Congratulations to the winners of the 2006 SPRinG Awards
- Jonathan Barnes (CAS, Modern Foreign Languages) and Leher Singh (SAR, Speech, Language and Learning): Consequences of Early Experience for Language Acquisition
- John Finnerty (CAS, Biology): Characterization of the NF-kB Stress Response Pathway in a Basal Animal Group: Implications for the evolution of immunity, the conservation of coastal ecosystems, and the identification of novel antimicrobial agents
- Joan Walker (CAS, Geography and Environment): The Influence of the Allocation of Food Resources on Nutritional Choices
- Strom Thacker (CAS, International Relations): The Politics of Public Health: Global Models and Case Studies
- Robert Paiella (ENG, Electrical and Computer Engineering): Development of Practical Sources of Terahertz Radiation by Use of Nitride Semiconductor Quantum Structures
- Christopher Roosevelt (CAS, Archaeology): Landscape Archaeology and Paleoenvironmental Change in Central Lydia, Turkey
- Ulla Hansen (CAS, Biology): Direct Molecular Targets of Estrogen Function in the Vasculature
- Timothy Gardner (ENG, Biomedical Engineering): Decoding Gene Regulatory Circuits Controlling Virulence in Pathogenic E. coli
- Natalia Broude (Center for Advanced Biotechnology): Fluorescent Monitoring of RNA in Bacterial Ceaas Using Peptide-Aptamer Interactions
- Susan Kandarian (SAR, Health Sciences): The Study of Cancer Cachexia in Muscle using the Lewis Lung Carcinoma Mouse Model
Overview of SPRInG Awards
The intent of the Special Program for Research Initiation Grants (SPRInG) is to encourage innovative, new projects that require an initial research effort in order to be competitive for significant, long-term, extramural support.
Such projects may involve new areas of scholarship and/or new interdisciplinary research activities. Cross-campus initiatives between the Charles River and Medical campuses are especially encouraged. The program will facilitate proof of concept activities with the specific expectation that a fully developed proposal will be submitted to an external funding agency or private foundation within 18 months of receipt of an award. Additional outcomes are expected to take the form of publishable papers, exhibitions, or presentations at conferences.
SPRInG will not support bridge funding for projects that have been supported from other sources.
Eligibility
All Boston University faculty on the Charles River Campus who are eligible for Principal Investigator status will be considered for SPRInG awards. Preference will be given to research topics that cross traditional discipline boundaries. Faculty members who are at the beginning of their academic careers or who can demonstrate that this is a new research direction, not previously or currently funded elsewhere, will be given priority. Individual faculty or small groups of faculty may apply. Faculty members may not receive two Research Initiation Grants within a 5-year period.
Award Mechanism
To allow the seeding each year of approximately 10 promising projects, the SPRInG awards will be for one year only, up to a maximum of $25,000. Awards will be made on a competitive basis and budgets will be reviewed critically. Partial funding of proposals is possible and budget items must be specifically justified.
In exceptional circumstances only, a recipient may apply for a supplement into the second year. Unexpended funds may not be carried beyond two years.
Funding may be used for student stipends, partial salary and fringe benefits for technical support staff who will work specifically on this project, small items of equipment, miscellaneous supplies, and travel that is directly related to the project. Faculty salaries (summer or academic year), major equipment, student tuition, and travel to conferences cannot be supported by these awards.
Submission of Applications
Letter of Intent
A letter of intent to submit a proposal to SPRInG is strongly encouraged, but not required. Please include a tentative title and brief (50 word) outline of the topic. This information will enable the Provost’s Office to assemble an appropriate panel of reviewers, but will not be used during the evaluation process.
Please address letters of intent and full proposals to:
Office of the Provost
SPRInG Competition
One Sherborn Street, room 835
Boston, MA 02215
Applications
Proposals should include:
- A project summary, not to exceed 250 words, suitable for the BU Bridge, the BU Research web site, or other open access publications of the University.
- A clear description of the problem, an explanation of why the proposed approach is innovative, and a well-designed, detailed work plan. The proposal must be written so that someone outside the specific field can appreciate the importance and essence of the project. Detail the role of each investigator on the project and provide a summary of the anticipated outcome. This entire section is not to exceed 4 single-spaced pages.
- A list of references cited, a two-page (maximum) Curriculum Vitae and a list of up to 20 relevant publications.
- Specific information concerning the potential for future external funding, such as demonstration of an existing or anticipated program in the area of study within a major funding agency or private foundation.
- A proposed budget with detailed explanation.
- A list of all current and pending support.
- Endorsement of Department Chairman on cover letter.
Review Procedure
Applications will be reviewed by a faculty panel appointed by the Provost.
Proposals will be evaluated primarily on the basis of their innovative and/or interdisciplinary character, potential for furthering interdisciplinary collaborations, and likelihood of achieving external funding. Additional criteria include: clarity of explanation of the project and its significance; achievable objectives within the time period; identification of potential extramural opportunities; ability of the PI and co-investigators (if any) to complete the project as outlined; and a convincing budget justification.
All applicants will be informed of the status of their proposals immediately after decisions are finalized. Constructive feedback will be provided to all applicants, regardless of their success in obtaining an award.
Use of human subjects and animals
If human subjects or animals are to be involved in the project, the proposal must also be reviewed by the Institutional Review Board and IRB approval must be obtained before awards can be made. Please review the University's Policy on Investigators' Conflicts of Interest in Clinical Research.
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