• Learn about NSF’s new submission type, the Concept Outline.
• Register for workshops on Responsible Conduct of Research and Writing for Non-Specialist Audiences.
• See a list of upcoming seminars.
• Browse new funding opportunities, including one for postdocs and one for conferences.
• See which professor received an NIH S10 (major equipment) award.
• Learn how many proposals BioSci faculty submitted last fiscal year.

Have you heard about NSF’s new submission type? If you submit to NSF, this new policy will affect you

As part of the draft Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (23-1), NSF is introducing a new submission type called the Concept Outline. The Concept Outline will ensure that a prospective Principal Investigator (PI) proposes an appropriate concept for a proposal type or funding opportunity. It will also reduce administrative burden associated with submission of a full proposal.

Concept Outlines will be required by some proposal types and funding opportunities. But they may also be submitted at any time by a prospective PI who would like early feedback on the appropriateness of a project before developing a full proposal. NSF will encourage using Concept Outlines rather than emailing a Program Officer your project idea.

Prospective PIs will submit Concept outlines via a new system called the Program Suitability & Proposal Concept Tool (ProSPCT). Submission will not require SPA approval. To learn more about this tool and Concept Outlines, please review the draft PAPPG (23-1) and NSF’s recorded webinar.

U.S. Department of Energy Announces $400 Million in Research Funding to Advance Scientific Frontiers

This funding will advance the priorities of DOE’s Office of Science and its major programs, including Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Basic Energy Sciences, Biological and Environmental Research, Fusion Energy Sciences, High Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics, Isotope R&D and Production, and Accelerator R&D and Production.

The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), informally known as the “Open Call,” is issued annually at the beginning of each Fiscal Year (FY). It provides a vehicle for the Office of Science to solicit applications for research support in areas not covered by more specific, topical FOAs that are issued by the office in FY 2023.

DOE’s Office of Science funds research at hundreds of universities nationwide and is the nation’s largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences, the steward of 10 of DOE’s national laboratories.

Link to FOA (FY 2023 Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program): https://science.osti.gov/-/media/grants/pdf/foas/2023/SC_FOA_0002844.pdf

October

Developmental and Cell Biology Seminar Series

Andrew Holland, Professor, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University

4201 Natural Sciences II or Zoom (ID: 935 0482 6445; PW: 754037)

October

Focus on Evolution Seminar Series

Molly Schumer, Stanford University

1114 Natural Sciences I

October

Developmental and Cell Biology Seminar Series

Bruce Draper, Professor, Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis

4201 Natural Sciences II or Zoom (ID: 935 0482 6445; PW: 754037)

October

Responsible Conduct of Research Workshop

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) is increasingly viewed as an essential component of training, regardless of a researcher's source of funding. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) require certain categories of researchers to receive RCR training.

RCR is defined as the practice of scientific investigation with integrity. It involves the awareness and application of established professional norms and ethical principles in the performance of all activities related to scientific research.

NIH requires RCR training that involves at least 8 contact hours between participants and faculty. Instruction must be undertaken at least once during each career stage, and at a frequency of no less than once every four years. To meet the NIH requirement, the Institute of Clinical and Translational Science in partnership with the Office of Research will be hosting a full workshop.

F110 Tamkin and Zoom. Please register here.

October

Writing for Non-Specialist Audiences

• Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow (Journalist and Author)
• Adriana Briscoe (Biologist and Guggenheim Fellow)
• Erika Hayasaki (Author and Journalist)

351 Steinhaus Hall. Please register here.

Receive feedback on Specific Aims pages from retired program administrator

Assistant professors can receive feedback on crafting their Specific Aims from Dr. Jerry Heindel, retired NIEHS program administrator. Dr. Heindel will provide detailed comments (up to 3 revisions) to ensure that the Specific Aims page provides the right information with a logical flow and sufficient detail. Please email bio-research@uci.edu if you are interested in this service.

Webinar on UC Climate Action Research Funding and Upcoming RFPs

UC's Vice President for Research and Innovation invites you to attend a webinar on Monday, October 17, 2022 at 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM to learn about the UC Climate Action Research funding and upcoming Requests for Proposals (RFPs). The webinar will be recorded for those unable to attend.

NOTE: Zoom call-in information is not yet available and will be circulated soon in another Zotmail. In the meantime, please save this date on your calendar.

The State of California has allocated $100 million to the University of California to fund Climate Action research projects that address critical state needs. More specifically, the UC Office of Research and Innovation will be releasing RFPs inviting proposals spanning the full range of disciplines and cross-disciplines that lead to rapid, translational and applied research outcomes. Proposals are expected to address key state priorities, leverage UC expertise and resources, and engage partners in communities, industry, academia, and state and local agencies. Additional information on the climate action awards, including eligibility, award types, and duration, will be provided during the webinar. In addition to the meeting recording, a FAQ will be made available after the webinar.

