The Grants.gov proposal submission system continues to undergo upgrades and changes. A major change in Grants.gov currently underway is a shift in the software used to create and submit proposals to federal grant-making agencies.

The Switch to Adobe Forms
Initially, Grants.gov required the use of a software platform called PureEdge to open, fill out and submit application packages via the Internet. Now Grants.gov is doing away with the PureEdge software and adopting Adobe Forms as the software platform for all applications.

The transition from PureEdge to Adobe Forms is currently underway, and the timing varies by agency. Agencies will no longer post application packages using PureEdge after June 1, 2008. The target cutoff date for submission of application packages using PureEdge is September 30, 2008. Therefore, the current plan is for all agencies to have adopted the Adobe Forms software by the end of federal FY 2008.

Adobe Forms Requirements
The switch to Adobe Forms was based partially on the desire to broaden the number of computer operating system platforms that could be supported by Grants.gov. The PureEdge software is not compatible with Apple and Windows Vista operating systems.

The Adobe Forms system currently requires the use of Adobe Reader 8.1.1 or 8.1.2. This is free software available on the Grants.gov website. The Adobe Forms system will now allow Grants.gov to support Apple and Windows Vista systems.

The basic appearance and content of the forms contained in Grants.gov application packages remains unchanged. The Adobe Forms content of an application package will appear very similar to the forms in a PureEdge package. Aside from the change in software, users should experience little difference in the Grants.gov proposal development process.

TIP: Always check to make sure you are using a version of Adobe Reader that is supported by Grants.gov. Opening a Grants.gov application package in an unsupported version of Adobe Reader may result in the package becoming corrupted, and your work being lost. Remember to save Grants.gov packages often.

Grants.gov Registration
Most RFPs that involve Grants.gov submission contain several pages of information on the Grants.gov registration process. DO NOT attempt to register a new account on Grants.gov. ORSP has the necessary registration for the University, and will handle the submission of all Grants.gov application packages for University projects.

TIP: Contact your Program Development Specialist in the ORSP as soon as you decide to pursue a funding opportunity. We will review the RFP with you and help to determine the necessary Grants.gov procedures that need to be followed.

NSF Transition to Grants.gov Still in the Future
While most federal grant-making agencies, including NIH, USDA and the Department of Energy, have made the transition to Grants.gov, the National Science Foundation has not.

NSF continues to use its own FastLane system as the only required mechanism for submission of proposals. While NSF has made Grants.gov available as an alternative submission method for many grant opportunities, ORSP recommends continued use of the FastLane system. There is no current schedule for NSF to require submission of proposals through Grants.gov.

Remember...
ORSP is here to support the faculty and staff of the University in the process of searching out and applying for external funding opportunities.

Always feel free to contact your ORSP Program Development Specialist with any questions you may have regarding proposal submission, regardless of the funding source.

Have you Met with Dale Yet?
UM second year law student Dale Clemence is working with ORSP staff on an intensive effort to upgrade and complete the information available about UM faculty in the COS Expertise database. Dale is scheduling individual visits with interested faculty to go over their online COS profile and set up targeted funding alerts based on their expertise and research interests. If you haven't yet heard from Dale and would like to schedule a visit, please send an email to research@olemiss.edu with COS Visit in the subject line and your contact information in the body of the message. Dale will then contact you directly about scheduling. If you have questions or need more information, contact the COS Liaison in the ORSP, Linda Sperath (7482 or lsperath@olemiss.edu).

User Tip: Setting Activity Location in Funding Searches
When searching COS Funding Opportunities, don't forget that using the Activity Location field is a good way to filter out grants for which you are not eligible. To select the country in which you want to conduct the project, simply choose from the picklist available in that section of the search form. To set the activity location to a continent, state, province or another specific non-country location, click on the “more locations” option under the picklist. A pop-up box will allow you to search or browse the entire location browser.

