CLAS Research Innovation Seed ProgramS (CRISPS)
2007-2008

Call for Proposals

The Dean and Associate Deans of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are pleased to 2007-08 CLAS Research Innovation Seed Programs (CRISPS).  CRISPS funds are designated specifically to support faculty research activities which will result in applications for external research grant funding for the proposed project. 

Acknowledging the diversity that is an essential feature of CLAS, the CRISPS has two Tracks, one of which is aimed at faculty in disciplines which, although funded by prestigious and important grants, are not generally funded by large dollar awards (Track A) and the other of which is targeted at faculty in disciplines with greater potential for obtaining large external grants (Track B). 

A common feature of the tracks is that successful applicants will be required to work with the Sponsored Programs Office to develop and submit an application for external grant funding by the end of the CRISPS award period; for Track A, there is no minimum grant request, but for Track B, successful applicants must request a minimum of $100,000 (total) over at least 2 years.  The intent of the Tracks is to support the research work that faculty in all units within CLAS perform and to recognize that external funding brings many benefits, regardless of the dollar amount received. The college expects to make up to 5 awards in each Track:  Awards up to $7,500 are possible for Track A and awards of up to $15,000 are possible for Track B. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on March 3, 2008.  Recipients will be notified by April 3, 2008.

General Information

Nature of the Program

CRISPS grants provide funding for research projects that have a strong likelihood of garnering external support. Preliminary work toward writing an external grant proposal might include such activities as:

• exploratory research or pilot studies
• employing grant writers
• preparation and publication of current research results
• hiring and training of research assistants
• travel to confer with collaborators or with program officers at a potential sponsoring agency
• purchasing expendable materials or supplies necessary for conducting the project
• obtaining special equipment or software necessary for the project
• course release or summer support for preparation of a grant proposal (an amount representing the current value of teaching replacement cost will be used to represent all course releases)

The investigator(s) has 12 months from the time of initiation of funding to prepare and submit an external proposal with a CLAS faculty member as the principal investigator for the award.

Eligibility

The principal investigator must hold at least a half-time tenured or tenure-track faculty appointment in CLAS at the Downtown UCD Campus. Applications may have multiple investigators, and only the PI must be a CLAS faculty member and a Tenure/Tenure Track faculty member; participation of faculty from other colleges and participation of non tenure-track faculty in other roles on the project is acceptable.  Applicants must consult with UCD’s Office of Sponsored Programs to identify potential funding sources, and they must present documentation to that effect.  Applicants may hold and apply for other sponsored funding throughout the full project period of their CRISPS award provided they have no CRISPS awards in delinquent status. Faculty members or teams receiving a CRISPS Grant must submit a report of their external grant proposal to the funding agency, with a copy to the CLAS Deans’ office, no later than April 1, 2009.

Eligibility for Tracks:  Individuals must indicate on the cover page if they are applying for Track A or Track B funding, and must provide a narrative justification for this choice in the space provided.  The justification should describe, briefly, for the reviewers why the PI feels the proposed track is most appropriate for their project, and this justification must refer to and reference the discussion of funding possibilities the PI has undertaken with OSP prior to submission.  The review committee reserves the right to suggest a change in Track choice with the PI if it concludes that the application would be better served on another track.

Funding Limits and Allowable Expenses

Funding request limits for CRISPS Awards are $7,500 for Track A proposals and $15,000 for Track B proposals.  Permitted expenses for CRISPS Awards include salary for student assistants, research-related supplies and materials, travel to confer with colleagues or program officers at state or federal funding agencies, faculty summer salary (Salary Savings Policy will not apply), costs associated with manuscript preparation and publication, and release time for proposal preparation.

Travel to professional conferences is typically ineligible for support. 

It is the responsibility of CRISPS applicants to discuss potential release time with their chairs and deans.  Release time requires chair and dean approval, and receipt of a CRISPS award does not guarantee course release will be provided.

Questions about the CRISPS program should be directed to Mary Coussons-Read (303-556-6665; Mary.Coussons-Read@cudenver.edu).

The Selection Process

Proposals will be evaluated by a committee comprised of CLAS Associate Deans, a representative of CLAS Council, a representative of the Council of Chairs, and a representative of the Office of Sponsored Programs.  If a proposal seems to require specialized expertise outside the purview of committee members, the committee will solicit input from appropriate source(s).

