The Armstrong Fund for Science
RFP
Downloadable RFP [PDF]
The Armstrong Fund for Science was established to encourage faculty at UMass Amherst to pursue research that has a significant likelihood of major science or engineering impact. Made possible through the generosity of John and Elizabeth Armstrong, this fund was created in 2006 with the belief that major scientific advances in society can be achieved by supporting researchers with bold vision, documented credentials, and a passion for results. The Armstrong Fund for Science seeks to support researchers willing to challenge conventions in their field. Grants will be made from this fund, administered by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, on an annual basis.
Purpose and Allowable Use of Funds
The Armstrong Fund for Science is intended for faculty members with aggressive research visions. Grants from this program should be used to strategically expand their programs by positioning their research for large, extramural grants or key industrial partnerships. The research should represent a new initiative: either a bold, new line of research, or the application of prior research to a field that has no precedent for it. Junior faculty and women faculty in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines are encouraged to apply. Proposals from senior faculty will also be considered if they represent a new and somewhat risky direction for the faculty member’s research program. Only projects which support priority initiatives of the campus as determined by the Dean and approved by the Provost will be funded.
Awardees will be required to provide a final report at the end of the project. A public lecture may be appropriate at the end of the grant, describing the results of the research.
The Armstrong Fund for Science is intended to:
- Enhance the faculty member’s ability to develop significant sponsored activities in areas of strategic relevance to the campus;
- Permit faculty members to pursue adventurous ideas;
- Build tangible, working relationships with industry;
- Raise the campus’s national profile as a source of scientific innovation.
These funds may be used for:
- graduate students and expenses, including as a recruiting tool for exceptional graduate student candidates;
- support for grant development and writing, e.g., release time;
- travel in connection with building the research program;
- honoraria and expenses related to bringing to campus key people that can help the research have the desired impact;
- facilities to enable the research program;
- expenses related to pilot studies;
- dependent care expenses incurred by professional travel.
These funds may not be used for:
- The writing and preparation of manuscripts intended to be used as standard textbooks;
- The preparation of lectures, demonstrations, syllabi or other course related materials;
- The remedy of budgetary deficiency in other research contracts or grants;
- Travel to sabbatical research sites;
- Reprint costs or library fees;
- Publication costs for individuals or department/disciplinary monographs or series.
Selection Criteria
The Selection Committee will consist of the Deans of the Colleges of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Engineering, and Natural Resources & the Environment, and the Vice Provost for Research. The Committee will also solicit external perspectives and input, and the donors may request additional representation on the Committee. Finalists will be reviewed with the Armstrongs prior to announcing awardees.
The criteria that will be considered include:
- Preference will be given to unconventional ideas in the STEM disciplines.
- Research must support priority initiatives as determined by the Dean and approved by the Provost, related to a specific program or a professorship involved in the highest quality work in the natural sciences.
- Projects should focus on research that has a significant likelihood of major scientific or engineering impact.
- Connections to society and industry should be well articulated.
- Projects should be short term, no longer than 2 years, not to exceed $40,000. There are no match requirements but external (i.e., industry) matches will be viewed favorably.
Description of Grant Application Process
Grants from the Armstrong Fund for Science will be awarded annually. Applications will be due to the Vice Provost for Research on the February 1. Awards will be announced by March 15 to enable faculty to use the funds as a recruiting tool for exceptional graduate students, if desired. Funds will be disbursed in July.
Applicants will learn about the Armstrong Fund for Science by
- a paper-mailing that will go to all STEM departments by Dec 1;
- the funding page on the Vice Provost for Research “internal funding opportunities”;
- significant coverage in each December issue of the Research Area’s monthly e-newsletter, Research ACCESS
- promotion to the deans at the bi-monthly Deans’ Research Meetings facilitated by the Vice Provost for Research
- a press release on July 1 when the new Armstrong Fund for Science awards are announced
Applications should include:
- cover page/application with faculty member’s name, department and contact information, project title, brief description, and dean's signature
- a statement of the proposed project, including description of the significant impact the research might have (3 page limit)
- general rationale for requested level of support and budget (1 page limit)
- A brief CV, (limited to 2 pages)
For Further Information
Barbara Pearson
Armstrong Fund for Science Program Administrator
Research Liaison & Development
Research Administration Building
70 Butterfield Terrace
Amherst, MA 01003
413-545-2706
413-577-1500 (fax)
bpearson@research.umass.edu
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