Faculty Resources
College of the Sciences and Mathematics Funding Opportunities
Each year, the College of the Sciences and Mathematics provides funding opportunities for a variety of activities from student-involved scholarly activities to student engagement and faculty development. To allow faculty to plan for these opportunities, we provide the following cycle for our grant programs moving forward, subject to funding availability.
Research in Mathematics and Sciences (RIMS)
The purpose of the RIMS Award is to support and encourage student-involved scholarly research by the College of the Sciences and Mathematics faculty. The maximum award is typically $4,000-$6,000, which can be used for a variety of purposes. Currently, projects which align with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals will be prioritized.
Typical Timeline
Call for proposals: Early February
Deadline: Late March/Early April
Award notifications: Late April
Scope
RIMS Awards will fund the following budget items:
- Purchase of equipment or supplies related to a specific research project.
- Stipends for students to participate in research projects during the academic year or summer.
- Pay for page charges and other publication costs.
- Expenses associated with data collection on a specific project.
- Student travel expenses related to a research project conducted with the faculty member.
- Supplies or other costs involved in designing a high-impact experience for students.
- Supplies or other costs involved in designing and studying an area of concern in a course, pedagogical approach, curriculum design, etc. related to student success.
- Creating bridges with area schools and community organizations.
- Collaborations between academic affairs, student affairs, and/or undergraduate services (e.g., student organizations, residence life, service learning, tutoring).
- Interdisciplinary research projects.
Exclusions:
- RIMS does not fund release time (AWA) to pursue a scholarly project.
- RIMS does not fund summer salary for the faculty.
- Support for faculty travel for non-data collection purposes (e.g., conference participation, poster presentation, etc.) is not eligible. (Faculty are encouraged to contact the department chair for available faculty development funds.)
- Cost for hosting guest speakers.
- RIMS does not fund the following: local travel (within 50 miles of WCU), purchase of equipment that does not directly support a specific research project, department seminars, and materials or supplies used for classroom instruction.
- Proposal duplication is not allowed.
Example of Past RFP
*** Applicants are responsible for following the most recent RFP when submitting proposals as guidelines and submissions processes may have changed. The CSM Dean’s Office is not responsible for proposals submitted using outdated processes or for proposals which do not follow the most current guidelines.
Select Funded Proposals
AY 2022-2023
- L. Brumley, "Leveraging Federal Data to Meet Student Dissertation Needs." $3,995.
- K. Kolasinski, "Controlling the Surface Chemistry of Porous Silicon for Biomedical Applications." $4,000.
- S. McQueen, "Let’s Talk About It: Cultivating Dialogue and Expression in the Classroom." $2,850.
- S. Pfeil, "Is NMM, an important probe of G-Quadruplex DNA, a dimer in solution?" $3,997.
Student Engagement Award (SEA)
As WCU launches Moon Shoot for Equity and the College of the Sciences and Mathematics launches the Center for STEM Inclusion, the Dean's discretionary funds will be made widely available to the College to further these efforts and to support projects that provide students with experiential, high-impact learning opportunities beyond the traditional classroom. The maximum award is typically $6,000.
Typical Timeline
Call for proposals: July
Deadline: Early September
Award notifications: Late September
Scope
The following is a list of activities that are eligible for funding. This list is meant to spark your thinking; it is not meant to be exhaustive or limiting. Propose your best ideas.
- Students attending a professional conference, creative workshop, etc.
- Students traveling to study with a renowned scholar, or to a center or site for research, community development, arts, etc.
- Students involved in study abroad program or course.
- Faculty professional development funds to design a high-impact experience for students.
- Faculty professional development funds to study/analyze an area of concern in a course, pedagogical approach, curriculum design, etc. related to student success.
- Stipends for students to participate in research projects or internships during the academic year or summer.
- Funds for equipment, supplies, or other materials* for a research or creative project that involves students.
- Creating bridges with area schools and community organizations.
- Collaborations between academic affairs, student affairs and/or undergraduate services (e.g., student organizations, residence life, service learning, tutoring).
- Connecting students with alumni.
- Interdisciplinary research projects.
*These items may also be eligible for tech fee funds, so priority will be given to proposals for items not typically covered by tech fee funding. Tech fee applications are accepted through the CSM Dean’s Office every spring.
Example of Past RFP
*** Applicants are responsible for following the most recent RFP when submitting proposals as guidelines and submissions processes may have changed. The CSM Dean’s Office is not responsible for proposals submitted using outdated processes or for proposals which do not follow the most current guidelines.