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on merit and the likelihood of external sponsorship.  Specific review criteria applied include:

• How well the proposed activity matches the purposes of the CRISPS program and conforms to application guidelines, including Track choice and justification;
• How the proposed use of the CRISPS award will support the development of a proposal appropriate for external submission;
• If the work proposed appears feasible;
• How well the proposed work improves the College’s research profile and long-term research prospects;
• If the project has a novel aspect that might distinguish it from similar endeavors when competing for funding;

Committee members will select proposals they regard as most deserving of funding and forward their recommendations to the Dean.  The Dean will consider their recommendations and make the final decision on proposals to be funded. 

Timeline

Applications for CRISPS support must be received in the Dean’s Office by 5:00 p.m. on February 1, 2008.  The Dean’s decisions on proposals to be funded will be announced by March 3, 2008.

Requirements of CRISPS Award Recipients

CRISPS award recipients will meet with an ORSP program officer and a UCD grant accountant before the grant period begins to discuss the management of their grant.Award recipients should be aware that all University compliance issues (e.g., human subjects, animals use in research, etc.) apply to this work, and should also be aware of the university's Intellectual Property Rights policy.

Reporting Requirement

Awardees will be required to participate in a Research Symposium roughly 6 months after the awards are made in which they will give a brief oral presentation, followed by discussion and Q and A, on the progress of their project to the other awardees and interested CLAS faculty.  The submitted external grant proposal will serve as the project’s final report.

OSP Proposal Writing Workshop Requirement

The purpose of the CRISPS program is to generate competitive proposals for external funding.  To facilitate this goal, all CRISPS recipients who have not written successful grants for state or federal funding while at UCD will be required to attend at least one grant writing workshop.  Once CRISPS awards are made, a special grant-writing workshop session will be scheduled for awardees.Experienced grant writers are also welcome to attend.

Grant Writing Requirement

A condition of a CRISPS award is that an acceptable external grant proposal be submitted within the 12-month time period.  For Track A recipients, there is no minimum dollar amount required for the external grant application, but for Track B recipients, external grant proposals must request at least $100,000 (total) over at least 2 years.  If the grant submission requirement is not met, the CRISPS grant will be considered delinquent and the recipient(s) will be ineligible for other internal funding at UCD until a grant is submitted.

Application Instructions

A project proposal must include the cover sheet, a brief explanation of the project, a specific timetable, and a plan for applying for substantial external funding within 1 year of the award.

Proposal Components

CRISPS proposals should contain the sections listed below. Proposals that are incomplete or unclear to the review panel will not be judged. Be sure your proposal effectively communicates your plans and goals.

• Cover page with Track justification and required contacts and signatures.

• Project Significance and Description (The project description should not exceed two pages in length, not counting any citations of supporting literature.)

• Project Outcomes (The project outcomes should not exceed one page in length.)
  Provide clear evidence that the project will lead to an application for external funding within a year from the award.  Identify the possible funding source(s), amounts of funding that you plan to request, and the deadline for the proposal(s).

• Budget and Timeline
  A timeline should provide specific milestones with realistic time given to each stage of the project.  (This should not exceed one-half page in length.)
  A detailed and realistic budget should be provided.  (The budget request should not exceed one-half page in length.)

• Vitae
  Include a two-page CV for each participant highlighting the most relevant activities and accomplishments that will give the review committee important background for interpreting your proposal.
  Page one:  list educational background, professional experience, honors and the like and
  Page two:
  • Publications – a complete list of publications for the last 5 years
  • Funded Grant Proposals – a list of proposals funded in the last 5 years
  • Grant Proposals submitted and not funded
  • Presentations – a list of presentations (national and international) in the past 5 years

Note: provide only the most relevant publications, grants and presentations if the complete five-year list would exceed one page.

• Letters of Support (if needed).  If the project requires resources or collaborations outside UCD (e.g., access to data, museum collections, specialized equipment), the application must include a letter of support/collaboration from the relevant party.
  
  
• Checklist for CRISPS Application 2007-2008

Deadline

Please submit the original and one copy of the proposal. Late proposals cannot be considered. Proposals are due in the CLAS Dean’s Office by 5:00 p.m. February 1, 2008.