A. Purpose of the Grant Program

The First Year Assistant Professor (FYAP) award program provides assistant professors in their first year at FSU the opportunity to submit a funding proposal, receive constructive feedback from senior faculty, and resubmit within the same award cycle. Applicants are to submit well-written, competitive proposals that clearly indicate a planned effort to establish or continue an ongoing program of research or creative activity at FSU. CRC members will review the proposals and provide feedback. Proposals will either (a) be approved for funding, (b) returned for rewriting followed by a second review, or (c) denied for funding. The funding is intended to provide summer salary and/or support for project-related expenses incurred during the summer. The FYAP program does not permit Co-PIs.

B. Award Information

• The maximum award amount for the FYAP program is $20,000. Typically, FYAP funding is applied as support toward the PI’s salary; this will be disbursed over the award period through the bi-weekly pay cycle of summer 2023. Salary-related deductions and fringe benefits will be subtracted at the standard rate from the maximum award amount.
• IMPORTANT:  A FYAP grant is not guaranteed to every incoming assistant professor. Proposals submitted should be competitive and well-written in order to be considered eligible for this award.
• The support provided by this program is intended to enable faculty to devote significant time and effort during their first summer at FSU to the research and/or creative responsibilities of their academic careers.
• Teaching and service responsibilities while utilizing a FYAP award are not permitted; however, if a Seed Grant or other CRC grant has also been awarded, the awardee is expected to complete the respective projects as proposed, even if those award periods overlap.
• Proposals for support to write textbooks or to develop instructional materials will not be accepted; book subventions are not an allowable expense.
• The FYAP program does not permit Co-PIs.
• Attendance at the FYAP Workshop (September 9, 2022) is mandatory; failure to attend will result in disqualification from competition.
• Post-award requirement: Awardees must submit a poster at the 2023 FYAP Workshop (exact date TBD). This poster should showcase the awardee’s research or creative efforts during the FYAP award period. Failure to submit a poster will result in future ineligibility for all CRC programs as either a PI or Co-PI.

C. Eligibility

• Participation is open to all FSU faculty who, as of the award distribution date, have completed all requirements of their terminal degree, are appointed in "active" full-time status, and are in their first year as a full-time Assistant Professor at FSU.
• Visiting First Year Assistant Professors, whose only reason for being labeled “visiting” is the expectation that they shortly will attain permanent residency status, are eligible to apply for this award. Full-time, active status must be achieved by the award date in order to receive funding.
• Assistant Professors expecting to be hired by FSU mid-semester or mid-year 2022-2023 may apply for the Summer 2023 program only if a.) their Chair and Dean approve, and b.) they attend the 2022 FYAP Workshop. Mid-semester or mid-year hires will not be eligible for a 2023 FYAP award if they are not able to attend the 2022 Workshop (no exceptions), but they will maintain their eligibility for the 2023-2024 FYAP award cycle.
• Generally, PIs will not be awarded more than one CRC grant during an academic year. Eligible applicants who have received an award from a CRC program during this academic year remain eligible to request funding from the Equipment and Infrastructure Enhancement Grant (EIEG) program. However, during the year they are eligible to apply for the First Year Assistant Professor grant, faculty may also apply:
  • as a PI for a Seed Grant or Small Grant; 
  • as a Co-PI (not PI) for an Arts & Humanities Program Enhancement Grant.
• FAMU-appointed Engineering faculty members are eligible to apply for funding from the CRC.
• Twelve-month faculty members cannot apply for PI salary support. These faculty members can use the funding for student salary and other allowable research expenses.
• Only one proposal per PI may be submitted to the FYAP program.

