Grants: Proposals, Processes, & People

We are excited that our campus partners have come together to offer the following Grants Series! If you are interested in attending any of the sessions, please click the “register” link for the sessions that interest you. Some of these sessions will be recorded and those recordings will be posted here after they have completed processing.

Note: eTRACS (ElecTronic Research Administration & Compliance System) is the system used to manage funding proposals and post-award activities at ECU. Some eTRACS resources that you might find helpful include: ETRACS help: https://etracs.ecu.edu/.

Date/Time	Session	Description
September 5, 2023 4:00 - 5:00 pm	NIH Loan Repayment Program Information Session	Presented in collaboration with the College of Health and Human Performance Office of Research Development and Administration: NIH Loan Repayment Program Information Session - panel of prior awardees and time for small group consultations. Facilitated by Joseph Lee
September 12, 2023 2:00 - 3:00 pm View the Recording	The Beginning Beginning	This session will be an introduction to grantsmanship at ECU and beyond. Join us for an introduction to lingo, processes, and cultures as it relates to different types of funding agencies. General information will be presented during the first half hour, leaving ample time for questions and discussion with participants. This session might be especially relevant for those who are very new to grantmaking and to individuals (e.g. graduate students and postdoctoral scholars) who plan to write proposals in the near future. Facilitated by Mary Farwell
September 13, 2023 12:00 - 1:00 pm Joyner 2409 Register Here	Grant Writing in the Humanities and Fine Arts Series: REDE for the Humanities and Fine Arts	Join us to talk about how Research, Economic Development, and Engagement can support and promote faculty in the Humanities and Fine Arts, whom to reach out to, and how to navigate the services and programs REDE offers. Facilitated by Margaret Bauer and Mary Farwell
September 13, 2023 1:30 - 2:30 pm View the Recording Download the PowerPoint Presentation	Reading Requests for Proposals and Application Guidelines	Adhering to RFP and sponsor guidelines can make or break a grant proposal, and not doing so is one way to find a proposal eliminated quickly. There are many different formats, but all contain key bits of information that should guide a successful proposal. This session might be especially relevant for anyone who has not had experience with a variety of funding mechanisms, such as early career researchers, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students. Facilitator: Rick Smiley
September 15, 2023 1:30 - 2:30 pm View the Recording Access the Presentation Slides	What Story is Your Grant Telling? Rhetorical Aspects of Grant Writing	A strong grant proposal is shaped and influenced by its surrounding circumstances and contexts. Successful grant writing involves a well-planned message and appropriate communication strategies to deliver content persuasively, targeting specific audiences. While standardized requirements can feel rigid, considering your grant’s story brings the reader through the journey of your mission, the problem you are seeking to solve, how you intend to solve it, and what happens when you do solve it. In this workshop, participants will learn about the multiple ways the University Writing Program supports grants writers while also considering how a rhetorical approach to grant writing allows writers to tailor messages that will persuasively resonate with readers. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh (ECU Writing Center).
September 18, 2023 2:00 - 3:00 pm View the Recording Download the PowerPoint Presentation CFR Concept Form Corporate and Foundation Research Flyer	Make Your Case for Support to Corporations and Foundations	During this session, Sharon Hamilton and Terah Archie with ECU’s Corporate and Foundation Relations office will share a roadmap for building a project idea into a fundable concept and telling a compelling story that can be shared strategically with potential corporate and foundation funding sources. Facilitated by Sharon Hamilton and Terah Archie
September 20, 2023 11:00 am - 12:00 pm View the Recording	Finding Funding Opportunities using Grant Databases	This session will introduce helpful tools to search for funding opportunities and will focus on using the SPIN funding database. Attendees will learn how to set up custom searches and funding alerts. Can’t make the session? Contact us at browderk@ecu.edu or scholarlycomm@ecu.edu for consultations or training sessions. Facilitated by Kerry Sewell and Jeanne Hoover This session will be helpful to anyone who is starting the search for possible funding sources.
September 21, 2023 1:00 - 2:30 pm Joyner Library 1008	Critical Friends Peer Review for Grant Writers	Critical Friends is a peer review protocol that offers faculty from across the disciplines a chance to solicit and provide feedback on grants at any point of the writing process. Writers are granted a peek inside the mind of their readers as they ask provocative questions, consider data through multiple lenses, and offer feedback on works-in-progress. Faculty support each other in developing specific revision strategies to ‘fine tune’ writing practices and texts in a way that promotes high-quality outcomes. In this workshop, faculty grant writers are invited to participate by sharing your own grant and/or providing feedback for others while also learning about the multiple ways the University Writing Program supports grant writers. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh (ECU Writing Center)