Select Funded Proposals
AY 2022-2023
- L. Brumley & S. Grassetti, “Applied Community-based Clinical Experiences through Service Learning in Schools (Project ACCESS).” $3,999.
- L. Cui, "Closing the Gender Gap in Computer Science." $4,000.
- M. Fork, "Place-based research on environmental change: A Goose Creek research internship to increase research access, STEM identity, and career readiness." $4,000.
- P. Loedel, "European Union Simulation Program." $3,987.
General Student Technology Fee Funds (Tech Fee)
The purposes of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Technology Fee are:
- to acquire, install, and maintain up-to-date and emerging technologies for the purpose of enhancing student-learning outcomes;
- to provide equitable access to technology resources; and
- to ensure, ultimately, that State System graduates are competitive in the technologically sophisticated workplace.
All hardware, software, databases, and other capital equipment procured with these revenues are strictly limited to clearly articulate learning experiences for students.
Annually, there may be a singular priority for projects awarded. For instance, for the 2022-23 AY, priority will be on projects that enhance student learning and are needed to sustain instruction in the 2022-23 academic year.
Typical Timeline
Call for proposals: Spring semester
Deadline: Spring semester
Award notifications: Summer
Scope
Tech Fee project awards will fund the following budget items:
- Specialized (Field Specific) Student Computer Laboratories
- Experimental Computer Laboratories
- Specialized Software and Hardware
- Scientific Equipment with Computer Integration is Allowed
- Central-Use Student Computer Laboratories
- Access and Licensing for Educational Products and Services
- Technology Augmented Classrooms
Example of Past Application
*** Applicants are responsible for following the most recent RFP when submitting proposals as guidelines and submissions processes may have changed. The CSM Dean’s Office is not responsible for proposals submitted using outdated processes or for proposals which do not follow the most current guidelines.
Research Alternate Workload Assignment (RAWA)
The purpose of the Research AWA program is to support and encourage scholarly research by the College of the Sciences and Mathematics faculty. The maximum award is three credits AWA.
Typical Timeline
Call for proposals: Mid-September
Deadline: -Mid-November
Award notifications: Early December
Scope
Research AWAs are awarded from discretionary AWAs available to the Dean of the College of the Sciences and Mathematics.
Example of Past RFP
*** Applicants are responsible for following the most recent RFP when submitting proposals as guidelines and submissions processes may have changed. The CSM Dean’s Office is not responsible for proposals submitted using outdated processes or for proposals which do not follow the most current guidelines.
Select Funded Proposals
AY 2022-2023
- S. Buskirk, “A Comprehensive Investigation into the Development of Alcohol Tolerance by Bacterial Pathogens.”
- Y. Kim, “Development of Porpoise Detection System based on Deep Learning Artificial Intelligence (AI).”
- T. Kwiatkowski, “Electronic Cigarette-Derived Phthalates Impact on Male Gonadal Tissues”
- S. McQueen, “Us Too: Republican Women’s Groups and the Struggle to Support Women Candidates.”
Supplemental Funding for Faculty Development (SFFD)
The purpose of the SFFD award is to support and encourage the professional development of the College of the Sciences and Mathematics faculty. The maximum award is typically $1,250.00, which can be used for a variety of purposes.
Typical Timeline
Call for proposals: Mid-September
Deadline: Mid-November
Award notifications: Early December
Scope
SFFD awards will fund the following budget items:
- Purchase of equipment or supplies related to a specific research project.
- Stipends for students to participate in research projects during the academic year or summer through June 15th.
- Pay for page charges and other publication costs.
- Expenses associated with data collection on a specific project.
- Faculty professional development funds to design a high-impact experience for students.
- Faculty professional development funds to study/analyze an area of concern in a course, pedagogical approach, curriculum design, etc. related to student success.
- Faculty conference or travel participation that is consistent with University rules on travel at the time the awards are made. These may be virtual opportunities.
- Interdisciplinary research projects.
Exclusions:
- SFFD does not fund alternate workload assignments (AWA) to pursue a scholarly project. Faculty are encouraged to apply for RAWA for the release time.
- Cost for hosting guest speakers.
- SFFD does not fund the following: local travel (within 50 miles of WCU), purchase of equipment that does not directly support a specific research project, department seminars, and materials or supplies used for classroom instruction.
- Proposal duplication is not allowed.
Example of Past RFP
*** Applicants are responsible for following the most recent RFP when submitting proposals as guidelines and submissions processes may have changed. The CSM Dean’s Office is not responsible for proposals submitted using outdated processes or for proposals which do not follow the most current guidelines.