D. Important Dates for the 2022 - 2023 Round

• FYAP Workshop: Friday, September 9, 2022
• Pre-review Deadline:  Monday, October 10, 2022 @ 4:59 pm*
• Proposal Deadline: Thursday, October 20, 2022 @ 4:59 pm
• Rewrite Notification: Wednesday, December 7, 2022
• Rewrite Deadline:  Friday, January 13, 2023 @ 4:59 pm
• Award Notification: Mid March
• Award Period: May 8, 2023 – August 4, 2023 

*NOTE: If you would like your proposal to be reviewed for technical errors, you must submit it through the CRC portal by the Pre-review Deadline date shown above. Pre-reviews are completed on a first-come, first-served basis. The CRC Program Staff will review your proposal for document inclusion, budget allowability and accuracy, and adherence to program guidelines. Please note the following:

1. In order for your proposal to count as having been submitted in time for this pre-review, your application must have the "Pending Technical Review" status, which means you have obtained all required Chair and Dean approvals prior to the Pre-Review Deadline. Until your proposal has all these approvals, it will not be considered ready for a technical review.
2. If your proposal is submitted after the Pre-Review Deadline, there is no guarantee that it will be reviewed for errors prior to the Proposal Deadline. Thus, choosing to submit after the Pre-Review Deadline leaves you at risk, as any technical errors, no matter how minor they may seem, will render your proposal disqualified. However, if you meet the Pre-Review Deadline and make the required corrections, as per instructions, by the Proposal Deadline, your proposal will not be rejected on technical grounds.
3. Your proposal's accuracy is ultimately your responsibility, and not that of the CRC. The CRC will not make corrections, and revisions cannot be accepted after the deadline.

E. Proposal Preparation Instructions

• FYAP applicants must consult with their mentor and/or the CRC member in their department or area during the FYAP proposal writing process.
• The proposal must be written in clear, concise language so that reviewers from any discipline will be able to understand; field-specific jargon and acronyms are discouraged unless they are plainly defined within the proposal text.
• Proposals with incomplete required fields will not be able to submit until all required fields are completed; any fields left incomplete will result in the proposal being disqualified from competition.
• Applications that do not adhere to the RFP instructions will be ineligible for funding.
• Go to Section H. Proposal Submission Process for instructions on how to apply.
• The following sections must be completed in your proposal application:

-- PROPOSAL TRANSMITTAL --

• For CRC submissions, this document is a part of the electronic submissions application. All applicants will complete these sections directly within the CRC program application. 
• Once the proposal is submitted, the Director/Chair and Dean of the PI will be contacted automatically via email for approval of the submission. Please provide sufficient time for electronic approvals prior to the proposal deadline. It is advisable to check on the availability of those who are required to approve your application if you are intending to submit close to the deadline. Directors, Chairs, and Deans have 24 hours after the proposal deadline to electronically approve applications.  Submissions that lack the necessary approvals within the provided time will be disqualified and will not be reviewed.
• If you need assistance with completing any of these forms and want a staff member from your department to assist you, you can grant access to them by adding a “proposal contact” to your application.  Any staff who will be assisting with the administration of this award, if granted, should also be added as a proposal contact.

-- ABSTRACT --

This section is completed within the electronic CRC program application. Your abstract cannot exceed 250 words.

-- CURRICULUM VITAE  (Word Doc) --

• The CV form in the link above is the preferred form for this requirement. If you choose to not use this specific form, your CV must contain the same information: Education from baccalaureate-level forward including Institution, Degree, Field of Study, and Completion Date; Previous Positions; Publications related to the proposal; and Research Support including completed and ongoing grants related to the proposal. You may also include other data pertinent to the research or activity proposed. Regardless of which form you use, the CV must be no longer than 2 pages at no less than 11 point font, with 1" margins.
• To view CV examples, please click on the subject area that is closest to your field of research: Arts, Engineering, Humanities, and STEM.

-- BUDGET --

This section is completed within the electronic CRC program application. The maximum award amount is $20,000. Use the tips below as a guide for your specific budget items:

