Bronco PI Lab

Benefits 

• Mentor – ORI pairs participants with a mentor in your field (external to WMU) to develop a strategic plan to meet short- and long-term goals. 
• Priority Access to Hanover Research – As part of your strategic plan, we can schedule a proposal review or revision with Hanover Research. Bronco PI Lab Cohort members will get priority placement in the queue.
• Workshops – Gain insight on best practices of prospecting and grant-writing.
• Network – Establish connections with peers from across the university. 

Eligibility & Requirements 

• Bronco PI Lab is geared toward tenure-track faculty in their first 5 years at Western Michigan University. PIs must be nominated for the program by their Dean, Associate Dean for Research (ADRs), or Chair. 
• To participate in the Bronco PI Lab, faculty must agree to attend at least three workshops, including any required post-workshop activities, develop and follow a mentorship plan, and complete goal(s) on time.
  • These workshops will be sponsored by ORI. A full list will be provided at the start of the Bronco PI Lab.
• Support a campus visit by mentor, including a talk to PI’s department.
• PIs whose participation leads to a publication agree to include acknowledgement of Bronco PI Lab support.   
• PIs will submit an external grant or project for publication/display within 1 year of the end of the program. Deans agree that any grant awarded based on participation in the Bronco PI Lab (up to three application attempts) will have an adjusted F&A distribution.
• Preference will be given to PIs whose work aligns with current or forecasted federal funding priorities. 

Application Process

Deans, Associate Deans for Research (ADRs), and Chairs are encouraged to nominate faculty members who are motivated to increase their research, innovation, and creative scholarship portfolio and become a more active member of the WMU professorate. 

1. Application Materials Include:
   1. From Deans/ADRs:
      1. A cover letter that outlines the nominee’s qualifications, work, and fit for the program (1 page)
   2. From Chairs:
      1. A letter of support from the nominee’s department chair; this letter should affirm that inclusion in the Bronco PI Lab is an investment of time that will be protected to allow for the faculty member’s growth (1 page)
      2. An acknowledgement that required workshops for Bronco PI Lab participants will take place at 11am on the Third Thursdays of some months, and the faculty will be excused from other departmental obligations on those dates. 
      3. Suggestions of at least two external mentors
   3. From Potential Bronco PI Lab Members:
      1. Current curriculum vitae
      2. A statement from the nominee expressing their interest in the program, including a summary of past and present research, and – in particular – an outline of how future research aligns with the priorities of targeted funder(s) and the PI’s plans to pursue future external funding. This should be a maximum of 3 pages and written for a generalist audience.
      3. Suggestions of at least three external mentors.
2. Following nomination period, applications will be reviewed by the Vice President for Research and Innovation and Research Development Administrator. The number of selected participants will vary depending on the budget for the year and the quality of nominations.