Funding

Research Equipment and Tools Funding Program

Funds to assist with updating and furnishing research equipment and research tools.

Definition of Research

Research is broadly defined as all creative, critical, scholarly, and/or empirical activity that expands, clarifies, reorganizes, or develops knowledge or artistic perception. This definition of research includes:

• the demonstration, implementation, application and dissemination of research results
• the scholarship of discovery, application, integration and teaching.

 This definition of research does not include:

• departmental curriculum development, faculty development (learning an established technique, a language, or a methodology)
• dissertation research
• institutional research (studies related directly to the operation of the University)
• public service and consulting activities.

Eligibility

All SIUE faculty on continuing, full-time appointments, and postdoctoral fellow and visiting assistant professors are eligible to apply for this funding. All qualified faculty are encouraged to apply, including minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and protected veterans.

Faculty may be PI on one proposal.  They may be co-PIs on more than one proposal.

Award Description

Funds are for the purchase of equipment and tools for research purposes only. Research tools are defined as non-consumable items, such as microfilm, books, software, and data sets. Requests for equipment or tools that can be used by more than one researcher, especially from different units, are encouraged. Typically, only one piece of equipment or one tool should be on a request. However, if a suite of complementary items is needed, the request will be considered.  Funds must be expended or encumbered by June 30 of the year awarded.

This competition runs depending upon fund availability at the discretion of Associate Dean.  

Terms and Conditions

As a condition of the award, all successful lead applicants will be required to:

• meet with a pre-award staff member of the Graduate School’s Office of Research and Projects (ORP) to discuss funding opportunities
• work with ORP on a submission
• submit an external grant proposal as PI or Co-PI that is accepted for review by the sponsor by June 30th of the year following the award year (NOTE:  Student and Faculty Internships/Fellowships or primarily professional development activities will not qualify as an external submission.   Faculty Fellowships that are scholarship or research focused will qualify as an external submission.)
• route the submission for internal approvals within Kuali Research at least 10 business days before the sponsor’s deadline.

Timeline/Dates

• Applicants must complete and submit the Research Equipment and Tools form in Kuali Build by 4:30 pm on the 2nd Wednesday in February.
• Each School/College Research Committee will put these requests into priority order and provide a justification for each request by completing the School/College Research Committee Chair Only - Evaluation section of each applicant’s Kuali Build form by 4:30 pm on the 2nd Wednesday in March.
• The Graduate School will carefully consider these evaluations when making all funding decisions. 

Application Process

• All requests must be submitted by completing the Research Equipment and Tools form in Kuali Build. 
  • Faculty with disabilities desiring accommodations in the application process should contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (618) 650-2333.
• A complete proposal will include the following items:
  1. Budget and Budget Justification (completed as part of the Kuali Build form). 
     1. Only equipment, commodities, and contractual services are allowed.
     2. ITS approval is needed to request software or computer equipment.
     3. All purchases must follow the state procurement code  and purchasing bid limits guidelines.
  2. A single PDF uploaded to your Kuali Build form, consisting of the following:
     • Narrative statement (one page maximum) describing the item and justifying the need for it.  Note the evaluation criteria below.
     • Curriculum Vitae (one page maximum per named personnel) of Applicant and all named co-Investigators (if applicable).
     • Vendor Quotation(s) - Include documentation of the cost from one or more potential vendors. While not required for your application to this program, note that Board of Trustees policy requires 3 informal bids be obtained for purchases between $20,000 and the formal bid level of $100,000, and purchases of $100,000 or more require a bid/RFP solicitation.
     • ITS Approval - check with ITS prior to requesting software or computer equipment to obtain approval for the request. Email ITSApprovals@siue.edu and include the specifications, quote, and any details regarding the purpose and intended use. Note that the review will take longer if it includes a new or re-purposed cloud service. Submit ITS’s response with your application.

Selection Criteria

The School/College Research Committee will prioritize the requests within their school/college using the following criteria.  (The list below reflects descending priorities.)

1. Faculty holding active external grants.
2. Equipment requests that involve multiple collaborative users, especially equipment to be used across units.
3. Faculty whose research is hampered by lack of equipment and tools.
4. Impact on the research productivity or potential of the PI.
5. Impact on the research infrastructure within your unit. 

Other Resources

For further information or questions regarding the competition, please contact siueresearch@siue.edu.