Applications for the next cohort will open in Winter 2023

Purpose
Commit to Submit is a professional development program designed to coach Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (HASSE) faculty through the process of submitting a grant proposal to a federal agency, from conception to completion. Successful grant-seeking requires understanding the priorities of funders, communicating and building relationships at agencies, and advocating for your research to audiences outside of your area of expertise. The Office of Research will provide resources – including travel to Washington, DC (optional) – to faculty members who are motivated to improve their abilities in these areas, and to pursue extramural funding. In return, selected faculty members must commit to the program of activities that will conclude with the submission of a grant proposal before July 1, 2023. The program includes the following activities during winter, spring, and summer 2023, which will be schedule after the cohort is selected:

  • Workshop 1 - Identifying opportunities: Find funders and program officers. Learn to read and interpret RFPs.
  • Workshop 2 - Communicating with funders: Develop an email introduction. Learn the anatomy of a 1-pager / specific aims page / white paper.
  • Workshop 3 - Peer review session: Receive feedback on your 1-pager from the cohort and Strategic Research Initiatives team.
  • DC Trip – In spring or summer 2023, travel to Washington, DC in a group: Visit UCDC, federal agencies, and meet program officers (pending availability of program directors to meet in person).
  • Workshop 4 - Proposal writing workshop: Learn techniques and strategies for writing competitive proposals
  • “Red Team” review - Have your full proposal draft reviewed by a mock review panel including a faculty reviewer from your field and SRI staff
  • Submit proposal

All activities, including the trip to Washington, DC will be organized and funded by the Office of Research. Our goal is to provide an encouraging, educational, and supportive environment in which Commit to Submit cohort members can produce a successful grant proposal.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • conduct research in the Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, or Education.
  • be ladder rank faculty or LSOE, in any college or division, currently employed at UCSB.
  • have a fundable research project idea that they can briefly describe.
  • be targeting a funding agency that funds HASSE research. *If your target funding agency is not in the Washington D.C. area please contact Barbara Walker.*

Questions? Contact Director of Strategic Research Initiatives, Barbara Walker (walker@research.ucsb.edu)