As announced by JMU’s Human Resource (HR) Department, they are beginning their ‘Onboard @ JMU’ program.  This service is being provided to standardize the process for hiring an employee and applies to all newly hired and rehired non-student, full-time and part-time employees.

In many ways, this new program will be a great service to the university and our new employees.  However, there may also be issues with certain types of short-term hiring.  One problem area may be with employees that are hired onto sponsored projects for one or two days; for example, to assist with a presentation or teach a class.

Before July 1, a PI in this situation would create a PAR, obtain I-9; tax; and direct deposit forms from the new employee when they were here and submit this packet for payment.  Now it will be necessary to submit the Onboard Form, available at http://www.jmu.edu/humanresources/emp/onboard.shtml.  HR will then contact the employee to schedule a time with a HR representative to complete the paperwork mentioned above. 

HR is willing to work with departments and new employees to schedule a time and place convenient to everyone; however, advance planning will be necessary to alert HR to any unusual hiring needs you have.  Please use the comment section of the Onboard Form to provide guidance to HR in scheduling a time and place.

If you have questions concerning the Onboard program, please consult the website above or contact your HR representative.

As annual appropriations for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) flattened – at the same time more and more states and universities are increasing their investments in academic bioscience research capacity – competition for NIH grants has heightened. Reports indicate investigators in the early stages of their careers and transformative research have been the victims of the squeeze.
 
The peer review process employed by NIH to select winners in competitive solicitation cycles, lauded for its impartiality for years, has been indicted by many recently as adding to the problem. During the first weeks of June, NIH announced plans to address some of the criticism, including a commitment of $1 billion over the next five years for investigator-initiated, high-risk/high-impact transformative research.
 
The institutes also are making significant changes to enhance and improve the NIH peer review system. This marks the end of a year-long effort to determine ways to further enrich the process, which drew on thousands of comments, opinions and criticisms received throughout the year.
 
The Implementation Plan Report consists of four main priorities, with highlights including:

• Engage the Best Reviewers: Increase flexibility of service, formally acknowledge reviewer efforts, further compensate time and effort, and enhance and standardize training;
• Improve Quality and Transparency of Reviews: Shorten and redesign applications to highlight impact and to allow alignment of the application, review and summary statement with five explicit review criteria, and modify the rating system;
• Ensure Balanced and Fair Reviews Across Scientific Fields and Career Stages by:
• Supporting a minimum number of early-stage investigators and investigators new to NIH, and emphasize retrospective accomplishments of experienced investigators;
• Encouraging and expanding the Transformative Research Pathway;
• Creating a new investigator-initiated Transformative R01 Award program funded within the NIH Roadmap with an intended commitment of a minimum of $250 million over five years;
• Continuing the commitment of – and possibly expand the use of – the Pioneer, EUREKA, and New Innovator Awards.  NIH will invest at least $750 million in these three programs over the next five years; and,
• Reducing the burden of multiple rounds of resubmission for the same application, especially for highly meritorious applications.
• Develop a Permanent Process for Continuous Review of Peer Review

Collaborative teams of participants worked to tackle challenges of the system and discover solutions. A comprehensive framework was created and implementation will be carried out over the next 18 months. More information about enhancing peer review at NIH and the implementation plan is available at http://enhancing-peer-review.nih.gov.

http://www.jmu.edu/sponsprog/fsources.html

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Changing the Face of Disability on the Planet

Developing Targeted Immunization Materials

Roybal Centers for Translational Aging Research

The Energy Department

Fuel Cell Technologies

Historic Places: Implementation Grants
Independent Research Fellowships

Computational Mathematics
Theoretical Physics
Astronomy, Astrophysics Fellowships
Math Sciences Research Institutes

Understanding Health Literacy

Computer Science Study Group Program
Defense University Research Instrumentation

Health Behavior Change in Mentally Ill

Research on Mathematics and Science Education

• The Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation supports programs 'Changing the Face of Disability on the Planet', by providing grants to established programs in the areas of arts and advocacy, which are lead by or support adults with disabilities who are 22 or older.
• Eligibility: 501 (c) (3) organizations with proven support from other foundations, corporations or individuals in the local community.
• Funding: Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000.
• Web: www.ela.org/grants/grant_application.html
• Deadline: September 15, 2008