September 22, 2023 9:00 - 10:30 am Belk Building Room 2102	NIH Biosketch Breakfast Work Session	Presented in collaboration with the College of Health and Human Performance Office of Research Development and Administration: NIH Biosketch Breakfast - this session will include a brief training period followed by a hands-on workshop. Facilitated by Joseph Lee
September 27, 2023 10:00 – 11:00 View the Recording Download the Presentation (PDF Document)	Dissertation Funding Opportunities for Doctoral Students	This session will be an introduction to dissertation funding opportunities for doctoral level students and might be especially relevant for PhD and EdD students at least one year from proposing their dissertation topic. Facilitated by Michelle Eble
September 28, 2023 3:00 - 4:00 pm View the Recording Download the PowerPoint Presentation	Peer Review Panel - Advice from Funded Faculty and Extramural Reviewers	This session will feature a panel of ECU faculty from different disciplines with substantial extramural funding experience and experience serving on review panels for funding agencies. Join us to hear the instructions and expectations for peer reviewers and the tips and advice they have gathered along the way for grant writers. This session might be especially relevant for faculty and trainees who have already identified a potential funding source and a good idea of what they want to propose. It also may be helpful for those who are revising grant proposals for resubmission. Facilitated by Mary Farwell, with Stephanie Pitts and other grant active faculty
September 29, 2023 12:00 – 1:00 View the Recording	Foundation Funding for Humanities and Fine Arts	Humanities and Fine Arts faculty will be guided in building a project idea into a fundable concept and telling a compelling story that can be shared strategically with potential corporate and foundation funding sources. After the general session, participants will be invited to set up individual appointments to seek appropriate Foundations for their specific projects.
October 20, 2023 1:00 - 2:00 pm View the Recording	Scholars @ ECU	Learn How to Maximize Your Profile in ECU’s Scholars@ECU faculty profile system. Facilitated by Joseph Lee and Cara Gohn
October 24, 2023 1:30 - 3:00 pm Joyner 1008	NSF Biosketch Workshop	This will be an in-person workshop for developing a biographical sketch and will be led by funded investigators discussing guidelines, tips, and frequent errors. This session will focus on the NSF biosketch format. The session is designed for participants who do not have a current NSF style biosketch, or they need to update their current one. The goal is to complete a NSF-style biosketch during the workshop. Facilitated by Mary Farwell with hub personnel
October 25, 2023 12:00 – 1:00 Joyner Library 1008	SPIN Database Searching for Humanities and Fine Arts	This session will introduce Humanities and Fine Arts faculty to helpful tools to search for funding opportunities, focusing particularly on using the SPIN funding database. Attendees will learn how to set up custom searches and funding alerts. After the general session, participants will be invited to set up individual appointments to learn more about how to find resources for their specific projects. Facilitated by Jeanne Hoover, Joyner Library
October 25, 2023 1:30 - 2:30 View the Recording	Grants Targeting Students and Post-Docs	This session will describe grant mechanisms to increase diversity in the research workforce, including diversity and re-entry supplements on active NIH awards, predoctoral fellowships, and early career development awards. It will also describe NSF funded REU supplements to support undergraduate student research. This session might be especially relevant for faculty with active NIH awards or NSF REU awards and for trainees who are considered to be from disadvantaged backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical, behavioral, clinical, social, and basic sciences research. Facilitated by Mary Farwell with Elizabeth Ables, Azeez Aileru, and Turan Tran
Novermber 1, 2023 9:00 - 10:00 am View the Recording	Campus Approval and Tracking - The Scoop for PI's	This session will provide an overview of the campus approval process when submitting and managing grants, address what needs permission, and from whom, and highlight support offices on campus that can help and how to (and how not to) work with them. Facilitator: Kevin Mills and Karen Mizelle
November 8, 2023 12:00 - 1:00 pm View the Recording	Writing Data Management Plans	Several of ECU’s top funders require data management plans that describe how data will be gathered, organized, and archived. Attend this session to see what tools ECU Libraries make available for drafting and revising data management plans with your colleagues, using funders’ templates and boilerplate language. This session might be especially relevant for individuals who intend to apply for federal funding to support their research. Facilitated by Kerry Sewell and Allison Kaefring
November 16, 2023 2:00 - 3:00 pm Link to Register Link to Join	Finding Funding Opportunities Using Grant Databases	This session will introduce helpful tools to search for funding opportunities and will focus on using the SPIN funding database. Attendees will learn how to set up custom searches and funding alerts. Can’t make the session? Contact us at browderk@ecu.edu or scholarlycomm@ecu.edu for consultations or training sessions. Facilitated by Allison Kaefring and Jeanne Hoover This session will be helpful to anyone who is starting the search for possible funding sources.
January 11, 2024 2:00 - 3:00 pm View the Recording	Proposal Details that Matter	This session will feature quick overviews of some of the critical items to consider when developing a proposal, many that are often confusing, overlooked, or an afterthought. Topics include: F&A costs, effort reporting, the campus approval process, purchasing food, honorariums, working with campus support offices, and more. Bring your questions!