Don't Know About COS?
Check out our COS page, the January 2005, September 2006, and March 2007 newsletter articles, and/or the COS home page. COS is for all UM faculty in all academic disciplines and research areas.

Bio-IT World Expo April 28-30 in Boston
A plenary panel discussion on the exciting field of “personal genomics,” featuring six of the most outstanding scientists, physicians and commentators in the field, is among the highlights of the 2008 Bio-IT World Conference & Expo being held April 28 - 30 at the World Trade Center in Boston. Other session highlights include: Next-Generation Sequencing Data Management; Integrated Framework for Multiple Myeloma Research; Role of Supercomputing in Life Sciences Modeling and Predictive Bio-simulation; Google Approach to Universal Search for Life Sciences; Using EDC to Create Its Fullest Possible Business Benefits. For more information, visit www.bio-itworldexpo.com.

Mississippi Business Plan Competition May 13 in Jackson
The Mississippi Technology Alliance will present the first Mississippi Business Plan Competition on Tuesday, May 13 at the Mississippi TelCom Center in Jackson. Faculty members, don't miss this opportunity to have your start-up company's business plan heard and critiqued by some of Mississippi's top entrepreneurs and investors. If you are interested in participating in the competition as a university-affiliated company, please contact Dr. Walter Chambliss, Director of Technology Management, at wchambli@olemiss.edu or 662-915-7134. Three UM faculty-led teams will be selected from those who apply through the Division of Technology Management.  The deadline for selection is April 25, 2008. There is also an open division for all entrepreneurs.  More details on the competition and the open division are available at www.technologyalliance.ms/business-plan-competition/index.php.

Mississippi Biophysical Consortium Meeting May 22-23 in Oxford
This will be the inaugural meeting of this group formed to promote and advertise shared scientific resources in the State of Mississippi including biophysical equipment, expertise, education, and collaborations. For more information contact Randy Wadkins, UM Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (rwadkins@olemiss.edu) and/or see biochemistry.umc.edu/MissBiophysConsortium/MissBiophysConsortium.html.

2008 SBIR/STTR National Spring Conference May 27-30 in Orlando
The SBIR Program has provided funding to small businesses engaged in innovative research for 25 years for the federal government. The 2008 SBIR/STTR National Spring Conference will bring together federal program administrators from all 11 SBIR participating agencies, venture capital and angel investors, secondary market and traditional lenders, university and federal laboratory representatives, prime contractors and others who provide assistance with the early-stage ventures. For more information, visit www.sbirflorida.org.

Gulf of Mexico Extension, Outreach and Education Workshop August 12-13 in Mobile
NOAA extension, outreach and education (EOE) leaders from across the Gulf of Mexico are invited to participate in this inreach program to improve constituent engagement. Workshop topics will include • NOAA’s Science Advisory Board’s EOE recommendations • participation in NOAA’s Engagement Test • how to use Joint Fact Finding to improve engagement • best practices on the integration of research, extension, outreach and education • best practices on Gulf of Mexico EOE. This EOE workshop is sponsored by NOAA’s Gulf of Mexico Regional Team. For more information, contact LaDon Swann, director of the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, at swanndl@auburn.edu or (228) 818-8842.

Coastal Research Symposium October 28-29 in Biloxi
The Mississippi-Alabama Bays and Bayous Symposium will be held October 28-29 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center in Biloxi, Mississippi. The symposium will provide a forum for the exchange of technical, yet practical, information among scientists, resource managers, elected officials, community leaders, marine industries, community-based organizations and individuals. This year, presentations at the symposium will focus on living marine resources, natural hazards resiliency and the ocean’s role in climate, community action and coastal stewardship, water quality and nutrient input, habitat management and restoration, and extension, outreach and education. Bays and Bayous is sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, the Gulf of Mexico Program, the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, and The University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory. A call for abstracts will be released in May. For more information, go to masgc.org/baysandbayous.