• Typically, FYAP funding is applied as support toward the PI’s salary during their initial summer with FSU (Summer 2023). The funds will be disbursed over the award period through the bi-weekly pay cycle. Deductions and fringe benefits will be taken from the maximum award amount as they would in a typical paycheck. 
• Fringe benefits rates
• PIs may waive salary support and apply the award to other expense items such as salary support for a student, materials and supplies, and/or travel; twelve-month faculty cannot use FYAP funds toward salary.
• Project-related travel is allowed; however, travel is restricted to necessary and direct support of the research conducted as part of the proposed work. Conference or workshop attendance for the purpose of presenting research or creative activities is not permitted. Any travel included in the proposal must be accompanied by a detailed description stating the dates and locations of the travel, transportation and lodging estimates, and justification for the necessity of the trip. If awarded, any travel plan alterations must receive prior approval by the CRC before the travel occurs.
• Funding for student travel is not permitted on CRC grants.
• Equipment purchases, including computers and computing equipment, are not allowed on this grant.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  CRC grants are awarded in part based on the appropriateness and feasibility of the proposed budgets. Approved budgets must be followed as proposed/awarded, unless a budget amendment request is approved in advance by the chair of the CRC. A variance of up to 10% in any category will be tolerated in the absence of a budget amendment, but any unapproved expenditures beyond this limit will result in the grant being frozen until the overage is refunded to the grant. The same applies to any unapproved expenditures that fall outside a grant's budgetary categories. In addition, no further CRC grant proposals will be accepted from applicants (as PI or Co-PI) on any grant that is out of budgetary compliance until the situation is rectified.

-- PROPOSAL TEXT (Word Doc) --

The Proposal Text cannot exceed 5 pages (not including References and Appendices). Pages must be formatted with 1" margins, utilizing 11pt Times New Roman or Arial font. If you have no information to submit for a given section, enter N/A for that section. Only a PDF version of your proposal will be accepted. Below are the required sub-sections for the Proposal Text:

1. Project/Issue and Goals: Describe the project/issue your proposal will address. Briefly describe the goals/objectives of the project.
   
   
2. Research Methods/Creative Activities: Describe the research methods/creative activities that will be undertaken, including scientific or creative objectives, data or materials to be used, and methods of analysis or performance of the project. Project should be clearly understandable and jargon should be avoided. Please note that your proposal MAY be reviewed by some who are not at all familiar with your field of work.
   
   
3. Broader Impacts: Describe how the project is related to your long-term research goals.
   
   
4. Anticipated External Funding: Describe how the proposed research or creative activity will enhance the prospects for future external funding. List anticipated outside funding sources to support follow-up activity, including specific grant programs, the goals of those programs, and the amount of funding available. List the approximate date(s) by which you intend to request external funding from one or more of the funding sources you identified.
   (Note: As compared to several of the other CRC grant programs, there will be less emphasis in the FYAP proposal review on the eventual acquisition of external funding. However, this does not totally remove the need for external funding consideration.)
   
   
5. Schedule of Project Activities:  Provide a statement indicating the amount of progress anticipated during the grant period and the intended schedule for completion of the plan (including start and completion dates), publication, performance, etc. If appropriate, briefly describe the related research and/or creative activities that will take place before and after the grant period.
   
   
6. Budget:  Provide a detailed and clear budget explanation. The information should mirror the items you will be placing in the budget section, but should be significantly more detailed. The description should be narrative in nature and should include quantifiable financial information. If travel is included in the budget, specific projected travel dates and locations must be given. Refer to the information listed above regarding unallowable budget items.
   
   
7. Differentiation from Dissertation Research:  Your proposal must clearly be part of a new research program or creative activity that involves a substantive departure from, or substantive modification of, your dissertation work. List the title of your dissertation and a brief (2 – 3 sentences) explanation of how the proposed project is a substantive departure from, or substantive modification of, your dissertation work. List the date you completed all of your terminal degree requirements and the date you were first appointed as a full-time Assistant Professor at FSU. List any previous experience since earning your terminal degree, including the institution name, your title while there, and the dates of service.
   
   
8. Mentoring Plan:  As a FYAP applicant, you are required to name a mentor - a more senior FSU colleague who will guide you in your early career - who will monitor your progress and provide you with feedback regarding your professional development. List the name, rank, department, and years of academic experience of the FSU faculty member who will serve as your mentor. Briefly describe the mentoring plan you and your mentor have developed. Research mentoring resources are available through the Office of Research Development's website.
   
   
9. Professional Obligations:  List any professional obligations the PI has for the award period. If any of these obligations include active grants, please explain the relationship of the proposed funding to any other funding you will have for this period.
   
   
10. Previous Awards or Grant Funds Received: List any grants or awards that you received - particularly as the main PI - while you were completing your terminal degree or after receiving it. Current active awards should be included. If you have already received another award from the CRC, you must state the outcomes of that award (including pursued funding) or the work accomplished as a result of the award.
    
