Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development
Spring 2017 Newsletter
Grant Writing Retreat
In order to help support faculty efforts to secure external funding for their research endeavors, the Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development in collaboration with the Faculty Center for Professional Development is organizing a grant writing retreat June 13-15, 2017. Only 10 PIs who are planning to submit a proposal for external funding, seeking $200K or more over the next six months will be selected to participate in this hands-on retreat.
Sponsored Programs
We are pleased to announce that Mr. Greg Howell will joining Cal Poly Pomona as the new Director for the Office of Research and Sponsored programs. Mr. Howell brings over ten years’ experience in pre- and post-award administration, industrial contracts and negotiation, intellectual property issues at various prestigious institutions such as John Hopkins University, University of South Carolina and recently as the Associate Director for the Office of Sponsored Proposals and Awards at Georgia State University. He will be starting May 2, 2017, please stop and say hello to Mr. Howell.
NSF’s Prohibition Against Cost Share
Please note that per the Nation Science Board directive, NSF strictly prohibits any voluntary cost share. There should be no discussion of any cost share, including release time, in the budget justification, the budget or the narrative about any cost share. If the proposal contains any such indication then the proposal is most likely to be rejected without review by NSF. You may only cost share when the request for proposal calls for it, which is rare.
Funding Your Ideas
Funding Your Proposal –Targeting Federal Agencies
In the last newsletter, we focused on what to consider when you are planning to target foundations for funding. This newsletter focuses on federal funding agencies. There are twelve federal agencies that have funding mechanisms for colleges, universities and small businesses. As you consider federal funding agencies, it is important to be aware of the considerations by Federal Sponsoring Agencies.
- Federal agencies have an established purpose for grant awards by legislation.
- These agencies are looking for a significant impact for the society. They will release solicitations for proposals (or Request for Proposal (RFP)). Note they are not funding your ideas; they want your ideas/proposals to help meet their goals. So your idea must match with what they are looking for.
- You must carefully review the detailed RFP to learn what their submission requirements are, and follow it exactly. Any deviation from their specific requirements for the proposal can be grounds for rejection without review. Remember they receive thousands of proposals so they are strict about their guidelines.
- The federal agencies have very well established application processes; however, they have very strict deadlines, the format and other requirements for proposals.
- As opposed to foundations, you will often find large grants, and it is generally easier to identify and research the funding opportunities at various federal agencies.
- The agencies are accountable to elected officials, thus lots of checks and balances are in place, and you may find that the process is somewhat bureaucratic. However, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs can guide you to make the process easier and manageable.
- Generally, the proposals are complex with more requirements. Consult with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs if you have questions.
- You can depend upon continued availability of funding for specific programs for a number of years; however, the continued availability of funds depends upon the changes in the political trends and strategic national priorities.
- In rare cases for unique programs, they may require cost sharing, and they will generally, but not always pay the overhead, which is referred to as the Indirect Cost (IDC) or otherwise known as Facilities and Administration (F&A) cost.
- You can generally access copies of the funded proposals on the agency’s website. Unlike foundations, if your proposal is declined by a federal agency, you will receive feedback, which may guide the enhancement of your revised proposal for the second round competition.
- Do not be discouraged after the first rejection, carefully review comments, revise accordingly and resubmit the proposal in the next round to the same agency or another funding call by other agencies.
- Submit an Intent to Submitat the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs website as early as possible so that the staff can prepare to assist you during the proposal preparation stage, including helping you in the budget preparation.
- Please submit your final proposal five days prior to the proposal submission deadline to ORSP, so that the assigned staff member may plan to prepare your proposal and the appropriate forms for final submission. If there are any technical issues, you may still have the time to correct it before the deadline. The ORSP staff often has several proposals due for submission around the same deadline.
With this description, you may feel overwhelmed, but that is why the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs is here to help in guiding and facilitating the process for you.
Please feel free to contact ORSP at 909-869-2994 for guidance and the process.
Research Compliance
Export Controls
In the interest of national security, federal export control laws are in place to regulate the distribution of certain sensitive information, technology, services, sales of products and services, tours of facilities and others to foreign nationals and foreign countries. These laws apply to sponsored research and international collaboration and travel. Our sponsored research agreements with federal agencies specify as to who can and cannot work on certain projects. Cal Poly Pomona fully complies with all export control laws, regulations and contractual requirements. These laws and regulations apply to all research whether funded by the federal government or not, at all institutions whether not-for-profit or for-profit.
To learn more Clickhere to access additional information or call ORSP at 909-869-2994.
Institutional Review Board
One of the most difficult parts of conducting human subject research is formulating/writing the informed consent or assent forms. The writing of a consent form is both art and science.It must be written to convey important information to the potential participant and do it in an understandable way. The subject or participant must be informed, so the document is usually called an informed consent form (ICF). When written for minors, it is called an assent form.
