Glenn College Faculty Research Seed Grant Program Policy

A. Purpose

The Glenn College Research Seed Grant Program aims to expand the breadth and depth of an existing research project, start a new research project, and/or develop new interdisciplinary connections with colleagues across the university and beyond to enhance the Glenn College’s knowledge creation capabilities. Faculty with promising research ideas can apply for seed money of up to $20,000 per project to develop proposals for extramural research grants and contracts and/or to supplement existing extramural research grants and contracts if additional funds are needed. This document describes the requirements and process for faculty members to request a research seed grant.

B. Audience

Glenn College tenure-track, research-track, and clinical-track faculty members, including faculty in split-funded and/ or shared positions with other colleges and units.

C. Policy

The John Glenn College of Public Affairs encourages faculty to pursue extramural research grants and contracts that contribute to the research activities of the college. Annually, the College may designate a portion of its resources for faculty seed grants. These seed grants are provided to advance the College’s strategic plan goals 2 and 3:

  • Goal 2: Create exceptional, interdisciplinary knowledge in public and nonprofit policy, management, and finance
  • Goal 3: Integrate and apply actionable knowledge that supports public and nonprofit decision-making and inspires citizenship across the State of Ohio, the nation, and the world

Grant awards may range in size from $3,000 to a maximum of $20,000, with the total awarded during a fiscal year not to exceed the total funding amount allocated for that fiscal year. Any funds remaining at fiscal year-end may be rolled over or recaptured at the discretion of the Dean in consultation with the Associate Dean for Faculty and Research and the Chief Administrative Officer.

Preference will be given to proposals that contribute to the faculty member’s knowledge creation portfolio and the College’s research goals. Demonstrated past success in generating research identified as a “primary output” in the College’s Appointment, Promotion and Tenure document will increase the chances of approval. Strong proposals will be based on a track record of past knowledge creation success and lay out a viable strategy for future knowledge creation that results in “primary outputs.”

The College aspires to offer faculty members the opportunity to further develop their research through this seed grant opportunity, but in any given year there is no requirement that the College approve any proposal. Examples of decision criteria include:

  • Priority given to faculty with little to no funded research portfolio
  • Priority given to new faculty
  • Proposals can either fully fund the work proposed or serve as cost share for an externally funded research application
  • Priority given to proposals that fund Glenn College graduate or undergraduate students
  • Proposals that generate preliminary data with the goal to pursue extramural funding
  • Priority given to proposals that have a collaborative nature across campus or demonstrate a strong collaborative element when pursuing consequential extramural funding

Proposals that only identify the research activities that the faculty member will engage in but not a strategy for generating “primary outputs” will not be approved.

D. Procedure

To apply for a faculty seed grant, the faculty member must submit a proposal that contains detailed information about the research project to the Associate Dean for Faculty and Research and to the Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist (SGCS) at any time during the year and until all funds are allocated.

All proposals must be sent via email with PDF attachment to both the Associate Dean for Faculty and Research and the SCGS. The proposal should include:

  • A description of the planned research activities and projected research outputs
  • A description of how the financial resources will be used to execute the research activities
  • An explanation of how the proposed research will advance the faculty member’s research and potentially generate future opportunities for extramural support

The Associate Dean for Faculty and Research and the Senior Grants and Contracts Specialist will review the proposal and make a decision regarding funding of the proposal. Subject matter experts among the faculty may be asked to review a proposal.

  • One page summary written for the lay reader
  • Three to five page project narrative which will have four sections:
    • objective(s) (including attention for how the project fills a gap in knowledge and/or approach),
    • methods (can be quantitative, qualitative),
    • work plan, and
    • expected impact on the College and future funding.
  • Collaborative opportunities across campus (half page)
  • Budget and budget narrative
  • List of references cited

  • Innovation: 15 points
  • Method: 20 points
  • Work plan: 15 points
  • Expected impact on the college: 15 points
  • Expected impact on proposing faculty’s future funding: 25 points
  • Budget and budget justification: 10 points

Proposals cannot include course buy-out, off-duty pay, or supplemental compensation.

Upon completion of the faculty seed grant, the faculty member is required to generate a small report for the College which specifies the research activities undertaken and the known and projected research outputs. This report must be generated within 60 days of the completion of the seed grant period.

E. Policy Contacts

Stephanie Moulton
Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty and Research
614-247-8161
moulton.23@osu.edu

Scott Scribner
Senior Grants & Contracts Specialist
614-292-4863
scribner.5@osu.edu

Kim Young
Chief Administrative Officer, Senior Lecturer
young.1807@osu.edu

Last updated: 8/26/2024