    
11. References:  Include a references list, if applicable. References do not count as Proposal Text pages.
    
    
12. Appendices: Include appendices as needed, including approval forms and other supplementary materials pertinent to your proposed project. Please be considerate of reviewers' time and file space; avoid excessive appendices. Research compliance approval letters (Human Subjects, Animal Subjects) may be included in this section if they have already been obtained for this project.

F. Proposal Examples

• Examples of successful proposals are available on Research Development's Successful Proposal Database. Your FSU username and password will be required.
• Please note that some examples shown may include items that are no longer allowable under CRC Policies. Please contact the CRC Program Manager for clarification or questions related to these proposals.

G. Research Compliance

• Research activities requiring compliance review and approvals (such as Human or Animal Subjects use, DNA/RNA use, Hazardous Materials, or Marine Lab facilities) require the completion and submission of forms to the appropriate FSU department or group. You must seek and receive approval before such research is attempted and before any funds can be released, if awarded. See Human Subjects, Animal Care and Use Committee, Environmental Health & Safety, or Research Compliance for other compliance requirements that may apply to your research or performance plan.
• You may pre-apply for Human Subjects or Animal use approval prior to funding notifications. While not required in advance, having prior approval will prevent delays in receiving grant funds, if awarded.
• If you have already received approval for proposal-related certifications, you may include the approval paperwork in the appendices of your proposal text.

H. Proposal Submission Process

• Go to CRC Submissions Portal.
• Login using your FSU username and password.
• Start a new proposal by selecting one of the CRC programs listed under the apply tab. Complete all the sections and upload each of the required elements. 
• You will have the ability to submit/save your proposal elements and update/edit them until the posted Proposal Deadline for the program.
• Proposals with incomplete required fields will not be able to submit for Chair/Dean approval until all required fields are completed. Minor changes can still be made to the proposal after it has been submitted for Chair/Dean approval.
• Once the application is submitted, the Director/Chair, and Dean of the PI will be contacted automatically via email for approval of the submission. Please provide sufficient time for electronic approvals prior to the program deadline. It is advisable to check on the availability of those who are required to approve your application if you are intending to submit close to the deadline. Directors, Chairs, and Deans have 24 hours after the proposal deadline to electronically approve applications. Submissions that lack the necessary approvals within the provided time will be disqualified and will not be reviewed.

I. Proposal Review Process

• The FYAP review subcommittee consists of selected faculty currently serving on the CRC.
• Reviewers will use these review guidelines for scoring the proposal. 
• Each reviewer will provide written feedback, not just a numeric score, which will be shared with the PI. Reviewer identification will not be released to the applicants.
• The CRC makes final funding decisions based on the funding allocated to the program, the number of proposals received, and merit scores of each proposal.
• If awarded, the PI and Department Chair/Director must sign the CRC Conditions of Award form and return it to the CRC Program Staff prior to award budget activation. Any research compliance items must also be approved prior to award activation.
• All necessary forms must be received by the Program Staff no later than 30 days following notice of award; failure to submit these documents in a timely manner may result in the withdrawal of the award.

J. Required Post-Award Activities

FYAP award recipients are required to attend the 2023 FYAP Grants Workshop (September 2023), and deliver a poster presentation of their research project.  Failure to fulfill this requirement will render the PI ineligible for all future CRC funding as either a PI or Co-PI.