NIH Development of Novel Interventions and Tools for the Control of Malaria, Neglected Tropical Diseases, and Their Vectors ~ Deadline July 10
The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) issued by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is to support and stimulate translational research leading to the development of novel and more effective interventions and research tools (e.g., genetic and computational tools) that will facilitate and promote the discovery and development of novel therapeutics, vaccines, diagnostics, and vector management strategies, thereby reducing or eliminating morbidity and mortality from malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Projects that propose to develop molecular tools and biomarkers to support the development of novel and more effective interventions are also included in this initiative.
Sponsor Website: grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-08-005.html
COS Record: fundingopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=112944

NSF CAREER Program ~ Deadlines July 22-23-24
July 22: Biological Sciences; Computer & Information Sciences & Engineering; Education & Human Resources
July 23: Engineering
July 24: Geosciences; Mathematical & Physical Sciences; Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences; Office of Polar Programs
The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is an NSF-wide activity that offers the NSF’s most prestigious awards in support of the early career-development activities of those teacher-scholars who most effectively integrate research and education within the context of the mission of their organization. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from junior faculty members at all CAREER-eligible organizations and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply.
Sponsor Website: www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf05579
COS Record: fundingopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=70293

Fulbright U.S. Scholars: Traditional Lecture/Research Grants ~ Deadline August 1
The traditional Fulbright Scholar Program sends 800 U.S. faculty and professionals abroad each year. Grantees lecture and conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields.
Sponsor Website: www.cies.org/us_scholars/

Fulbright Distinguished Chairs ~ Deadline August 1
Awards in the Fulbright Distinguished Chairs Program are viewed as among the most prestigious appointments in the Fulbright Scholar Program. Candidates should be senior scholars and have a significant publication and teaching record. The Fulbright Scholar Program sends 800 U.S. faculty and professionals abroad each year. Grantees lecture and conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields.
Sponsor Website:  www.cies.org/Chairs/

NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics ~ Deadline August 12
Limited Submission/Internal Coordination Required ~ Those planning to apply should notify Linda Sperath in the ORSP (lsperath@olemiss.edu) no later than July 11, 2008.
The S-STEM program emphasizes the importance of recruiting students to science and engineering disciplines, mentoring and supporting students through degree completion, and partnering with employers to facilitate student career placement in the STEM workforce. Participating institutions are expected to support the goals of the S-STEM program including • improved educational opportunities for students • increased retention of students to degree achievement • improved student support programs at institutions of higher education • increased numbers of well educated and skilled employees in technical areas of national need. Disciplines covered by the scholarships are • biological sciences (except medicine and other clinical fields) • physical sciences, including physics, chemistry, astronomy, and materials science • mathematical sciences • computer and information sciences • geosciences • engineering • technology areas associated with the preceding fields (for example, biotechnology, chemical technology, engineering technology, information technology, etc.).
Sponsor Website: www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07524/nsf07524.htm
COS Record: fundingopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=104182

Louisville Institute General Grant Program ~ Deadline October 1
The Louisville Institute for the Study of Protestantism and American Culture offers a modest general grant program that supports a limited number of individual and collaborative research and leadership education projects related to the priorities of the Louisville Institute. Such grants might cover an individual scholar's research expenses, or the costs of convening a research team or group of religious leaders.
The Louisville Institute is a Lilly Endowment program for the study of American religion based at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary. As a program of Lilly Endowment, the Louisville Institute builds upon the Endowment's long-standing support of both leadership education and scholarly research on American religion, including American Catholicism, American Protestantism, the historic African-American churches, and the Hispanic religious experience.
Sponsor Website: www.louisville-institute.org/secondary/generalgrant.asp
COS Record: fundingopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=23587

