On January 1, 2015, Miami University will begin using an electronic sponsored programs administration (eSPA) system to help manage research administration and electronic submission of proposals. Read more here.

Naus Family Faculty Scholar and professor of psychology Joseph G. Johnson has been named the first director of Miami University's Office of Research for Undergraduates (ORU). Read the full press release.

CUR Quarterly seeks that describe how students in professionally accredited degree programs – business, education, engineering, health fields, social work, architecture, etc. – include and support undergraduate participation in research. Ideally, authors will be able to share evidence on student learning and/or outcomes as well as “lessons learned” about engaging in research with students in professional disciplines. Also invited are shorter vignettes (300 words) that offer concrete, creative suggestions with regard to any aspect of undergraduate research undertaken in conjunction with professional degree programs. If you are interested in contributing an article or vignette, please submit a short (300-500 words) prospectus describing the focus of your proposed article or vignette online at http://curq.msubmit.net/ by August 15, 2014. Accepted authors will be notified by August 29, 2014. 

The Summer Stipends Program at the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) provides $6,000 for individuals to spend two consecutive months of full-time advanced research and writing that is of value to scholars and general audiences in the humanities. Miami University is eligible to nominate two full-time faculty for the program.   Proposals and reference letters must be submitted to NEH electronically through grants.gov by September 30, 2014.  However, only the two individuals nominated by Miami may submit a proposal.  To provide time for the internal review and the electronic submission process the internal deadline for proposals is 5:00 p.m., Friday, August 22, 2014.  For more information read the full memo from Director of Research & Sponsored Programs Anne Schauer.

The first National Science Foundation Grants Conference of fiscal year 2015 will be hosted by George Washington University on October 6-7, 2014.

Key officials representing each NSF program directorate, administrative office, Office of General Counsel, and Office of the Inspector General will participate in this two-day conference. The conference is considered a must, particularly for new faculty, researchers, educators and administrators who want to gain insight into a wide range of important and timely issues at NSF including: the state of current funding; the proposal and award process; and current and recently updated policies and procedures.

Topics covered include:

• Introduction to NSF;
• NSF's proposal preparation and merit review process;
• Award management;
• Conflict of interest policies;
• New programs and initiatives;
• Cross-disciplinary and special interest programs; and
• Breakout sessions by discipline.

The new format will allow up to five pages for the entire biosketch, and researchers will be permitted to describe up to five of their most significant contributions to science, the influence of their contributions on their scientific field, and any subsequent effects of those contributions on health or technology. The new format also will allow researchers to describe their specific role in those discoveries and to annotate their description with up to four publications. Additionally, researchers will be allowed to include a link to their complete list of publications in SciENcv or My Bibliography. The new format will apply for all grant applications received for FY 2016 funding and beyond (which generally refers to applications submitted in early 2015).  More information is available on the NIH website.