Grants: Proposals, Processes, & People | Office for Faculty Excellence

Grants

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/.

Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact ECU’s ADA coordinator at least 48 hours prior to the event at 252-737-1018 or ada-coordinator@ecu.edu.

Recorded Sessions from Previous Years

Peer Review Panel – Advice from Funded Faculty and Extramural Reviewers

This session featured a panel of ECU faculty from different disciplines with substantial extramural funding experience and experience serving on review panels for funding agencies.

Facilitated by Mary Farwell, with Stephanie Pitts and other grant active faculty.

View the Recording

IPAR portals – Grant Planning Information 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 explored sources of data useful for grant proposals and outline the process for requesting data not available in those resources.

Facilitated by Beverly King

View the Recording

Link to archived Grants Workshops

Date/Time	Session Title	Description	Links
September 3, 2025 2:00 - 3:30	Department Chairs: Introduction to eTRACS and Proposal Reviews	This session will guide approvers (chairs, delegates) on using the university’s InfoEd platform “eTRACS” for proposal and award information. The first part of the session will be simple navigation and how to use the search function. The second part will be focused on the content of an eTRACS file, and best practices for proposal submission review. There will be time designated at the end for questions. Facilitated by Jeff Friedrich and Mary Farwell	Department Chairs: Introduction to eTRACS and Proposal Reviews - Session Recording Introduction to eTRACS and Proposal Review - Presentation
September 9, 2025 10:00 - 11:00	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	The Beginning Beginning - Session Recording The Beginning Beginning - Presentation
September 10, 2025 2:00 - 3:00	Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program Application Information Session	This session will provide information about how interested faculty can apply to be considered in a limited submission process for the Andrews Carnegie Fellows Program. This program supports scholarship and research in the social sciences and humanities that address important and enduring issues confronting our society. The 2026 call for applications invites proposals that focus on research that can help Americans understand how and why our society has become so polarized and what can be done to strengthen social cohesion.	Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program Application Information Session - Session Recording
September 12, 2025 2:00 - 3:00	Current and Hot Topics for Post-Award Management	This session will feature updates, emerging guidelines, and hot topics related to grant management and regulations at ECU and with various funders. Facilitated by Karen Mizelle	Current and Hot Topics for Post-Award Management - Session Recording
September 16, 2025 1:00 - 2:00	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. Facilitated by Rick Smiley and James Denney	Reading Requests for Proposals and Application Guidelines - Session Recording Reading Requests for Proposals and Application Guidelines - Presentation
September 18, 2025 10:00 - 11:00	Make Your Case for Support to Corporations and Foundations	During this session, 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 Terah Archie	Make Your Case for Support to Corporations and Foundations - Session Recording
September 24, 2025 1:00 - 2:00	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. Facilitated by Jeanne Hoover and Jamie Bloss Can’t make the session? Contact us at blossj19@ecu.edu or scholarlycomm@ecu.edu for consultations or training sessions. This session will be helpful to anyone who is starting the search for possible funding sources.	Finding Funding Opportunities using Grant Databases - Session Recording
September 29, 2025 10:00 - 11:00	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 Kathy Cox	Dissertation Funding Opportunities for Doctoral Students - Session Recording
September 30, 2025 11:00 - 12:00	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 Allison Kaefring and Xiaolan Qiu	Writing Data Management Plans - Session Recording Writing Data Management Plans - Presentation
October 9, 2025 12:00 - 1:00	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 diverse are our faculty, staff, and students? 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 explored sources of data useful for grant proposals and outline the process for requesting data not available in those resources. Facilitated by Jelan Seward and HoKun Lee	Previously Recorded Session: IPAR portals – Information Helpful for Grant Planning that you Might not Even Know is at Your Fingertips