Developing Targeted Immunization Materials

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seeks proposals for an award to develop an alternate source of scientifically accurate and credible immunization information for individuals who would prefer to receive such information from nongovernment sources. The grantee will develop targeted educational materials using electronic and/or digital formats to complement CDC's own website; broadly disseminate time-sensitive immunization information, for example, notices of outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases or vaccine shortages; use established methods of health education and communication; and develop plans to use evaluation data (on process and impact) to improve program activities and ensure long-term success.
• Eligibility: National nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, colleges and universities, and hospitals.
• Funding: Up to $150,000 a year for three years.
• Web: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/IP08-804.htm
• Deadline: August 11, 2008

• The National Institute on Aging solicits proposals for Edward R. Roybal Centers for Translational Research, designed to help move findings from basic behavioral and social sciences research toward development of programs, interventions and tools to improve the health, well-being and productivity of older people. Centers should mine the large body of existing research on aging from the basic social and behavioral sciences to develop and pilot new ideas and submit applications under research, center and small business grant mechanisms to more fully implement ideas. Studies should be relevant for: public policy, adoption by agencies, firms, institutions; health practice; technology development; and program /intervention development. Examples of topics include: cost-effective behavioral, social and cognitive interventions; community based-interventions; tools to improve financial decision-making among older people; development of new tools for measuring health and well-being and their determinants.
• Eligibility: Domestic for-profit and nonprofit public and private institutions and organizations.
• Funding: $3.6 million in total first-year funding for 8-12 projects and $18 million over the five year project period. Applicants may request up to $300,000 in year one; and a 3% increase in subsequent years.
• Web: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AG-09-008.html
• Deadline: October 1, 2008 - Letters of Intent; October 31, 2008 - Proposals

• The Energy Department invites proposals for research, development and demonstration of fuel cell technologies for automotive, stationary and portable power applications. The initiative is focused on achieving technical performance and cost targets for fuel cells and market transformation activities intended to obtain data from real-world fuel cell operation, eliminating nontechnical barriers and increasing market opportunities. Topics include: catalysts studies; innovative concepts; fuel cell degradation studies; transport; portable power; fuel cell systems demonstrations; and market transformation.
• Eligibility: Higher education institutions, nonprofit and for-profit research organizations.
• Funding: $130 million for 54 awards up to $10 million each.
  
• Web: http://www.grants.gov/search/basic.do (enter FON DE-PS36-08GO98009)
• Deadline: August 27, 2008

• The National Endowment for the Humanities is seeking applications to support public humanities projects that use the power of historic places to address themes and issues central to American history and culture. Project formats include visitor orientation exhibits; interpretive displays and labeling, revised scripts and content-based education training materials for docents; publications such as brochures or guidebooks; interpretive driving or walking trails or tours, annotated itineraries and trail signage; video and audio displays, on-site interactive media; and digital products.
• Eligibility: Nonprofits and state and local government agencies. NEH encourages partnerships.
• Funding: Awards may not exceed $40,000 and are usually for 18 to 36 months.
• Web: http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/IAHP_Implementation.html
• Deadline: August 27, 2008

Independent Research Fellowships

• The National Endowment for the Humanities invites applications for fellowships at institutions devoted to advanced study and research in the humanities. NEH will give priority to institutions with library holdings, archives, or other special collections - either on-site or nearby - that are available as resources for NEH fellows.
• Funding: Awards are generally made for one to four years. Recent grants have ranged from $81,600 to $468,000 each.
• Web: http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/fpiri.html
• Deadline: August 19, 2008

