Program Description

The primary purpose of the Research Enhancement Program (REP) is to provide seed money so that faculty members will be able to compete more successfully for larger research grants from external sources for continuation of their research. The REP provides support for all types of faculty research.

Research is defined as a systematic study directed toward fuller scientific knowledge or understanding of the subject studied and includes all research activity, both basic and applied.

PI Model:

The traditional research project grant consists of a single Principal Investigator (PI) leading a research team on an independent research project. Although this model clearly continues to work well and encourages creativity and productivity, it does not always work well for multidisciplinary efforts and collaboration. A multiple-PI model uses more than one investigator (co-investigators) where each of the listed co-investigators will be expected to share responsibility for directing the project or activity. Therefore, the REP will accommodate both models. If a multiple-PI model is used, a “Contact PI” will be designated at the time of application in order to facilitate communication.

A collaborator is a research team member (external or internal) who adds expertise to the project without serving a large enough role to be considered an investigator.

Program Funding

The REP is supported by funds received from University Research Enhancement Funds.  Awards will be limited to $8,000 and will be for the budget period September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2009. A faculty member may serve as an investigator on only one proposal to the REP.

Applicants may request that a portion of their salary come from their Research Enhancement Program (REP) grant, according to one of the following scenarios. 

1)  If the request is for faculty salary during fall 2008 or spring 2009, the request may not exceed $4,000.  These funds will be used for buyout of faculty time and are not meant to supplement the faculty member’s salary. Investigators may ask for funds to cover other project expenses, according to the other guidelines in these instructions.  In any case, the award will be limited to $8,000.  It is expected that a workload adjustment will be made so that the investigator will be able to devote time to the research.

or

2) If the request is for faculty salary during summer 2009, investigators may request up to $4,000 for one term devoted to research or up to $8,000 for two terms. The award plus the summer teaching salary will not exceed 100% of eligible summer salary. If the request is for $4,000 the investigator may also ask for funds to cover other project expenses. If the request is for $8,000 of salary support, the proposal should explain how the other costs or expenses of the project will be covered. In no case may a grant request exceed $8,000.

It is important that requests for faculty salary (for fall, spring, or summer) be approved by the unit administrator and dean. If funded, a letter reflecting administrative support for release time must be placed on file with the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs prior to a budget being set up for the project. This letter should state specifically what the PI’s workload would be for a particular semester or summer term. This letter of support does not need to be submitted with the application.

Eligibility

All full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty members at Texas Woman’s University are eligible to apply and serve as investigators.  A person not meeting the eligibility requirements as an investigator may serve as a collaborator (including non-TWU personnel). A collaborator may not receive direct funds from the REP.  The awards will be made with the expectation that the faculty members will continue in service at the University for at least one academic year following the award period.  Persons known to be in the terminal year of their employment at TWU are not eligible to apply.

Application and Submission Instructions

The application form, detailed instructions and checklist may be found at the end of these program guidelines.  The original proposal, showing approval by the unit administrator and dean, plus 18 copies are due by 5:00 p.m. on the application deadline date in the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs, Denton (ACT 2).  Faculty submitting proposals from the Dallas or Houston campuses, or those for whom photocopying may be a prohibitive departmental expense, may ask for assistance.  Applications which are received after 5:00 pm on the deadline date, or which do not contain the required signatures, cannot be considered for competition.

Review Process

The Research Support Committee (RSC) will review and recommend applications for funding.  The RSC is composed of members who have been designated by the Faculty Senate.  Committee membership may be found by clicking here.

The review committee looks favorably on proposals that:

• are meritorious in the particular discipline;

• will enhance the applicant’s record of scholarship and research;

• will furnish preliminary data for a project with good prospects for continuation through outside funding;

• will provide financial support and research experience for graduate students;

• have strong potential for future external funding.

The Research Support Committee will not look favorably on proposals that

• are essentially for preparing textbooks, revising courses, preparing class notes, performing editorial duties, or compiling non-scholarly bibliographies and catalogs;

• have relevance only to TWU;

• are research for the applicant’s dissertation;

• provide travel to conferences;

• are essentially equipment requests (unless the applicant is a relatively new faculty member seeking to set up a laboratory).