Find MORE on the ORSP Funding Opportunities Recent Announcements page

SEARCH using COS Funding Opportunities

Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship ~ Vol. 1, No. 1, Fall 2008
The Editorial Board of the Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship (JCES) invites the submission of manuscripts that relate to its mission: to provide a mechanism through which faculty, staff, and students of academic institutions and their community partners disseminate scholarly works from all academic disciplines with the goal of integrating teaching, research, and community engagement.
All forms of writing and analysis will be acceptable for the journal with consideration being given to traditional research and creative approaches that apply a variety of methodologies.  Manuscripts that demonstrate central involvement of  students and community partners will be given favorable consideration.
Submissions for the premier issue of this peer reviewed journal are due by July 1, 2008 .  Inquiries and submissions should be e-mailed to Cassandra E. Simon, Associate Professor, School of Social Work, The University of Alabama, at jces@ua.edu.

New Research Disclosure Form Now in Use
The ORSP Division of Technology Management has recently updated its forms for filing Research Disclosures as required by the UM Patent and Invention Policy. Any new disclosures should be made on the most current form in order to avoid delays in processing. This form can be found at www.olemiss.edu/depts/research/technology/forms.html. Thanks for your cooperation.

Call for Proposals ~ National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance ~ Abstracts Due June 13
Growth in the field of technology and innovation education has led to many successful, ongoing programs that strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship education, resulting in real commercial outcomes with positive social impacts. What are the key processes and systems that take a program to the next level of success? How do we ensure the success of E-Teams? The NCIIA invites you to submit abstracts for papers, presentations and posters for its 2009 conference. 150-word abstracts are due June 13, 2008. Join top colleagues from across the nation to exchange ideas and inspiration. More information is at www.nciia.org/.

Proposal Activity ~ UM faculty and staff submitted 26 external funding proposals during March 2008. For a complete listing, see the March 2008 Report page.

Award Activity ~ UM faculty and staff received 10 external funding awards during March 2008. For a complete listing, see the March 2008 Report page.

Faculty Travel Support
In March a total of $1,800 was awarded among three applicants to help support their research-related travel. Examples of research purposes for which faculty were awarded support include:

• Make contacts and network to begin planning future international conference at UM
• Meet with collaborators to discuss research activities and plan additional projects
• Attend research workshop and meet with international collaborators on joint projects

The Faculty Travel Support guidelines, application, and FAQ are found on the ORSP Internal Support page: www.olemiss.edu/depts/research/funding/orsp_internal.html .

For complete information about the ORSP — mission, structure, services, responsibilities, and more — visit the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs page

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs oversees funding for research, service, and education projects. These activities complement the fundamental aspects of The University of Mississippi’s mission and are among its most tangible contributions to the future. Funding for these activities is one of the best measures of a university’s success in engaging with national and international communities.

All of us who have sought funding to test our ideas know that it is difficult and that the communities to which we belong are highly competitive. That spirit of competition is critical and it contributes more than a little to the relief and excitement a researcher feels on receiving a funding award.

Listed below are our colleagues who have been notified of external funding awards in the last calendar month. Please join me in congratulating them. The news of their discoveries and the importance of their contributions are part of all of our futures and the future of Ole Miss.

Alice M. Clark, Ph.D.
Vice Chancellor for Research and Sponsored Programs

PI Name	PI Department/Unit	Co-PI Name/s
Bass, H.	National Center for Physical Acoustics
Cremaldi, L.	Physics and Astronomy
Kartiganer, D.	English
McConnell, G.	Curriculum and Instruction	Guest, B.
Oakley, C.	National Food Service Management Institute
Parcher, J.	Chemistry and Biochemistry
Payne, E.	History
Peng, H.	Mathematics	Dang, X.
Sabatier, J.	National Center for Physical Acoustics
Seiner, J.	National Center for Physical Acoustics

 

MARCH 2008 REPORT: A list of awards received and proposals submitted
by The University of Mississippi in the previous month.

March Proposals Submitted: 26 from 23 Principal Investigators

March Awards Received: 10 totaling $307,841

FY08 Year-to-Date Number of Active Sponsored Projects: 502

FY08 Year-to-Date Number of Active Investigators: 218