Research Development

Faculty Workshops

The Office of Research provides workshops for the University faculty and staff on issues related to funding opportunities, proposal development, submission and post-award issues on a scheduled basis throughout the academic year. Ad hoc workshops and roundtable discussions on specific topics are also available upon request. The 2009-2010 schedule is currently under development and specific information will be added as it becomes available. Seating is limited, so please fill out the registration forms for the respective workshops by clicking on the links below.

"Boot Camp" for Faculty Sponsored Programs
This half-day orientation session, which is presented by the Office of Research and the ODU Research Foundation covers the fundamental aspects of conducting research and/or sponsored programs at Old Dominion University.  Among the presenters are Dr. Mohammad Karim, Vice-President for Research, and the ODU Research Foundation staff.

The workshop is offered on two days to accommodate to faculty members' schedules, but the content is the same. The Workshop's content is tailored for new faculty and faculty who are new to the research/sponsored programs process, but the session is open to all faculty members.  Topics include: the research infrastructure at Old Dominion; ODU's research centers; resources for research and proposal development; research compliance; and intellectual property and technology transfer issues. The Research Foundation staff will focus on pre-award activities and post-award management.  

Grant Proposal Development for Faculty (Department/College Specific)
The Office of Research will conduct a 2-part grant proposal development workshop series for ODU faculty. The workshops would be department or college-specific for small groups (approximately 5-10). We will be happy to offer one or more of these series within each department/college.

The workshop format will be:

Session 1: Finding Funding (conducted in computer lab by Lee Furr. Participants will search databases to find funding for their specific research areas. Once they have located potential funders, they will learn how to critically review the solicitation to assess whether this is an appropriate mechanism for their research. Note: This workshop can be divided into two parts: 1) Finding Funding and 2) Is the funding opportunity right for you?

At least two weeks between sessions.

Session 2: Proposal Writing with the Office of Research's Grant Writers. This workshop will focus on writing a proposal that would be college or department specific and would include different formats (federal agencies/private foundations, etc.)

If you would like us to offer this workshop series to your department or college, please contact Umaporn Pongphuntharak at upongphu@odu.

Writing Successful NIH Research Grant Proposals
A Training Class for EVMS and ODU Faculty, Post-Docs, Fellows, and Residents

Interested in learning how to write a grant proposal with an improved chance of being funded?  EVMS and ODU jointly present a day-long session on grant-writing.  The focus is on NIH grants, including for translational and other research involving collaboration between clinicians and basic scientists.  The principles taught will also be helpful for other research grants.

The material covered have a clinical and behavioral emphasis.  Course faculty are recipients of NIH or other federal grants, and have served as reviewers on NIH study sections or reviewed proposals for other agencies.

Course Faculty from past sessions included:
Ann Campbell, PhD; EVMS; Professor, Dept of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology
Kate Ferguson, EdD; ODU; Director of Research Development
Patricia Hentosh, ScD; ODU; Professor, Dept of Medical Laboratory and Radiation Sciences
Edward M. Johnson, PhD; EVMS, Chair and Professor, Dept of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology
Dennis Peffley, PhD; ODU; Research Professor, Dept of Medical Laboratory and Radiation Sciences
Michael J. Solhaug, MD; EVMS; Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Professor, Dept of Pediatrics
John A. Ullian, PhD; EVMS; Director of Faculty Development, Office of Education; Associate Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine

Proposal Submission Workshop
This two hour session, is given by the ODU Research Foundation and the Office of Research, and covers:

• policies and procedures for the proposal submission process
• various responsibilities that both the faculty and ODURF have for submitting proposals
• realistic timeframes for proposal submissions
• procedures for creating a budget.

NSF Proposal Development Workshop
This workshop was held in Fall 2007 and additional workshops will be offered. Below is a description of the NSF Workshop the Office of Research held in September 2007.

PART I.Dr Barbara Ransom, NSF Program Officer, presented a four hour workshop that focused on strategies and the brass tacks of proposals and how to get the NSF system to work for you. Many of the strategies she presented were applicable to other federal science/engineering-related agencies.Dr. Ransom works with the IGERT (Integrated Graduate Education and Research Traineeships) Program, sits on the Ocean Observing Initiative Group, is in the Geoscience Directorate (Earth, Ocean, Atmosphere), and has recently been involved in the Human and Social Dynamics program (tying social sciences to engineering and physical/biological sciences). So she brings a wealth of knowledge and experiences to ODU.

PART 2. Panels of ODU faculty members who have served on NSF review panels and had much success in getting NSF funding addressed such topics as:

1. What do I need to know to apply for the NSF Early Career Award?

2. How do you develop the Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts Sections?

3. Grant Writing in the Social Sciences

4. Steps to get from a great idea to final proposal submission

Workshops for Graduate Students

Preparing Future Faculty (PFF), "Grant Writing: Locating Funding Sources"

Dr. Kate Ferguson, ODU Director of Research Development, and her staff provide specific suggestions on searching for funding in your discipline

• Identifying funding that fits your research
• The anatomy of a good grant application
• Resources available to help 

Grant Writing Workshop for Graduate Students:  Preparing a Fundable Grant Proposal, A "Preparing Future Faculty" Event

Dr. Kate Ferguson, ODU Director of Research Development, and her staff provide specific suggestions on "The Anatomy of a Grant."  General topics include:

• Information needed about the student PI: What you have accomplished & what do you want to do
• Student PI's Connections and Resources
• Critical sections of the proposal
• Strategies for presentation
• Budget issues

Break-out sessions for each college follow a general discussion led by each college's grant writer. Topics include discipline-specific funding opportunities that are available for students.