Grant-related Workshops
Workshops are designed to provide faculty, principal investigators, and staff with information and resources to assist with developing and submitting proposals and managing grant awards.
We recently announced our spring 2026 workshop series. Please review the workshop descriptions below and register here to receive calendar invitations and Zoom links. If you are interested but unable to attend, please contact Melanie Patton at [email protected].
Recordings and materials from previous workshops are available on demand.
SDSURF Workshops
MyRF Basics for Principal Investigators and Project Administrative Staff
Tuesday, March 10, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Presenter: Janet Harry (Enterprise Systems Manager, Information Systems)
MyRF provides principal investigators, staff, and all levels of administration direct access to individualized, detailed financial data, processes, and workflows associated with SDSU Research Foundation funds.
This MyRF workshop is intended for PIs and project administrative staff who wish to generate reports and review budget, expense, and transaction data for their individual projects.
It is helpful to have a MyRF account prior to attending this workshop. If you need an account, your PI or other project staff can set up an account in MyRF under Fund Management – User Security.
Budget Basics: Laying the Groundwork for a Successful Proposal
Thursday, March 12, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Presenters: Angela Cormier (Manager, Sponsored Research Administration) and Sarah Harper (Manager, Sponsored Research Development)
Part of writing a grant proposal includes understanding the costs of your sponsored project. Where do you begin when creating your proposal budget? Experienced staff in SDSURF’s Sponsored Research Development and Administration departments will help to answer questions and provide examples of how to include project costs in your proposal. The information presented will be useful for faculty and staff who are new to proposal preparation or submitting to a new agency, and for those who need a refresher on budget development.
Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs Recovery: Why Are They Important to My Sponsored Project?
Thursday, March 19, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Presenters: Derek Shimizu (Manager, Sponsored Research Development) and John Borchert (Financial Systems Manager)
What are F&A costs (also known as indirect costs)? What is covered by F&A? What are the current rates? This workshop will answer your questions about Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs associated with your proposal or project. Whether you are an experienced researcher or new to the grant process, this informative workshop will provide helpful definitions of F&A costs, explain how F&A rates are determined, and dispel myths related to F&A costs. If you have specific questions, please email them to [email protected].
MyRF Advanced for Principal Investigators, Project Administrative Staff, and College and Department Administrators
Wednesday, March 25, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
Presenter: Janet Harry (Enterprise Systems Manager, Information Systems)
MyRF provides principal investigators, staff, and all levels of administration direct access to individualized, detailed financial data, processes, and workflows associated with SDSU Research Foundation funds.
This MyRF workshop is intended for college and department administrators and PIs/ project administrative staff who have either attended the MyRF Basics workshop or have a working knowledge of the basic functionality of MyRF. This workshop will cover advanced functionality, including creating/saving reports, advanced filtering, PivotTables, and charts.
Intro to Export Controls and Drones
Wednesday, April 8, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Presenters: Zena Hovda (Director of Export Control, SDSU)
Are you an exporter? If you travel internationally, participate in international collaborations, or work with foreign nationals in the U.S., then the answer might be ‘yes,’ and it’s important to be aware of how export controls might impact your work. This workshop provides an essential introduction to U.S. export control regulations, explaining how they impact university research, travel, and international collaborations. We'll explain key terms like ITAR and EAR, OFAC, the Fundamental Research Exclusion, and how they apply to your work. The session will cover practical guidance on international collaborations, travel, foreign visitors, restricted party screening, and the serious consequences of non-compliance.
This workshop will also address new drone regulations and policy changes that affect those of you that work with drones in your work at SDSU/SDSURF. Learn more about these regulations, our new policy, and how it may affect you and your work.
Join us to learn how to navigate the export control and drone regulations with confidence!
New Workshop! Navigating the New SDSU Research Foundation Website and SharePoint Intranet
Tuesday, April 28, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Presenter: Justin Vernon (Administrative Support Analyst, Information Systems)
In this interactive training, learn how to navigate our new SDSU Research Foundation SharePoint intranet site and website. We will provide an overview of our resource hub pages, including links to systems, forms, policies, and procedures, and cover examples of our department pages. If you have specific questions or areas you would like to cover in the workshop, please email them to [email protected].
SDSU Division of Research and Innovation Workshops
Space is limited to about 10 participants per workshop each semester. We will also offer workshops during the fall semester.
If you have any questions, please contact Research Advancement at [email protected].
Grants Research and Enterprise Writing (GREW) for Faculty
The Division of Research and Innovation is accepting applications for Grants and Research Enterprise Writing (GREW) for Faculty Fellowships for spring 2026. GREW covers developing relationships with program officers, writing 1-pagers (or specific aims pages), communicating your research, grant writing (e.g., creating time and space for writing, major application components), and conducting a mock grant review on the last day. The workshop is held in-person to help inspire relationship building among the workshop cohort. Participants who complete the program will receive $3,000 to help further their research endeavors. Space is limited to allow for group activities.
The workshop sessions will be held in person on campus on March 13, 20, 27, and April 10, from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Applications are accepted through midnight on March 1.
Apply here. Selected participants will be notified around March 2.
