VI. RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ENDEAVOR (Cont.)
INTERNAL RESEARCH FUNDING
The Intramural Research Grant Program (IRGP) is a competitive program that provides support of up to $75,000 to seed projects that are judged to be competitive for external funding or are otherwise expected to advance the scholarly enterprise of the university. Proposals are accepted in three categories: Small Grants Program, New Faculty Research Initiation Program, and Incubator Program. Details about the program are available from the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies (http://www.msu.edu/unit/vprgs/). All proposals are peer reviewed by MSU faculty, then by faculty panels in the following areas: Arts and Humanities, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering, and Social Sciences and Education. The quality of proposals submitted has historically been quite high, and the process is highly competitive—overall success rates in the competition typically are at about 25 percent. Application forms and guidelines are available on-line and from the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies. IRGP proposals are due in mid-September; a mailing from the OVPRGS the previous April serves as a request for proposals. The funding period is for 18 months, beginning about December 15.
The Strategic Partnership Fund supports larger projects (about $150,000-200,000/year for 2-3 years) that are aimed at establishing long-term centers of excellence on the campus. Funding under this program generally requires that the project be multidisciplinary, that it be in an area of high priority for the units involved, and that it have a high probability of attracting external support for a sustained period of time. The Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and the Provost select projects for this funding.
The Research Excellence Fund (REF) is a general fund allocation that supports research in centers and in individual projects through the IRGP. The OVPRGS directs review of center plans and accomplishments and makes funding recommendations. A center director may choose to use a limited portion of available resources for seeding projects relevant to the activities of the center; for more information, contact the center director.
University-level programs administered outside the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies include the Michigan Applied Policy Research Funds and the Pearl J. Aldrich Endowment.
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