Focus on Funding is published by SDSU Research Foundation as a service to San Diego State University and staff. Additional information about the opportunities described in this publication can be obtained by contacting the Office of Communications at jseal@foundation.sdsu.edu or 594-2458.
September 2009 - Volume 5, Issue 1
Notices
SDSU Research Foundation Hosts Fall Workshops
The following workshops are being offered to SDSU faculty and staff this fall. If you would like to reserve a seat, please contact Jonathan Florendo at jflorendo@foundation.sdsu.edu.
Thursday, September 17, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Show Me the Money! Funding Opportunities on the Web
If you have research ideas and need to know where to begin your search for funding, or if you currently have grants and would like to seek supplemental funding for your project, this interactive session is perfect for you! At this workshop, we will demonstrate how to utilize the Internet in your search for funding opportunities, including the online searchable database "Sponsored Programs Information Network" (SPIN). You will also learn how to successfully navigate several agency web sites and locate announcements, RFPs, and other information. This workshop will be held in the SDSU Research Foundation computer training room so participants can have hands-on experience!
Thursday, October 1, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Writing a Grant Proposal: Tricks of the Trade
This workshop will cover the different steps involved in writing a proposal for extramural funding. Topics include a description of funding sources, pre-proposal preparation, different sections of a proposal, budget items, "tricks of the trade," and writing techniques and strategies. Faculty and project staff who have not written a proposal will benefit from this workshop, as well as those faculty who need "refresher" information.
Thursday, October 8, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Order it Up: Purchasing Basics
Why do we a need purchasing department? What are my responsibilities when I need products or services? How do I find vendors? What do I do if I have an urgent/emergency requirement? These questions and more will be answered in this informative session presented by a knowledgeable buyer in SDSU Research Foundation's purchasing department. Topics to be covered include: how to order what you need; checking the status of your order; and who to contact in Purchasing. If you would like to make the most of your project dollar, this is the workshop for you.
Tuesday, October 13, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Accounts Payable Essentials
In this educational session, many questions regarding your project account(s) will be answered by the knowledgeable staff in SDSU Research Foundation's accounts payable department. For example, how will you get checks to your vendors? Are you planning on traveling and need assistance with travel and expenses? How do I get a lost check re-issued? Are there alternate payment methods for small dollar purchases (personal reimbursements and PCards)? Topics to be covered also include: what to do with an invoice; who to contact in each department; and other questions about invoices/credits. If you are interested in saving time and money on your project, this is the session for you.
Wednesday, October 14, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Budget Basics: Laying the Groundwork for a Successful Proposal
Part of writing a grant proposal is understanding the costs of your research. Where do you begin when creating your research budget? For example, do you plan on hiring students, using various supplies, renting space, or attending conferences? How will these costs affect your proposed budget? During this workshop, you will hear from successful SDSU principal investigators who will share their experiences with grant writing, shedding light on how to write winning proposals with corresponding budgets. Experienced staff in SDSURF's development department will help answer questions and provide examples of how to work research costs into your proposal. The information presented will be useful for faculty and staff who are new to proposal preparation, as well as those faculty and staff who need a "refresher" on budget development. You may send your questions in advance to Joanne Cobble at jcobble@foundation.sdsu.edu.
Thursday, October 15, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Understanding Foreign National Immigration Tax Issues
Does your project involve international collaborations? Are you contracting with a nonresident? At this seminar, you will learn more about the U.S. immigration system, general tax issues, residence status for IRS tax purposes, classifying and sourcing the income, and how to process payments. If you would like to learn more about the policies involved in collaborating with international guests, you will not want to miss this workshop.
Tuesday, October 27, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
New and Improved!
Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs – Why are They Important to My Sponsored Project?
Do you have questions about Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs associated with your proposal or project? You may have wondered: What are F&A costs (formerly known as indirect costs)? What is covered by F&A? What are the current rates? This session will provide answers to these questions and more by covering the definitions of F&A costs, explaining how F&A rates are determined, reviewing the distribution of recovered F&A costs to the university, and dispelling the myths related to F&A costs. If you are an experienced researcher or new to the grant proposal process and are interested in learning where your grant money is going, this informative workshop is for you!
New! Funding Opportunities Deadline Calendar
SDSU Research Foundation's Office of Communications now has an additional resource available to SDSU faculty and staff on the website at http://www.foundation.sdsu.edu/communications/grant_deadlines/index.html
The Grant Deadlines Calendar lists upcoming funding opportunities by deadline date and will be updated each Friday based upon the grant programs that have been announced to SDSU faculty and staff through the communications' office the previous week. The list will include the deadline, sponsor, program title, and a direct link to the program.
If you need further information regarding any of the opportunities listed on the calendar, please contact the Office of Communications at jseal@foundation.sdsu.edu.
NIH Releases Biomedical Research Tool
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently launched the Biomedical Translational Research Information System (BTRIS), which will provide clinical investigators with access to data for the subjects on their own active protocols, while providing all NIH investigators with access to de-identified data across all protocols. BTRIS contains a data repository, where principal investigators or their designees create reports on their active protocols with identified subject data, and a web-based application that allows principal investigators or their designees to verify subject enrollment in their protocol(s). BTRIS is available at http://btris.nih.gov/.
Reminder to New Investigators: Update Your eRA Commons Profile!
Recently, NIH announced a new policy in which New Investigators within ten years of completing their terminal research degree or within ten years of completing their medical residency are designated Early Stage Investigators (ESIs). The implementation of this policy is dependent on information entered in each investigator's personal profile on the NIH eRA Commons. As a result, NIH is asking that all New Investigators check their eRA Commons profile at http://commons.era.nih.gov/commons, and if necessary provide the requested degree date and/or the date of completion of medical residency. The dates entered will be used to determine the beginning and end date of the ESI period. Please see the definition of New Investigator and Early Stage Investigator along with other information about these policies at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/index.htm.
NIH encourages all investigators to keep information in their eRA Commons profiles up-to-date. If you do not have an eRA Commons account, please contact SDSURF's sponsored research development office at 4-5731.