Research Revealed: Fearless Faculty + New Funding Opportunities
November 2019 | Information & Support for the BU Research Community
Insider Insights
- In 2019, Boston University faculty traveled from the ends of the earth to the edge of space, tackling everything from gun violence to climate change to cybersecurity. Here are 12 discoveries we can’t stop talking about. Read more
- A community engagement starter pack for scientists (Nature)
- Advice on overcoming perfectionism, resistance to feedback, and other grant writing pitfalls (Inside Higher Ed)
Find Funding
- Limited submission funding opportunities, as well as other requests for proposal, are now being publicized in BU’s Research Support funding feed. Going forward, opportunities distributed by the Office of Research to specific schools, colleges, and departments will also be posted here for increased visibility. Anyone interested in listing an opportunity for BU researchers should reach out to Joe Farmer.
- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Biological and Environmental Research program is soliciting applications for new observational and experimental studies to improve Earth system models. DOE is focused on three separate types of environments: terrestrial, watershed, and subsurface. DOE plans to make between five and 18 awards ranging from $300,000 to $1 million. Pre-applications are due by Thursday, December 5.
- The Howard Hughes Medical Institute is accepting applications for its Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program for early career life scientists from underrepresented groups, with a deadline of Wednesday, January 8.
Manage an Award
- The President has signed into law a continuing resolution that keeps federal research agencies funded at their current level through December 20. Because these agencies do not have a finalized Fiscal Year 2020 budget to help them plan for the year ahead, grant awards may be delayed or temporarily reduced. Investigators should stay in close touch with their program officers. BU Federal Relations will provide updates as lawmakers work to finalize the federal budget.
- International collaboration, integral to research at BU, requires openness and transparency in our evolving regulatory environment. Download these slides from our recent town halls to learn more.
- Expenses incurred for travel in support of sponsored research are reimbursable when properly documented, approved, and in compliance with University policy and IRS and sponsor regulations. Check out this new tutorial on the rules to follow when charging travel costs to a federally-sponsored research grant, or read more.
Conduct Research
- Preparing a proposal for research that will require automation, instrumentation, or devices? With a focus on industrial, biomedical, and energy systems, the Fraunhofer USA Center for Manufacturing Innovation is one of 40+ core research facilities available to BU faculty. Drawing upon Fraunhofer’s and BU’s vast research base and working closely with industry, the center builds upon traditional academic research to develop and deploy actual working technologies all the way to the point of deployment. Learn more
- Hazardous waste pick-up requests must now be submitted through BioRAFT for laboratories across all BU campuses.
Promote Your Work
- Editors from The Conversation, an influential media outlet that publishes content exclusively from academics and researchers, visited BU this month to share best practices with faculty for writing and pitching op-eds. Watch the event recording.
- BU has a broadcast studio to allow faculty to go live on camera and on the radio on short notice, or to record an interview in a professional setting. To book the studio, email the PR office at pr@bu.edu, or learn more on the team’s new website.
Notes & News
A team of BU researchers won the Innovation Award from the Institution of Engineering and Technology based on their development of magnetic metamaterials to improve MRI performance.
Associate Professor Weining Lu (MED) was named Boston University Innovator of the Year for his research leading to the development of a potential new drug for chronic kidney disease.
Professor David McAllister, Counseling Psychology (SED), was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association on November 2.
Professor Kevin Outterson (LAW) addressed the World Anti-Microbial Resistance Congress on November 7 and 8.
Professor Siddharth Ramachandran, Electrical & Computer Engineering (ENG), received a Defense University Research Instrumentation Program award from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Useful Links
- Prepare a Proposal: Resources to help navigate proposal requirements from both the sponsor and the University.
- Proposal Review & Submission: When and how to send your final proposal to Sponsored Programs for review and submission.
- Where’s My Award?:A tool for tracking where your award stands with the Sponsored Programs set-up team.