The Cal Poly Pomona Institutional Review Board is committed to the protection of human subjects in research as well those who could be held accountable for the research practices -- the researchers and the University. The Board requires a detailed and informative consent as part of your IRB protocol submission. We have posted samples and examples of well-written forms on our website. Please Click here to access more information.
For more information, please visit the IRB website.
Feel free to contact Bruce Kennedy at 909-869-4215 if you have any IRB related questions or drop an e-mail to .
Responsible Conduct of Research
Who must receive the RCR training? NSF’s expectation from institutions is to verify that those students (undergraduates and graduates) and postdoctoral researchers and faculty who receive NSF funds (support for salary and/or stipends to conduct research on NSF grants) will complete RCR training. However, NSF expects that institutions will develop their RCR training programs in a manner that helps prepare the next generation of researchers, including the consideration of risks or other factors associated with student and postdoctoral researcher participation in research. The PIs are required to document training and the duration of instruction for all participants on funded projects.
Animal Care and Use Committee
Do you have plans to use vertebrates of any kind in teaching or research activities? If the answer is yes, then state and federal regulations require that some steps be taken before the activity can commence. One important step is that you submit a protocol application to the Cal Poly Pomona Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC). The ACUC will carefully review your protocol application and provide feedback to assist you in producing a final version that addresses the compliance requirements. With an approved ACUC protocol, you are set to contribute to the vast and growing base of knowledge made possible only with the responsible use of animals in teaching/research. For step-by-step instructions on how to get started, please go to the ACUC website for the Protocol Process.
Office of Undergraduate Research
The Office of Undergraduate Research will be taking 15 student delegates to the CSU Student Research Competition (CSU SRC) on April 28th and 29th. This year the CSU SRC will be hosted by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Student delegates represent a broad range of disciplines from the social sciences to engineering. The student delegates were eligible for nomination to the CSU SRC because they were selected as the top presentation in their session at the annual Student RSCA Conference. The Student RSCA Conference was profiled in the PolyCentric article published last March.
The Research & Creative Activities Scholar Recognition will take place on May 12th. The event brings together students and faculty to celebrate their research and raise awareness of the outstanding work they do throughout the year. The event will include awarding the President’s Kellogg Discovery Fellows as part of the Learn Through Discovery Project. Awards will be given to students who have been engaged in research (Research Distinction), Service in Research, as well as recognition of first generation faculty and staff who mentor students interested in research. The event is open to the campus, please visit the event website for application deadlines and important updates.
Student Innovation Idea Lab
iLab partners with the Bronco Bookstore to display and sell student invented products. The Student Innovation Idea Lab has partnered with the Bronco Bookstore to create a display case for products of student startup teams. TakeNote Global will be the first startup showcased in the bookstore. The company was founded by Jonathan McGowan and Kevin Li. The company’s product, Clearnote, will be available for sale at the Bookstore.
iStartup Academy
iStartup Academy was launched on Thursday, March 30, 2017 with three successful Cal Poly Pomona alumni entrepreneurs telling the story of their entrepreneurial journey. Tim Kippen (Engineering) co-founded Diversified Technical Systems, a leading manufacturer of data acquisition systems and sensors for occupant safety testing and product testing in automotive, aerospace, biomechanics, blast and in-dummy applications. Sandy Stone (Collins) is the visionary, Co-founder, and Board Director of Pretend City Children’s Museum, a 28,000 square foot educationally based child-sized city which has hosted over 1.5 million guests since opening in 2009. Phillip Kaufmann (Graphic Design) is the founder of Tri Comma LLC and the Creative Director for Monster Energy overseeing all aspects of design for 14 domestic and international brands. Over 90 students were inspired by the presentations. Sixty-three students enrolled in the 7-week non-credit iStartup Academy to learn about the business side of innovation.
Technology Transfer
Invention: How do I know I have invented something?
Most of us involved in research activity are focused on solving or understanding a challenging and interesting problem. You generally may not think about or expect a commercial use of your research. Yet it is possible that in the course of your research you may have discovered a new tool, method, a chemical or a biological sample that may have a use in an area outside your own field of research. Such inventions can be protected for a limited term (20 years) by “patents.” A patent may be obtained for any method, machine, manufactured article, compound, or new use for existing matter; it may include genes and gene products, or an improvement to an existing invention. For an invention to qualify for patent grant, according to the intellectual property laws, it must meet the three fundamental requirements. The invention must be new, non-obvious and it must be useful. The owner is given the right to stop others from making, using and selling the patented claims. More importantly, the owner does not necessarily have these rights either until he/she has met the requirements of other federal agencies as they may apply to a given invention. If you have, questions related to your area of research do not hesitate to call Office of Research & Sponsored Programs at 909-869-2994. You can also learn more about it at our Technology Transfer webpages.
Clickhere to access past newsletters
Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development
909-869-2955
Building 1 Room 225
You may use easy links below to various webpages:
Sponsored Programs
Research Compliance
Technology Transfer
Student iLab
Undergraduate Research