Computational Mathematics

• The National Science Foundation invites applications for mathematical research in areas of science where computing plays a central role, emphasizing algorithms design, numerical methods and analysis and symbolic methods. Projects range from single-investigator studies that develop and analyze innovative computational methods to interdisciplinary team projects that create new mathematical and computational techniques and use them to model, study and solve important application problems.
• Eligibility: Higher education institutions, other nonprofit research organizations, and for-profit organizations.
• Funding: Grants vary in size, depending on the type. Recent grants ranged from $20,000 to $1.2 million.
• Web: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5390
• Deadline: December 15, 2008

Theoretical Physics

• The National Science Foundation seeks proposals for basic research under the plasma physics program, including experimental and theoretical investigations. Research areas include plasma turbulence and shocks, turbulent and nonlocal, collisional transport with and without strong magnetic fields, non-neutral plasmas, cold plasmas, strongly-coupled and dusty plasmas, laser-plasma interactions, ultra-short pulse and/or ultra-intense laser plasma interactions, high-energy-density plasmas, and low temperature plasmas.
• Eligibility: Colleges and universities; non-profit, non-academic organizations, such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories; commercial organizations, especially small businesses with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research education; and state and local governments.
• Funding: Grants averaged $100,000 each last year.
• Web: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5626
• Deadline: August 01, 2008; February 01, 2009

Astronomy, Astrophysics Fellowships

• The National Science Foundation invites applications for astronomy and astrophysics postdoctoral fellowships, which enable highly qualified recent doctoral scientists to conduct an integrated program of independent research and investigation. Fellows may engage in observational, instructional, theoretical, laboratory or archival data research in any area of astronomy and astrophysics in combination with a coherent educational plan.
• Eligibility: U.S. academic and research organizations.
• Funding: Recent awards ranged from $67,000 to $200,000. The project period id up to three years.
• Web: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5291
• Deadline: October 8, 2008

Math Sciences Research Institutes

• The National Science Foundation invites proposals for large-scale projects that will advance research in mathematical sciences and increase the impact of the sciences on other disciplines and on national needs. Institutes provide the intellectual infrastructure for research collaborations within the mathematical sciences and with other disciplines and enable synergistic approaches to significant scientific problems.
• Eligibility: Colleges, universities and nonprofit nonacademic organizations.
• Funding: $20 million for four to six awards.
• Web: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08565/nsf08565.htm
• Deadline: February 27, 2009

Understanding Health Literacy

• The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Institutes of Health invite applications to conduct empirical research on health literacy concepts, theory and interventions. Research may probe the nature and scope of health literacy; health literacy over the lifespan and across cultural differences; factors that mediate and moderate health literacy and protective risk factors; impacts and consequences of low health literacy; education and training; health systems, for example the role of K-12 education systems and higher education in increasing levels of health literacy; the effectiveness and role of health system interventions in promoting literacy; and methods and research technology development related to health literacy.
• Eligibility: Domestic and foreign for-profit and nonprofit public and private institutions and organizations.
• Funding: Varying amounts up to five years for research project grants; $275,000 over two years for exploratory developmental grants and $50,000 a year each for two years for small grants.
• Web: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-018.html
• Deadline: September 24, 2008; May 25, 2009; January 25, 2010

• The Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency invites applications for phase I of the Computer Science Study Group program, which recruits junior faculty interested in computer science to be principal investigators on projects that benefit DoD. Examples of interest areas are: bio-inspired exploitation systems, biometrics; cognitive unifying exploitation theory; computer graphics; machine learning; novel sensing; pattern recognition; programming languages; and computational epidemiology.
• Eligibility: Colleges and universities. Participants should be no more than seven years beyond the doctorate. Multiple participants may apply from a single institution.
• Funding: $100,000 for 12 phase I projects for one year (funding to the host institution pays faculty expenses/ travel to DoD meetings, briefings, visits to facilities); $500,000 for phase II awards to support research for two years; $250,000 for phase III matching support for continued participant research for one year to leverage project results.
• Web: http://www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm
• Deadline: August 11, 2008