K. Award Terms & Conditions

• CRC grant funds can only be used to support research and creative activity.
• The maximum award amount for the FYAP program is $20,000. Deductions and fringe benefits will be taken from the maximum award amount as they would in a typical paycheck. Typically, FYAP funding is applied as support toward one PI’s salary paid over multiple pay periods during Summer 2022.
• Teaching and service responsibilities while utilizing a FYAP award are not permitted; however, if a Seed Grant or other CRC grant has also been awarded, the awardee is expected to complete the respective projects as proposed, even if the award periods overlap.
• Proposals for support to write textbooks or to develop instructional materials will not be accepted; book subventions are not a permitted expense on CRC awards.
• FYAP award recipients are required to deliver a poster presentation of their research project at the FYAP Workshop during the Fall semester immediately following the award (2023). Failure to fulfill this requirement will render the PI ineligible for all future CRC funding as either a PI or Co-PI.
• Equipment purchases, including computers and computing equipment, are not allowed on this grant.
• Project-related travel is allowed; however, travel is restricted to necessary and direct support of the research conducted as part of the proposed work. Conference or workshop attendance for the purpose of presenting research or creative activities is not permitted. Any travel included in the proposal must be accompanied by a detailed description stating the dates and locations of the travel, transportation and lodging estimates, and justification for the necessity of the trip. If awarded, any travel plan alterations must receive prior approval by the CRC before the travel occurs.
• Funding for student travel is not permitted on CRC grants.
• The CRC approved the project budget as submitted with the proposal. Budget deviations greater than 10% per budget line item (cumulatively) require the prior written approval of the CRC. Budget revisions should be requested via a Budget Amendment Form. The Budget Amendment form, which can be downloaded from the Forms page, must be electronically signed by the PI and submitted via the Time Extension and Budget Amendment Request page. Here's an example of a completed Budget Amendment form. If the budget revision is approved by the CRC (limit 2 per award), the OMNI Project Budget will be modified to reflect the newly-approved categorical amounts. Budget amendment requests must be approved before any changes can occur. You may not submit an amendment request after the fact, and all budget amendment requests must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the award end date; requests submitted within 30 days of the award end date will not be considered.
• The CRC approved the scope of work as submitted with the proposal. The written approval of the CRC is required prior to implementing any change to the scope of work. Actions likely to be considered a change of scope include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Change in the goals or specific aims approved at the time of the award;
  • Any change from the approved use of animals or human subjects;
  • Shifting the emphasis of the research from one area or another; or
  • Transferring the performance of substantive programmatic work to a third party by contract or any other means.
• Budget or scope of work violations may result in loss of CRC funding eligibility for multiple years.
• The CRC reserves the right to withdraw remaining funds from a project if unauthorized spending occurs, and may also require misspent funds to be repaid by the PI/Department.
• Time extensions (limit 1 per award) require the prior approval of the CRC. Any request and justification for a time extension should be submitted to the Time Extension and Budget Amendment Request page at least 30 days prior to the award expiration date; requests submitted within 30 days of the award end date will not be considered. Funding allocated for PI salary is not eligible for a time extension; other budget categories - such as student stipends, supplies, etc. - are eligible for time extensions.
• Only one time extension is permitted per project; if the project budget is in good standing, a 90-day extension for non-salary funds (PI) will be automatically granted upon request. Time extension requests for greater than 90 days will be considered on a case-by-case basis but will not exceed 6 months.
• Faculty members who receive CRC funds during a sabbatical will be asked to repay those funds if they leave the university during the year following the award. In addition, summer funding will not be awarded, or will be terminated if awarded, for faculty planning to leave the university immediately following the award period.

L. Grant Close-Out and Reporting

• Financial closeout of the award will automatically occur within 60 days following the award period end date.
• Time extensions require the prior approval of the CRC (limit 1 extension per award). Any request and justification for a time extension must be submitted through the Time Extension and Budget Amendment Request page at least 30 days prior to the award expiration date; requests submitted within 30 days of the award end date will not be considered. Funding allocated for PI salary is not eligible for a time extension; other budget categories - such as student stipends, supplies, etc. - are eligible for time extensions.
• Only one time extension is permitted per project; if the project budget is in good standing, a 90-day extension will be automatically granted upon request. Time extension requests for greater than 90 days will be considered on a case-by-case basis but will not exceed 6 months. 
• The PI of the project will be required to respond to short project outcomes surveys via email at 6-, 12-, and 18-month intervals after the award end date. Surveys will allow faculty to identify the proposals, publications, exhibits, presentations, and/or other external funding outcomes resulting directly from CRC-funded awards.

M. Payback

• PIs who later find that they have funding from another source for similar or the same support are requested to decline acceptance of this FYAP award so that funds can be redirected to provide support for other applicants who would otherwise go unfunded.
• In the event that a PI leaves the university, involuntarily or voluntarily, prior to the end of the award period, the awardee’s Dean or Department Chair has the responsibility of notifying the CRC Program Manager and returning the award amount to the CRC. In addition, summer funding will not be awarded, or will be terminated if awarded, for faculty planning to leave the university immediately following the award period.