January 17, 2024 10:00 - 11:00 am View the Recording	The Beginning Beginning	This session will be an introduction to grantsmanship at ECU and beyond. Join us for an introduction to lingo, processes, and cultures as it relates to different types of funding agencies. General information will be presented during the first half hour, leaving ample time for questions and discussion with participants. This session might be especially relevant for those who are very new to grantmaking and to individuals (e.g. graduate students and postdoctoral scholars) who plan to write proposals in the near future. Facilitated by Mary Farwell
Date/Time TBD	Meet an NSF Program Officer	This session will provide an opportunity for dialogue with a current NSF Program Officer. Hear an overview of current programs and NSF opportunities and have an opportunity to ask questions. Facilitator: Mary Farwell
January 25, 2024 11:00 am - 12:00 pm View the Recording	Finding Funding Opportunities using Grant Databases	This session will introduce helpful tools to search for funding opportunities and will focus on using the SPIN funding database. Attendees will learn how to set up custom searches and funding alerts. Can’t make the session? Contact us at browderk@ecu.edu or scholarlycomm@ecu.edu for consultations or training sessions. Facilitated by Kerry Sewell and Jeanne Hoover This session will be helpful to anyone who is starting the search for possible funding sources.
January 31, 2024 This session will be rescheduled; the new date will be posted as soon as details are confirmed 2:00 - 3:30 pm Link to Register Link to Join	Critical Friends Peer Review for Grant Writers	Critical Friends is a peer review protocol that offers faculty from across the disciplines a chance to solicit and provide feedback on grants at any point of the writing process. Writers are granted a peek inside the mind of their readers as they ask provocative questions, consider data through multiple lenses, and offer feedback on works-in-progress. Faculty support each other in developing specific revision strategies to ‘fine tune’ writing practices and texts in a way that promotes high-quality outcomes. In this workshop, faculty grant writers are invited to participate by sharing your own grant and/or providing feedback for others while also learning about the multiple ways the University Writing Program supports grant writers. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh (ECU Writing Center).
February 7, 2024 2:00 - 3:30 pm View the Recording	IPAR portals – Information Helpful for Grant Planning that you Might not Even Know is at Your Fingertips	What is the student profile at ECU? How many of the students in your program went on to graduate schools and in what areas? These and other questions are often those you need to address in a grant proposal. ECU’s Institutional Research staff are ready to assist you in finding these data, whether in existing reports/dashboards or by submitting a data request. This workshop will explore sources of data useful for grant proposals and outline the process for requesting data not available in those resources. Facilitated by Beverly King
February 13, 2024 10:00 - 11:30 am This session was not recorded by request of the presenter	IRB and IACUC: Overview of ECU Resources and Processes	If you anticipate conducting research with human subjects or animal subjects and would benefit from an overview of ECU’s IRB and IACUC supports and processes, this session is for you. A general overview of all types of permissions will be discussed, including exempt, expedited, and full status reviews. This session might be especially relevant for individuals who have never submitted a request to IRB or IACUC before. Facilitated by Suzanne Sparrow (IRB) and Gaelle DeShayes (IACUC)
February 15, 2024 12:00 - 12:50 pm View the Recording	De-mystifying NIH Funding Opportunities	Presented in collaboration with the College of Health and Human Performance Office of Research Development and Administration: In this introductory session, we will share different types of NIH funding opportunities and key parts of the funding opportunity to review as you consider submitting grants. Facilitated by Joseph Lee
February 23, 2024 9:00 - 10:00 am View the Recording	Project Budget Building Fundamentals	The budget and budget narrative portion of your application is an additional opportunity to effectively express your project idea. As such, these documents should fully reflect what you have written in your proposal narrative, and at the same time be compliant with the sponsor’s published parameters for budgets as well as with ECU’s budgeting policies, which can be a daunting task! This session will address best practices and helpful tips for developing your grant budget. The eTRACS budget feature will also be showcased. Facilitator: Karen Lombri, with Jeff Friedrich
March 15, 2024 9:30 - 10:30 am Belk Annex 120 Link to Register	View from the Inside: Lessons from NIH Grant Reviewers	Presented in collaboration with the College of Health and Human Performance Office of Research Development and Administration: Learn from a panel and Q&A of ECU faculty who’ve been part of NIH grant reviews. Facilitated by Joseph Lee
April 10, 2024 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Link to Register Link to Join	Finding Funding Opportunities using Grant Databases	This session will introduce helpful tools to search for funding opportunities and will focus on using the SPIN funding database. Attendees will learn how to set up custom searches and funding alerts. Can’t make the session? Contact us at browderk@ecu.edu or scholarlycomm@ecu.edu for consultations or training sessions. Facilitated by Jeanne Hoover and Allison Kaefring. This session will be helpful to anyone who is starting the search for possible funding sources.

