Research and Innovation Digital Newsletter October 2018

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Oct. 26 deadline to submit to NSF and to Bronco Big Idea Competition to win up to $52,000

WMU has launched an internal competition to encourage students, faculty and other current learners to submit their idea to the NSF 2026 Big Idea Machine and to submit the same idea to WMU's Bronco Big Idea Competition. WMU will match NSF prizes by awarding monetary scholarships, stipends, and research grants to winners from our community. See details for eligibility and submission guidelines.

Dr. Sherine Obare named APLU CoR Research Leader Fellow

APLU's Council on Research has named its second cohort of CoR Research Leader Fellows, and Dr. Sherine Obare, associate VP for research, is one of the seven in this select group of senior research officers chosen from the nation's public research universities. Read more.   

Oct. 16 Discovery Acceleration Workshop: "National Institutes of Health - R15 Grants and Beyond"

Join us on Oct. 16 for an overview of the funding priorities of the NIH and a discussion of the basic components of a competitive NIH grant application, with a special emphasis on the Academic Research Enhancement Award (R15). The Discovery Acceleration Workshop series is focused on outcomes for all researchers. Learn more about the workshop and register

Innovation Networking Session on PFAS and Other Emerging Contaminants - Thursday, Nov. 15 (new date), 4 to 7 p.m. in the Fetzer Center

This session at the Fetzer Center will bring together WMU researchers who are interested in learning about ongoing research work in this area, forging collaborations and identifying funding opportunities. Links for more information and schedule or to register.

Internal Funding Opportunities - deadlines in November

Technology Development Fund - deadline to apply, Nov. 6. 
Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Excellence Award - deadline to apply has been extended to noon on Nov. 15.

FDP Expanded Clearinghouse

WMU has joined the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) Expanded Clearinghouse. This online system streamlines the information gathered for subaward entities at the proposal submission stage and reduces administrative burden. It is one of the latest efforts by OVPR to improve processes and increase efficiency. More

NSF Molecular and Cellular Biosciences News

Acting Assistant Director for the Biological Sciences, Dr. Joanne Tornow, recently published a letter clarifying some frequently asked questions about MCB’s new no-deadline solicitation. For full details about solicitation see the recent blog post, the BIO Core Program solicitation FAQ, the full solicitation NSF 18-585.

New payroll confirmation system, ecrt, updates

The team from Grants and Contracts spent Oct. 8 to 11 visiting colleges to offer PI ecrt Training. Visit website for revised Cost Transfer Policy, Cost Transfer Request Form, and Planned Effort Form.

Upcoming event

A Bird's Eye View: Avian Mortality from Window Collisions -- Nov. 13, 5:30 to 8 p.m., Kirsch Auditorium, Fetzer Center. Open to all, with a reception following. More