Select Funded Proposals
AY 2022-2023
- K. Aptowicz, “20th Electromagnetic and Light Scattering Conference (ELS-XX).” $1,188.
- T. Kwiatkowski, “Electronic Cigarette-Derived Phthalates Impact on Male Gonadal Tissues.” $1,250.
- K. Mullane, “Photoredox-Based Separation of Hafnium and Zirconium.” $1,250.
- H. Wholey, “Request for Conference and Summit Travel and Participation.” $1250.
- E. Gestl, “Presentation of Nucleotide Excision Repair Analysis at Keystone International Meeting on Genomic Instability and DNA Repair.” $1,000.
Undergraduate and Graduate Student Research Awards (U/GSRA)
The College of the Sciences and Mathematics has established undergraduate and graduate student research awards to support and encourage student research and professional activities, including travel to professional conferences, under the guidance of sponsoring faculty members. The maximum award is typically $500 per student. The awards are typically available each fall and spring semester.
Typical Fall Timeline
Call for proposals: Early September
Deadline: Early October
Award notifications: Late October
Typical Spring Timeline
Call for proposals: Early February
Deadline: Early March
Award notifications: Late March
When Should My Students Apply? Fall or Spring?
Scope
Current majors and graduate students in the College of the Sciences and Mathematics are invited to apply for funding for the following purposes:
- To buy materials, supplies, books, or small equipment for a specific student research project
- Photocopying necessary for a specific student research project
- The cost of data collection or data analysis for a student research project (e.g., educational software or data analysis program)
- Publication costs for publication in a professional journal
- Travel related to a special research project (e.g., to a library, archive, museum or to interview/work with a noted scholar or expert)
- Travel to a workshop or seminar which will provide special knowledge or skills for a research project
- Travel to present a paper or project at an upcoming professional conference in the current or next semester (assuming the student will not have graduated before the travel). Presentation must be accepted at time of proposal submission and documentation of acceptance must be provided with the application (e.g., email notification that abstract was accepted).
- Reimbursement for travel already completed in the current or just-previous term (providing that evidence of the presentation and receipts for expenses are included and that the student has not yet graduated at the time of award).
Exclusions:
- Students must be registered for classes when they apply and not yet graduated when they receive the award; students who have graduated may not apply.
- Students may not apply for more than one award per semester.
- Students who receive a CSM Research Award cannot apply for the next round of awards (i.e., a student who gets an award in Spring 2020 cannot apply again [for a new project] until SPRING 2021). All reporting requirements for previous awards must be completed for a new application to be considered.
- The fund supports students working on individualized, long-term research projects of at least one semester in duration, under the careful supervision of a faculty member. Ordinary term paper, laboratory and other course related assignments or costs associated with required internships are not eligible for support. Course projects required for an entire class and designed by the professor are not eligible for support.
- If two or more students are traveling to the same conference and have the same professor as a mentor for their research, they are considered to be a group and may apply for only one award for the group (rather than separately as individuals). If the students have completed different research projects under the same mentor, each project should be fully described in the application.
- Students who are presenting at an upcoming conference in the current or immediately subsequent semester (as described above) are eligible for funding provided a copy of the abstract acceptance letter/email is included with the grant proposal. Proposals without evidence of acceptance will not be considered.
- Student's past travel to present at a conference in the current or just-previous semester (as described above) may be reimbursed, provided evidence of presentation (e.g., copy of abstract in the program) and receipts for all items in the budget are included with the grant proposal. Proposals without evidence of presentation and receipts will not be considered.
- Conference attendance without presentation is not eligible for funding.
- Students whose faculty advisor for a particular project is currently serving on the awards committee may not apply.
- Duplication with any other internal or external submitted proposals is not allowed.
- Other restrictions may apply. See RFP for details.
Example of Past RFP
*** Applicants are responsible for following the most recent RFP when submitting proposals as guidelines and submissions processes may have changed. The CSM Dean’s Office is not responsible for proposals submitted using outdated processes or for proposals which do not follow the most current guidelines.
Select Funded Proposals
USRA
Fall 2021
- E. Harris, “Intergenerational transmission of gendered play practices.” $500.
- S. Smith and J. Miller, “GSSI Academy RADAN workshop for archaeological research.” $500.
- D. Wagner, “Drag Reduction in the Snailfish Tail Curl.” $500.
GSRA
Fall 2021
- R. Boniface, “A Two Generation Approach For Trauma (2G4T).” $500.
- C. O’Connor, “The Effect of Folic Acid Inhibition on Neural Tube Closure.” $500.
- D. Stahl, “Heart Rate Variability as a Biomarker for Therapeutic Alliance Formation.” $500.