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FIG and CORE FAQs

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Applicable to both FIG and CORE Grants

Applicable to FIG Grants

FIG/CORE FAQs

Who is eligible to apply?

All tenure track and tenured members of the Lehigh faculty are eligible to apply.

Can an individual apply for a FIG and CORE grant in one year?

Yes.

Can an individual with a current FIG grant apply for a CORE grant?

A faculty member with a current Lehigh internal grant may apply as a member of a team, provided that team composition is different and the project goals and scope of work are significantly different from those of the current award.

Will the absence of any current and pending grants affect my ability to obtain a FIG award?

No. The sole purpose of the list of any current and pending support is to support judgement of how the proposed project differs from any current project. Your ability to compete for external support will be judged by your vision for the project and its fit with the missions of potential sources, how well you identify criteria for success with potential sources and the plan you describe for meeting those criteria. Of course, other material, including your CV, and your narrative concerning the relationship between your personal research agenda and the proposed project, serve to document your capabilities as a researcher.

Should I ask for the maximum award?

You must ask for what you really need to meet the goals of the grant.

Can FIG/CORE awards be used for student support? 

These grants can be used to support stipends and salaries for students who will contribute to the project.

What about budgeting for indirect costs (IC)? 

Do not include indirect costs on a FIG budget.

Is faculty summer salary an eligible expense? 

No faculty salary is not allowed.

Are equipment purchases an allowable expense?

With good justification. Awards are intended to support research activity leading to initiation or expansion of self-sustaining research programs. Applicants are asked to identify current barriers to becoming self-sustaining and to propose a work plan that will lower or remove those barriers. With justification, modest expenditures for equipment may be among the items needed to complete the work that is planned. Those who propose to use a significant portion of their budgets for purchase of equipment must describe how acquisition of the equipment serves the same purpose – enabling sustenance and growth of the research program – that is more typically served by completing research activity.

What if I cannot complete my work within the award period? 

Unused funds revert back to the OVPRGS for later use. However, if you have a compelling reason why the project cannot be completed during the award period, you may submit a request for an extension in writing. The request should indicate the circumstances leading up to the request, the duration of the requested extension and what impact the extension will have on your ability to submit the required proposal to an external funding agency. This request should be sent by email to VPresearch@lehigh.edu. Please include “FIG/CORE extension request” in the subject line.

Can faculty collaborate with external partners on a FIG proposal?

Yes. External partners must cover all costs of their portions of the project.

Will a proposal be given less priority if the external agency identified for follow-up funding does not allow for IC or requires cost share?

The indirect cost policy of the external source will not be considered. If an identified external source requires sharing of direct costs, you will need to identify how the required cost share will be obtained.

Can reviewers' comments on an unfunded grant application be used as evidence of critical barriers for moving the project forward?

Yes, and you will not be discredited for having attempted to go straight for extramural funding. You may paraphrase or quote the review in your application and provide a copy of the critique as an addendum.

FIG only FAQs

I work in a field for which there is no federal agency with a catalog of grant opportunities. How should I go about showing potential for external support?  

You may target one or more foundations that support work in your field or has interest in a topic to which your work can be applied. Conduct of work that demonstrates the merits of a new project or application of an existing line of work to a new area that is of interest to a foundation is excellent use of a FIG award. A FIG award can support initial work with a colleague for that purpose.

What if I plan to submit a proposal for external funding prior to the end of the award period? 

FIG awards are for up to 12 months, and you may expect to be ready to pursue external funding in less time. Of course, if you plan a submission very near the start of the FIG grant, it must be clear why the FIG support is needed, remembering that the FIG should be supporting new work.

Can an individual be awarded a FIG grant in two consecutive years?

An individual or team is limited to one FIG award every two years.

I wish to use a FIG application to transition to a field in which I might not be viewed as qualified. How will this affect my chances of success?

It depends. You would need to make a case that, at the end of the FIG project, you will show promise of contributing to the "destination" field in a manner that would be appreciated by people in that field. A FIG grant can provide a means to show some initial accomplishments and establish a record of publication in a new area. You should consider consultation or collaboration with someone who works in the "destination" field.