NIH Loan Repayment Program Information Session

The Beginning Beginning

Grant Writing in the Humanities and Fine Arts Series: REDE for the Humanities and Fine Arts

Reading Requests for Proposals and Application Guidelines

What Story is Your Grant Telling? Rhetorical Aspects of Grant Writing

Make Your Case for Support to Corporations and Foundations

Finding Funding Opportunities using Grant Databases

Critical Friends Peer Review for Grant Writers

NIH Biosketch Breakfast Work Session

Dissertation Funding Opportunities for Doctoral Students

Peer Review Panel - Advice from Funded Faculty and Extramural Reviewers

Foundation Funding for Humanities and Fine Arts

Scholars @ ECU

NSF Biosketch Workshop

SPIN Database Searching for Humanities and Fine Arts

Grants Targeting Students and Post-Docs

Campus Approval and Tracking - The Scoop for PI's

Writing Data Management Plans

Finding Funding Opportunities Using Grant Databases

Proposal Details that Matter

The Beginning Beginning

Meet an NSF Program Officer

Finding Funding Opportunities using Grant Databases

Critical Friends Peer Review for Grant Writers

IPAR portals – Information Helpful for Grant Planning that you Might not Even Know is at Your Fingertips

IRB and IACUC: Overview of ECU Resources and Processes

De-mystifying NIH Funding Opportunities

Project Budget Building Fundamentals

View from the Inside: Lessons from NIH Grant Reviewers

Finding Funding Opportunities using Grant Databases