The 2023-2024 Dean's Research Initiative call for proposals is now live on InfoReady. Proposals are due to your Chair/Director by 5pm on Monday, February 27, 2023.
Dean's Research Initiative (DRI) awards provide internal support for competitively reviewed proposals to stimulate research and sponsored research funding for a one-year period. For all categories, evidence of planned future efforts to secure external funding for the activities will be viewed favorably in reviewing proposals. The DRI program runs annually in the Spring semester. Proposals are typically due to the BSOS Research Office in March and awards are announced at the beginning of May. Specific details can be found on the call for proposals in InfoReady when the RFP has been released.
Guidelines
Eligibility Requirements: Tenured/Tenure-track, Research, Teaching, and Clinical Faculty in BSOS are eligible for Faculty Research Awards. Only professional track faculty may request summer salary support (the DRI will not allow for course releases for any faculty). All graduate students appointed in BSOS units are eligible to apply.
Other considerations equal, funding preference will be based on two factors. First, priority will be given to research that represents a new collaboration between/among scholars from different departments related to either the inequality or resilience research hubs. Faculty who actively conduct research in these spaces can view their linkages to other scholars in the college based on their substantive work on the BSOS research website. Second, priority will be given to applicants who have not recently received DRI funding. If you have received a prior DRI award and have any reports outstanding at the submission deadline, your application will not be considered for funding.
Budget Limitations: Proposal budgets with personnel costs must include fringe benefits. The maximum amount per award in each category includes fringe benefit costs. Tuition costs may be allowable on Mentored Undergraduate Research Teams. Strong preference will be given to proposals that include a departmental commitment. The total project budget should not exceed the limits indicated below, inclusive of cost sharing from departments. Graduate Student Travel Awards always require department matching. Funds from cost-sharing should be included in the budget you provide. Matching funds are required on all interdisciplinary/intercollegiate proposals from the non-BSOS unit. Software otherwise provided by the university or departments (e.g. SAS, SPSS) is not allowable on DRI awards. A budget narrative explaining the relevance of the costs to the scope of work is required.
Travel: Travel is allowable in most award categories. However, given the global situation, physical travel should be limited to what is realistic. Registration to virtual conferences is allowable.
The review committee will consider competitive renewals for previous DRI awards in cases where unusually significant progress has been made (i.e., at or beyond the level of accomplishment proposed in the funded application) and where additional pilot funding has the promise of transformative outcomes. In these cases, strong arguments must be made for past and future efforts to obtain external funding and how another DRI award is crucial to external funding applications.
Applications seeking funds to purchase or create a lasting piece of equipment, research instrument, or larger scale data set should include a detailed statement about plans for future resource sharing (across disciplines if applicable) to increase the scope and reach of the investment.
Proposals must be submitted via the InfoReady system at https://umd.infoready4.com/ and are due to your department Chair and Director of Administrative Services (via the InfoReady system) one week prior to the due date to the BSOS Research Office. Proposals submitted directly to the BSOS Research Office will not be considered. Due dates are outlined in InfoReady. Award decisions will be announced on or before May 1 each Spring.
Preference will be given to applications that:
- provide a detailed plan for meaningful outcomes resulting from the DRI award with a timeline of measurable outcomes that include research activities, funding efforts, and scholarly products;
- provide support for students from underrepresented groups;
- propose particularly efficient use of funds and smaller budgets as appropriate; and
- explain the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the personnel and the science.
Acceptance of funds acknowledges your willingness to provide a progress report at the end of the grant period. Please note that funds must be spent in the award year. If an extraordinary circumstance occurs, you may request an extension or re-budget by sending an email to bsosresearch@umd.edu. Progress reports will include the initial proposed timelines and actual progress for research activities, funding efforts, and scholarly products. If awarded, the progress report template is included in the InfoReady record for your award.
As with all externally funded research, investigators on DRI proposals must complete the BSOS Conflict of Interest requirements prior to submission of their proposal. More information can be found on the BSOS website linked here.
The full text of the announcement including proposal assembly and submission instructions, and award categories can be found on InfoReady.