Postdoctoral Fellowships - Hewitt Foundation for Biomedical Research

The Hewitt Foundation for Biomedical Research supports outstanding mentors and postdoctoral fellows. In addition to the Salk Institute and the Scripps Research Institute, the Foundation offers positions to mentors and fellows in the Schools of Medicine, Biological Sciences, and Engineering at UCI. It aims to nurture the next generation of biomedical research leaders.

Postdoctoral fellowships are awarded for three years, carry yearly stipends of $64k, $66k and $68k. In addition, a yearly allocation of $12k is made to the fellow's sponsoring institution to cover health insurance, travel to scientific meetings, and to partially support their research expenses.

Eligibility Criteria
Mentor: Associate Professor or Professor at the UCI School of Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, or School of Engineering with a strong record in nurturing outstanding and successful postdoctoral trainees and sufficient federal funding to support the Hewitt fellow’s research project.

Postdoctoral fellow: Recipient of Ph.D degree within 15 months of the starting date of the Hewitt fellowship. Strong record of published research and a commitment to join the mentor’s lab and research project.

Applications are from the proposed mentors:
Applicant mentors should provide: (1) A nomination letter which summarizes the background and states the qualifications of the proposed trainee, (2) a research plan (about 1 to 2 pages), (3) a CV for the trainee, (4) a Biosketch for the mentor which details the research support for the lab. (5) three letters of support, including from a former mentor.

Please send these as a single PDF to Prof. Tallie Z. Baram.

Deadline: October 15, 2022

Moore Inventors Fellows Program

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s Moore Inventor Fellows Program *seeks to identify outstanding inventors and innovators who harness science and technology to enhance the conduct of scientific research, strengthen environmental conservation, or improve the experience and outcomes of patient care.

UCI may submit only two nominations for this award opportunity. Therefore, interested applicants (or those nominating others) are asked to submit a preliminary application to the Office of Research (via UCI Review). You can find more information about this opportunity on UCI Review.

UCI preliminary application deadline: October 19, 2022
Full application deadline: November 14, 2022

DOD Toxic Exposures Research Program (TERP)

The mission of the TERP is to support innovative and impactful research aimed at identifying and understanding the pathological mechanisms, outcomes and comorbidities associated with toxic exposures in order to facilitate the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the invisible and visible diseases and symptoms that are associated with toxic effects impacting Service Members, Veterans and the American public.

Pre-application deadline: November 3, 2022 (5 PM ET)
Full application deadline: December 1, 2022 (11:59 PM ET)

NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB)

The Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) awards Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) to recent recipients of the doctoral degree for research and training in selected areas supported by BIO and with special goals for human resource development in biology. For applications under this solicitation, these areas are (1) Broadening Participation of Groups Underrepresented in Biology, (2) Integrative Research Investigating the Rules of Life Governing Interactions Between Genomes, Environment and Phenotypes, and (3) Plant Genome Postdoctoral Research Fellowships.

Deadline: November 3, 2022

NIH NIAID Research Opportunities for New and "At-Risk" Investigators to Promote Workforce Diversity (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement is to encourage applications for research projects within the NIAID mission. This FOA seeks to support either (a) a New Investigator (NI), an individual who has not previously competed successfully for substantial, independent funding from NIH, or (b) are an 'At-Risk' investigator, an individual who had prior support as a PD/PI on a substantial independent research award and unless successful in securing a substantial research grant award in the current fiscal year, will have no substantial research grant funding in the following fiscal year, from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the health-related sciences.

Next deadline: December 7, 2022

American Federation of Aging Research (AFAR) + Hevolution Foundation Scientific Conferences Fund

The Hevolution Foundation will consider proposals for scientific meetings, conferences, and workshops that drive efforts to extend healthy human lifespan and understand the processes of aging. Up to $10,000 per meeting may be requested, but Hevolution will determine the final amount based on several factors, including but not limited to the number of expected attendees, duration of the meeting, and meeting venue. Please see the link above for more information on this opportunity.

Next deadline: January 31, 2023

New NIH S10 (major equipment) Award!

In Fiscal Year 2021-2022, BioSci faculty submitted 214 proposals across federal, foundation, and corporate sponsors.

Help us to generate information for the Research Bulletin.

Submit details about seminars and other research-related events on campus here. 

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If you’re a faculty member, postdoc, graduate student, or other researcher in the School of Biological Sciences and would like help with a grant submission, please email bio-research@uci.edu.

To let the Pre-Award team know of your planned proposal submission, please fill out this form at least four weeks before the deadline.