October 10, 2025 12:00 - 1:00	Scholars@ECU	Learn how to maximize your faculty profile in Scholars@ECU. Scholars@ECU is the ECU’s public facing faculty profile platform. The data populated in Scholars@ECU is generated from the Faculty180 profile and professional activity information. This session will cover a tutorial of how to enable a fully enhanced profile, add a headshot and biography, and provide information on how to create a unique profile from the data you’ve already populated in Faculty180. Facilitated by Cara Gohn	Scholars@ECU - Session Recording
October 16, 2025 9:00 - 10:00	Campus Approval and Tracking Processes – 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. Facilitated by Kevin Mills and Karen Mizelle	Campus Approval and Tracking Processes – the Scoop for PI’s - Session Recording
October 23, 2025 2:00 - 3:00	SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae	This session will feature an overview of creating your biosketch in SciENcv. NSF currently requires biosketches to be generated out of SciENcv and NIH and USDA are beginning to require the use of this platform. Faculty are encouraged to log in to SciENcv and follow-along with the presenter to begin building a biosketch in this working session. This session will focus on the process of developing the biosketch in SciENcv and be less geared towards the content of the individual biosketch. Facilitated by Mary Lisa Pories	SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae - Session Recording
November 5, 2025 2:00 - 3:00	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 scholarlycomm@ecu.edu for consultations or training sessions. This session will be helpful to anyone who is starting the search for possible funding sources. Facilitated by Jeanne Hoover and Allison Kaefring	Finding Funding Opportunities using Grant Databases - Session Recording
November 11, 2025 1:30 - 2:30	All About Effort: Proposing the appropriate amount of effort on a grant application	Are you confused by how to calculate effort (time) allocated to your sponsored project? Join the Office of Research Administration’s Dr. Deborah Lundin to help you navigate the effort policy with practical tips and guidance.	All About Effort: Proposing the appropriate amount of effort on a grant application - Session Recording All About Effort: Proposing the appropriate amount of effort on a grant application - Presentation
November 13, 2025 12:00 - 1:00	NIH-approved Generalist Repositories—Workshop on Open Science Framework & Dataverse	The NIH recommends the use of generalist repositories for data and data documentation that don’t have dedicated, domain-specific repositories (e.g., GEO, Metabolomics Workbench). Among the list of NIH-approved generalist repositories are two ECU-supported repositories: Open Science Framework (OSF) and Dataverse. This session is intended as a hands-on workshop to introduce the key features of both repositories and familiarize attendees with creating project spaces in OSF and Dataverse, uploading data and data documentation, and sharing the projects. Facilitated by Kerry Sewell and Xiaolan Qiu	NIH-approved Generalist Repositories—Workshop on Open Science Framework & Dataverse - Session Recording
November 17, 2025 12:00 - 1:00	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: Indirect costs, effort reporting, the campus approval process, purchasing food, honorariums, working with campus support offices, and more. Bring your questions! Facilitated by Mary Lisa Pories	Register for Proposal Details that Matter Join Proposal Details that Matter
November 18, 2025 11:00 - 12:00	Collaboration in Research	This session will discuss how to set up a successful collaboration and include authorship, roles on grant proposals and avoiding and resolving disputes and conflicts. Facilitated by Heather Wright	Register for Collaboration in Research Join Collaboration in Research
January 15, 2026 12:00 - 1:30 In Person: Ballroom 202 Health Sciences Student Center	Getting the Word Out: Using Social Media to Maximize Your Research Impact	Getting the Word Out is a series designed to help faculty effectively share their research beyond traditional academic channels. In this kick-off session, you will hear from a group of panelists that have experience being strategic and intentional with the use of social media and how it can increase the visibility of their work, foster new collaborations, and even open doors to funding opportunities. Lunch will be provided, and participants should register no later than Thursday, January 8th.	Register for Getting the Word Out: Using Social Media to Maximize Your Research Impact
January 22, 2026 12:00 - 1:00	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 blossj19@ecu.edu or scholarlycomm@ecu.edu for consultations or training sessions. This session will be helpful to anyone who is starting the search for possible funding sources. Facilitated by Jeanne Hoover and Jamie Bloss	Register for Finding Funding Opportunities using Grant Databases Join Finding Funding Opportunities using Grant Databases
