshop 5
January 28, 2022

Workshop 6
February 25, 2022

Workshop 7
March 25, 2022

Workshop 8
April 29, 2022

Workshop 9
May 6, 2022


Read more about the program and Register Online by Sept. 10:
https://www.utrgv.edu/research/faculty-prof-dev/keys-research-faculty-program/index.htm


Workshop 1: September 24, 2021
Introduction to Faculty Research and Professional Development Program. Identifying appropriate federal and state agencies or private foundations to support individual faculty research efforts; How to find the appropriate program and funding mechanism for research idea. Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA): understand eligibility requirements, goals, needs and procedures; Initiate collaborations with your colleagues for potential help to accomplish your proposed goal. Strategies for recruiting students for research. Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) at UTRGV: submitting an Intent to Submit form and Proposal Transmittal Form (PTF).

Workshop 2: October 29, 2021
Assistance and guidance in NSF proposal writing for Career and research grants. Identifying the  Intellectual Merit and Broad Impacts for the individual faculty specific research programs; How to formulate clear research questions early in your proposal? Why is it important to gain the insights or information you are seeking? How to create a Compelling, Informative title for your Proposal.
Research team and expertise needed to carry out the proposed work, your NSF CV and research background/accomplishment. Summary of the proposal; Introduction to Research Compliance,
training onpolicies, procedures, and responsible conduct inresearch.

Workshop 3: November 19, 2021
Assistance and guidance in NSF proposal writing for NUE, MRI, REU/RET, SBIR/STTR programs; Identifying the Intellectual Merit and Broad Impacts for the individual faculty specific  research programs; Transformative research vs. Incremental improvements of existing approaches and technologies. Key proposal elements: Introduction/Background, Rational/Needs, Goals & Objectives, Methodology, Preliminary data, Research/Educational Outcomes/Impact, Evaluation/Assessment; Resources & Capabilities; Assistance and guidance for NSF Budget and Budget Justifications preparation;
NSF review and peer review processes. Training: Ethics and compliance in research, conducting research responsibly - mentor/mentee relationship, authorship.

Workshop 4: December 16, 2021
Introduction of NIH programs: SCORE - SC1, SC2 SC3; Assistance and guidance in NIH proposal writing. Key elements of NIH proposal: Specific Aims, and Narrative Description. Background and Significance,
Research Design &Methods, and Preliminary Studies; Abstract of the proposal. Assistance and guidance for NIH Budget and BudgetJustifications preparation. Training: Scientists as a Responsible Members of
Society, Contemporary Ethical Issues in Biomedical Research, and the Environmental and Societal Impacts of Scientific Research. Institutional Review Board (IRB): Human Subjects Protection.

Workshop 5: January 28, 2022
Introduction of NIH programs: R series - Research Grants, K series - Career Development Awards, T&F series - Research Training and Fellowships, P series - Program Project/Center Grants. Assistance and guidance in proposal writing to NIH, key elements of NIH proposal: Specific Aims, Narrative Description (continuation). Background and Significance, Research Design & Methods, and Preliminary Studies (continuation). NIH Biographical Sketches. Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC): Animal research and UTRGV animal facility; Biosafety in the Lab and IBC/HBA Registration.

Workshop 6: February 25, 2022
Introduction of U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) research programs: Army Research Office, Office
of Naval Research, and Air Force Office of Scientific Research. DOD Basic Research Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI). U.S.Air Force Research Lab Summer Faculty Fellowship Program. Assistance and guidance for peer review publications; Why should I protect myWork and Ideas with a patent? Material Transfer Agreements and Disclosure of New Technology. Training: Collaborative Research, International Travel and Export Controls.

Workshop 7: March 25, 2022
Introduction of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) research programs: Basic Energy Sciences (BES);
Biological and Environmental Research (BER); High Energy Physics (HEP); Workforce Development for
Teachers and Scientists (WDTS). DOE Laboratories and research opportunity with them; Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) research funding and collaboration opportunity. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR); UTRGV library resources and access to supercomputing. Training: Conflicts of Interest: Policies and Practices

Workshop 8 : April 29, 2022
Introduction to US Department of Education Research Grant Programs: Institute of Education Sciences;
Career and Technical Education (CTE), The Cognition and Student Learning (CASL), The Early Learning
Programs and Policies, The Education Leadership, The Education Technology Research Program, The
Effective Teachers and Effective Teaching. STEM Education topic (curricula, programs, and assessments).
The Social and Behavioral Context for Academic Learning, (assess students, social-behavioral competencies, and teacher practices). College-wide Commitment to Sustainable Practices
in Research. Training: Time & Effort reporting. 

Workshop 9: May 6, 2022
Introduction to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Research Grant Programs: Agriculture and
Food Research Initiative. USDA programs: Agricultural Research Service (ARS); Economic Research Service (ERS), and The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant opportunity. Initiating collaborations and summer fellowship activity;
Training: Property Management.

For more information, contact
Dr. Karen Martirosyan
karen.martirosyan@utrgv.edu 
(956) 882-6736