CALL FOR PROPOSALS
President's Research Award (PRA)
Deadline: February 15, 2008


Announcement: The President's Research Award is a new program that will support research teams in their pursuit of competitive grant funding. This announcement invites proposals from research teams broadly defined as multiple members within the same academic unit, across disciplinary boundaries, and/or in conjunction with other universities and NSHE institutions. All full-time academic faculty are eligible for the award as are researchers employed by centers and institutes that recover facilities and administrative costs from sponsored program funding. Depending on the number of applications received, approximately 8-10 awards will be offered. Funding requests are not to exceed $50,000.

Intent: The intent of this award is to provide funding for research that will lead to submission of one or more competitive grant proposals to national/international funding agencies. The larger institutional intent is to build greater research capacity at UNLV and to expand competitive external funding. Involvement of graduate students on the research team is highly recommended, but must be fully explained in terms of tasks that directly benefit the team's research efforts. Awards are non-renewable, and project duration is limited to two years.

Preference will be given to teams that include one or more UNLV researchers in the earlier stages of their careers.

Exclusions:  Because other sources are available, PRA funds are not to be used for faculty stipends or summer salaries. Other exclusions include travel to professional meetings and other venues to present research findings, honorariums for guest speakers, hosting, and purchase of books and computers.

Application Package and Completion Instructions:

Download the PRA application package (Word doc)

1. Complete PRA Application. The PRA application should include a proposal description, budget form, budget justification narrative, and curriculum vitae. Please use MS Word with a 12-point font. All pages should be single-spaced and have one inch margins. Packages may also be requested via e-mail at robin.toles@unlv.edu.
   
   
2. Attach letters of support. Letters should describe how the department, college, or center will support the team's efforts in terms of release time, dollars, personnel, etc. In addition, insight into the anticipated success of the project should be noted. Two internal letters of support are required.
   
   
3. Complete the PRA Routing Form. Chairs and Deans of all team members must sign the routing form. An additional signature page is provided for those signatures. The routing form may be electronically submitted, sent in hard copy form to mail stop 1087, or hand delivered to FDH 514.
   
   
4. Submit PRA application package. The team leader should email the entire electronic application package to Robin Toles (robin.toles@unlv.edu) in the Office of Research Services.

Note: Team leaders will be notified when the completed package has been received.

The Evaluation Process

Selection Process: Proposals will be evaluated by a PRA Advisory Committee composed of faculty representing a variety of disciplines. Their confidential comments and recommendations will be provided to the Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate College, who will then submit recommendations to the President for final PRA selections.

Evaluation Criteria: Proposals will be evaluated based upon the criteria listed below:

• The clarity of the project's purpose.
• The supporting logic/evidence that underlies and justifies the purpose.
• The long-term impact and future benefits of the proposed research to the area of study and to the advancement of UNLV's research mission and reputation.
• Justification for including given research team members on the research team.
• The professional record and expertise of each research team member as related to the proposed project.
• A clear and well-developed methodology and plan of action .
• A cost-effective and well-justified budget that clearly and directly supports the project.
• The probability of identifying a funding source for continuing the project and the long-term probability of funding success.
• A plan that will demonstrate how the project will undergo ongoing assessment leading to the grant proposal.

Ongoing Assessment of Progress: Team leader(s) of successful PRAs are required to submit a statement of research progress on a quarterly basis. These brief reports are due the first week of July, October, January, April, until the end of the funding period. A final report is also required, which should document the submission of a proposal (or proposals) to peer-reviewed, competitive grant programs. Documentation of the success or failure of these efforts must be noted as well.

Program and Application Questions: Contact Robin Toles at 895-0456 or e-mail robin.toles@unlv.edu.

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