NSM Faculty/Staff Newsletter

From the Office of the Dean

Office of Research Update

New Proposal Submissions

In January, NSM faculty submitted 58 research proposals (including 12 to NSF, 3 to NIH, 2 to DOE, 2 to NASA, 7 to the State of Texas Air Quality Research Program, 2 to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, 4 to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, 2 to the Texas Air Research Center, 2 to the American Heart Association, 1 to the American Lung Association, 3 to the Simons Foundation, 1 to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, 1 to the Brigham & Women’s Hospital and 16 to the Welch Foundation) corresponding to $17.6M in requested funding.

Awarded Research Grants

Ernst Leiss (Computer Science) was awarded a $402,726 grant from NSF: “REU Site: Undergraduate Research Experience in Frontiers of Data-Driven Computing.”

Dan Graur (Biology & Biochemistry) was awarded a $232,849 grant from NSF: “OPUS: CRS: Non-Adaptive and Anti-Adaptive Forces in Evolution, A Synthesis.”

Lawrence Pinsky (Physics) was awarded a $40,960 salary reimbursement agreement for Carlos Sjogreen from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Upcoming Meetings and Workshops

Core Data Management Practices for UH Researchers

February 19, 10–11:30 am
Where: Faculty Cafe, E. Cullen, Ground Level Room 31
This workshop will present the basic elements of data management that are essential for UH researchers in all disciplines. Topics include: data management plans, file organization and documentation, storage and backup, security, compliance with University policies, data preservation, and archiving.

Developing Budgets for Grant Proposals

February 26, 10 am – 12 pm
Where: Faculty Cafe, E. Cullen, Ground Level Room 31
This session will introduce the typical components used to build grant proposal budgets, indirect cost and commonly encountered difficulties and sponsor limitations. Tools to create the budget and a compelling budget justification will be demonstrated. This 50-in-5 session is part of the Division of Research Explained Series, developed to support faculty in a variety of research and innovation efforts.

Announcements

National Science Foundation Biosketches

The new Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) will be effective for proposals submitted or due, and awards made, on or after June 1, 2020. NSF will require use of an NSF-approved format in submission of the biographical sketch and current and pending support documents, once the PAPPG (NSF 20-1) becomes effective. Beginning June 1, 2020, NSF will only accept biosketches generated through an NSF-approved format. Currently, the only approved format is NIH’s SciENcv (Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae). Please plan ahead and prepare your NSF biosketch now with SciENcv.

Read the NSF Biosketch Advisory

National Science Foundation Research Submissions Portal

Beginning in early 2020, NSF will discontinue FastLane, and all proposals will need to be submitted through research.gov. In order to become familiar with the system and to troubleshoot errors, NSM will immediately begin using research.gov for all non-last-minute NSF submissions.

Internal Awards

Lab Renovation/New Lab Grant

Deadline: Sunday, March 1, 2020, at 5 pm

The Provost and the Vice President for Research have initiated the Lab Renovation/New Lab Grant to invigorate the University research enterprise through targeted investment in the renovation of existing labs or the creation of new small labs. The purpose of the program is to support the core research infrastructure of the University’s research enterprise through targeted investments in laboratories that would permit submission of competitive external research proposals.

High Priority Area Research Seed Grants

Deadline: Monday, March 2, 2020, before 5 pm. No late applications will be accepted.

The Provost and the Vice President for Research are continuing a program to invigorate the University’s research enterprise through targeted investment of seed research funds in high priority areas (see the examples in Figure 1 on High Priority Area Research Seed Grants webpage). The purpose of this program is to invigorate research labs and groups with funds that would permit submission of competitive research proposals. The seed funding grant program is closely tied to the four institutional thrusts that the Vice President for Research and the Provost developed in consultation with the college deans, and which the Chancellor has endorsed: (1) physical and cyber security, (2) drug discovery and development, (3) sustainable communities and infrastructure, and (4) accessible healthcare. Each of the thrusts is described in Figure 1, which provides the general area of emphasis and some examples. Formation of interdisciplinary research teams is encouraged to build capabilities to address these complex issues.

National Centers Planning Award

Applications accepted through September 30, 2020, or until the funds are exhausted.

The National Centers Planning Award funding is intended to provide up to 14 months of support to teams of researchers led by a UH faculty member to prepare for the submission of a proposal to a targeted funding opportunity.