Save the Dates! CISS Announces Spring ’26 Grants Workshops
CISS is pleased to announce its Spring 2026 Sponsored Research Educational Support Programming, led by CISS Grants Administrator Chris Chiofolo. Attend one or all of these important and informative sessions.
Lunch & Learn: Effort Reporting & PARs
Monday February 2, 2026. Noon – 1 pm. Zoom.
Join Christopher Chiofolo for a lunch hour overview of Effort Reporting and the Personnel Activity Report (PAR) process. The session will provide a comprehensive walkthrough of the effort reporting process and cover effort calculation, roles and responsibilities and a breakdown of the Personnel Activity Report (PAR).
Target Audience: Investigators with effort on Sponsored Projects and administrators with duties within the process.
Lunch & Learn: Common Forms
Thursday February 12, 2026. Noon – 1 pm. Zoom.
Join Christopher Chiofolo, CISS grants administrator, for an overview of common forms relating to sponsored research. We will work through recent updates to commonly used forms at BU. The session will provide guidance on completing common required forms such as the proposal summary form (PSF), Budget Template, and the Institutional Prior Approval Form (IPAR).
Target Audience: Investigators and administrators on grant-funded research projects.
Grants Lab: In-Person Learning & Support for Sponsored Awards
Monday March 23, 2026. CISS, 704 Commonwealth Ave., 5th floor
- On site office hours. 11 a.m. – noon. On Campus support for one-on-one or small group grants consultation in Grants Administrator Office Room 503.
- Lunch & Learn. Noon to 1: Budget Development Strategies & Pitfalls. Educational session on effective strategies for budget development and common pitfalls in the process. CISS Conference Room.
- Grants Lab Session: 1 – 2 pm. Grants Management best practices. CISS educational session on best practices and strategies on resolution of issues. Areas of focus will include award intake, financial management, final reporting and closeout. CISS Conference Room
Target Audience: Investigators and administrators on grant-funded projects.
Grants Lab Session: International Operations Pre and Post Award Considerations
Friday April 17, 2026 11-12 pm. CISS Conference Room.
Christopher Chiofolo, CISS grants administrator, overviews challenges to projects with international components and works through strategies for ease and compliance. The session will detail requirements in the proposal stage as well as operational issues in ongoing project management.
Target Audience: Investigators with international components or partners on grant-funded research