The William J. von Liebig Faculty Summer Research Fellowships

What is funded

A Research Fellowship pays for summer salary for a faculty member (up to $10,000) and one student co-worker.

Priorities

1.      New faculty in Biology/Chemistry/Physics.  New full time faculty (1^st and 2^nd year) can receive 2/9 annual salary or $10,000, whichever is smaller, for 10 weeks of research, normally involving at least one student.  Initial support (prior to or following the first year) is automatic, whereas second-year support is by application.

2.      Faculty in Biology/Chemistry/Physics with outside grants providing less than 2/9 of annual salary, or faculty in Biology/Chemistry/Physics who have applied for outside grants but were denied.

3.      Faculty in Biology/Chemistry/Physics who are planning to apply for external funding in the near future and are using this process to hone their proposal and/or to obtain necessary preliminary results.

4.      New faculty in other sciences.

5.   Faculty in other sciences with outside grants providing less than 2/9 annual salary, or faculty in other sciences who have applied for outside grants but were denied.

6.   Faculty in other sciences who are planning to apply for external funding in the near future and are using this process to hone their proposal and/or to obtain necessary preliminary results.

7.   Note that faculty who have no intention of applying for external funding are ineligible for Summer Research Fellowships.  They are, however, eligible for mentoring awards.

Process

Faculty may apply for any amount up to the lesser of $10,000 or 2/9ths of their salary.  Applicants who already have summer salary from an external source may apply for the lesser of $10,000 or the difference between 2/9 salary and what they are already getting.  ( It is expected that the faculty will apply for the maximum amount they can from the external source, unless they have good documented reasons to apply for less.)   The full award carries with it an expectation of a 10 week, full time commitment to a research project.  Lesser commitments would correspond to smaller awards.   The proposal should be written like a proposal to an external funding agency and describe the applicant’s project in enough detail to be evaluated.  If a proposal has been submitted to an outside agency, it may be used as this application.  Proposals are due by September 15, and must be accompanied by the official application form.

Research awards will undergo two levels of review.  The first is a review of the scientific merit by an outside panel of peers.  This review group, selected by the Provost from names provided by department chairs, will rank the proposals and also provide constructive feedback, which will help the applicant strengthen any subsequent submission for extramural funding.

The second level of review is conducted by an on campus group appointed by the Provost.  This review will use the external rankings as well as the priorities for support outlined above.  It will also consider additional factors, such as the quality and timeliness of reports from previous awards, the number and effectiveness of previous awards, and the candidate’s track record with external funding and publication.

Successful applicants for von Liebig Summer Research Awards will be notified by January 15.  Student co-workers must be identified and submit a student proposal by February 1.  Students must complete safety training, and the mentors must fill out the safety survey, before either student or faculty is paid. 

Faculty who have been awarded a Summer Research Award will be expected to submit a report of the summer activities by September 15.   Failure to do so will impact the success of future applications.  This report is more extensive than the report expected of faculty receiving mentoring awards.

Approved by von Liebig Committee February 10, 2006.