Defense University Research Instrumentation

• The Defense Department invites proposals to purchase costly scientific equipment needed to pursue research and education of scientists and engineers in areas important to national defense. Grants are intended for the acquisition of instrumentation that typically cannot be purchased within the budgets of single-investigator awards. Interest areas can be found at: www.aro.army.mil; www.onr.navy.mil; and www.lwpafb.af.mil/AFRL/afosr.
• Eligibility: Higher education institutions with degree-granting programs in science, mathematics and/or engineering.
• Funding: $40 million for requests of $50,000 to $1 million each.
• Web: http://www.grants.gov/search/basic.do (enter FON: AFOSR-BAA-2008-5)
• Deadline: August 26, 2008

• The National Institute of Mental Health seeks applications for studies on health behavior change in people with mental disorders aimed at providing the basis for prevention and early intervention strategies to increase health and function and reduce disability and illness. The announcement focuses on how general health behavior changes might be modified to be effective with individuals whose disorders may involve disrupted cognition, or apathy and diminished motivation to undertake changes, such as quitting smoking or increasing exercise. Examples include studies of the frequency and distribution patterns of health behaviors in people with mental disorders to innovative methods to improve the clinical management of health behaviors in people with mental disorders.
• Eligibility: Domestic and foreign for-profit and nonprofit public and private institutions and organizations.
• Funding: There is no dollar set-aside. Funding mechanisms are the research project grant, which provides varying amounts up to five years; the small grant, typically $50,000 a year each for two years; and the NIMH clinical exploratory/developmental research grant.
• Web: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-089.html
• Deadline: October 5, 2008; February 5, 2009

• The Education Department seeks proposals for research on mathematics and science education to improve the effectiveness of mathematics or science curricula and instructional practice to enhance student learning and achievement. Specific requirements include addressing mathematics or science curricula for mathematics or science proficiency from K-12; instructional approaches for teaching mathematics or science that could be implemented within the context of existing mathematics or science curricula from K-12; curricula or instructional approaches for teaching basic mathematics skills to adults through adult and vocational education programs, or through developmental/bridge programs designed to help under-prepared students acquire the skills to succeed in college; and mathematics or science assessments.
• Eligibility: Higher education institutions, non-profit and for-profit entities.
• Funding: Funding depends on the scope of the project and typically ranges from $100,000 to $1.2 million a year each for two to five years.
• Web: http://ies.ed.gov/funding/
• Deadline: October 2, 2008

return to Funding Opportunities

The following external links are funding deadlines organized by discipline. Please select the applicable discipline to access possible funding opportunities: (courtesy of The Grant Advisor Plus)

• Fine Arts
• Humanities
  
• Sciences
  
• Social Sciences
  
• Federal Register
  
• Education
  
• International
  
• Health Related
  
• Unrestricted / Other
  
• Minorities / Women

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John Hulvey, Director of Sponsored Programs Administration and Accounting
MSC 5728, JMAC-6, Suite 26
hulveyjd@jmu.edu
x8-3725

Sponsored Programs Administration:
Pre-Award & Post-Award (Non-fiscal)
www.jmu.edu/sponsprog/
jmu_grants@jmu.edu
JMAC-6, Suite 26
MSC 5728
Phone: 568-6872; Fax: 568-6240

Sponsored Programs Accounting :
Post-Award (Grants & Contracts)
www.jmu.edu/acadaffairs/grant.shtml
JMAC-6, Suite 30
MSC 5713
Fax: 568-2397

Tamara Hatch, Associate Director
hatchtt@jmu.edu
x8-2350

Sally Dickenson, Grants Specialist
dickensr@jmu.edu
x8-2336

Whitney Keister, Grants Specialist
keistejw@jmu.edu
x8-3558

Carolyn Strong, Research Coordinator
IRB & IACUC Contact
strongcd@jmu.edu
x8-2318

Amanda Wimer, Executive Assistant
wimerae@jmu.edu
x8-6872

Donna Crumpton, Financial Administrator
crumptdl@jmu.edu
x8-8099

Brenda Seifried, Financial Administrator
wilburbc@jmu.edu
x8-8-2314

Kyra Shiflet, Financial Administrator
shiflekl@jmu.edu
x8-7108

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