January 26, 2026 2:00 - 3:00	A Rhetorical Approach to Grant Writing	Strong grant writing involves a well-planned message and appropriate communication strategies to deliver a message persuasively to a target audience. A rhetorical approach to grant writing allows writers to tailor messages that will effectively and persuasively resonate with funding sources. This workshop explores strategies for understanding your target audience, connecting your grants to cultural and institutional contexts, and evaluating the strength of your grant’s persuasiveness and overall effectiveness. Facilitated by Kerri Flinchbaugh	Register for A Rhetorical Approach to Grant Writing Join A Rhetorical Approach to Grant Writing
February 3, 2026 12:00 - 12:30	Getting the Word Out: Using LinkedIn to Maximize Your Research Impact	This micro-session is a continuation of the Getting the Word Out series and participants will learn practical tips for using LinkedIn to highlight their research, connect with collaborators, and attract potential funding opportunities. Facilitated by Dennis McCunney	Register for Getting the Word Out: Using LinkedIn to Maximize Your Research Impact Join Getting the Word Out: Using LinkedIn to Maximize Your Research Impact
February 3, 2026 12:00 - 1:00	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 diverse are our faculty, staff, and students? 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 explored sources of data useful for grant proposals and outline the process for requesting data not available in those resources. Facilitated by Jelan Seward and HoKun Lee	Register for IPAR portals – Information Helpful for Grant Planning that you Might not Even Know is at Your Fingertips Join IPAR portals – Information Helpful for Grant Planning that you Might not Even Know is at Your Fingertips
February 5, 2026 2:00 - 3:00	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 Allison Kaefring and Xiaolan Qiu	Register for Writing Data Management Plans Join Writing Data Management Plans
February 13, 2026 12:00 - 1:00	IRB: Overview of ECU Resources and Processes	If you anticipate conducting research with human subjects and would benefit from an overview of ECU’s IRB 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. Facilitated by Susan Barakat This session might be especially relevant for individuals who have never submitted a request to IRB before.	Register for IRB: Overview of ECU Resources and Processes Join IRB: Overview of ECU Resources and Processes
February 16, 2026 10:00 - 10:30	Getting the Word Out: Using Instagram to Maximize Your Research Impact	This micro-session is a continuation of the Getting the Word Out series and will focus on using Instagram to visually showcase your research. Learn how to create engaging posts and stories that highlight your work, expand your audience, and foster meaningful connections. Facilitated by Shanita Brown	Register for Getting the Word Out: Using Instagram to Maximize Your Research Impact Join Getting the Word Out: Using Instagram to Maximize Your Research Impact
February 18, 2026 9:00 - 10:00	IACUC: Overview of ECU Resources and Processes	If you anticipate conducting research that involves animals and would benefit from an overview of ECU’s IACUC supports and processes, this session is for you. This session might be especially relevant for individuals who have never submitted a request to IACUC before. Facilitated by Gaelle Deshayes (IACUC)	Register for IACUC: Overview of ECU Resources and Processes Join IACUC: Overview of ECU Resources and Processes
February 24, 2026 11:00 - 12:00	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. Facilitated by Karen Lombri, with Jeff Friedrich	Register for Project Budget Building Fundamentals Join Project Budget Building Fundamentals
March 4, 2026 2:00 - 2:30	Getting the Word Out: Using Videos to Maximize Your Research Impact	This micro-session is a continuation of the Getting the Word Out series and explores how visuals—photos, short videos, and reels—can strengthen your research communication on social media. Discover strategies for creating compelling, professional content that captures attention and drives engagement. Facilitated by Rich Klindworth	Register for Getting the Word Out: Using Videos to Maximize Your Research Impact Join Getting the Word Out: Using Videos to Maximize Your Research Impact
April 9, 2026 1:00 - 2:00	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 scholarlycomm@ecu.edu for consultations or training sessions. This session will be helpful to anyone who is starting the search for possible funding sources. Facilitated by Jeanne Hoover and Allison Kaefring	Register for Finding Funding Opportunities using Grant Databases Join Finding Funding Opportunities using Grant Databases