Department of Psychology Research Innovation Funds

Application and Proposal Instructions

Fall 2023

Overview

The Department of Psychology maintains several restricted funds created to support research in several specific topic areas. Members of the Department conducting scientific research may apply for such funds in the fall term of each year. The funds, and associated topic areas, are as follows.

Available Funding

Ladder and non-ladder faculty awards are capped at $40,000; graduate student and postdoc awards are capped at $10,000. Awards in excess of these amounts may be considered if proposals are deemed by the review committee to be exceptionally compelling. Awards are payable over one year. The Department reserves the right to terminate any grant at any time for any reason. Unused funds must be returned to the department.

Please note: The Smith Fund has been fully encumbered. New awards will only be possible if current studies end and funds are returned to the department.

Eligibility

Eligible award recipients have a current, formal affiliation with the Psychology Department as ladder faculty (Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor), non-ladder faculty (Preceptor, Lecturer, or College Fellow), Postdoctoral Fellow/Research Associate, or current PhD student. PhD student, Postdoc, and Research Associate awards must be accompanied by a letter of support from a current Departmental faculty person.

Submission Timeline

1. Letters of intent are due by December 15, 2023.
2. Proposals will be due by December 30, 2023.
3. Decisions will be announced by January 31, 2024.
4. Funds will be made available shortly thereafter. Fund disbursal will occur upon receipt of signed award terms and conditions, and provision of any other required documentation. Delayed receipt of documentation may delay the disbursal of funds.
5. Research reports will be due from award recipients one year after initial receipt of funds. Reports may be no longer than two pages.

Letter of Intent

Letters of intent are strongly encouraged but not required. Please consider submitting a letter of intent to help facilitate an expedited review process. To indicate your interest in applying for an award, please submit the following information and documentation via this form by December 15, 2023.

1. Name
2. Email Address
3. Phone Number
4. Current Department Affiliation (PhD student, postdoc, etc.)
5. PI / Advisor Name
6. Fund to which you are applying (Ditmars, Hodgson, Rand, or Talley)
7. Name of Project
8. Total Amount of Funding Requested
9. No more than 1-page description of project, including proposed budget

Application Requirements

To apply for funding, please submit the following information and documentation via this form by December 30, 2023.

1. Name
2. Email Address
3. Phone Number
4. Current Department Affiliation (PhD student, postdoc, etc.)
5. PI / Advisor Name
6. Fund to which you are applying (Ditmars, Hodgson, Rand, or Talley)
7. Name of Project
8. One-Sentence Description of Project
9. Total Amount of Funding Requested
10. Consolidated PDF file including the following components:
    1. Proposal Narrative (3-page limit). Narratives are limited to three pages (single-spaced) and should describe the Specific Aims, Significance and Innovation, and Research Strategy of the proposed project. Letters of support, biosketch, and budget do not count toward the 3-page limit.
    2. Letter of Support (required for Postdoc, Research Associate, and PhD applicants)
    3. NIH-style biosketch for each PI/Co-I must be included.
    4. Budget. A budget and budget justification are required. Budget categories may include:
       1. Personnel - Salary support for research assistants is allowable to the extent that they work on the specified project and are authorized in advance by either a ladder faculty member or senior administrator in the department. Any benefits-eligible personnel expenses in the budget must include the appropriate fringe rates for the year. Applicants should consult with their portfolio manager in the Business Office prior to budgeting for any personnel. Please note: Only ladder faculty and senior administrators are authorized to hire personnel. Consult Krista Lester with questions.
       2. Equipment - Only expenditures for the purposes of the proposed project are allowable. Funds for equipment to improve the general facilities of the laboratory will not be approved. Funds for maintenance or service contracts are not allowable. Equipment purchases are the property of Harvard University and will remain so after the termination of the project.
       3. Computers - Computers are considered property of Harvard University and must be returned to the Department upon the termination of the project or departure of the individual assigned to use the computer.
       4. Travel - Travel to collect specimens or obtain data necessary to conduct the proposed research is allowable and must be explained thoroughly in the budget justification. Other travel is not an allowable budget item unless it can be related directly to the enhancement and/or dissemination of the funded project.
       5. Supplies - All research-related supplies are allowed.
       6. Overhead - Overhead may be assessed in accordance with donor terms and University policies regarding restricted gift and endowment funds. Consult your portfolio manager in the Business Office before submitting your application to ensure that all applicable required fees are included in your proposed budget.
    5. Other Support. Include a detailed list of the PI’s active and pending support. Information provided should include name of sponsor, award period, award amount, and name of project. Other Support includes all financial resources, whether Federal, non-Federal, commercial or institutional, available in direct support of an individual’s research endeavors, including but not limited to research grants, cooperative agreements, contracts and/or institutional awards. Please include any Harvard internal grants or major, project-specific support. Please do not include any startup/SEED or TAD funding. Also include a short narrative (no more than one paragraph) demonstrating the applicant’s need for funding.

Acknowledgment and Reporting Requirements

As a condition of receiving an award, award recipients will provide a brief (<2 page) summary of their funded research and the results of that research, which may be made available to the donor who provided the funds.

Assurance of Compliance

Award recipients are expected to comply with all University, FAS, and Department of Psychology policies governing the conduct of research including, but not limited to the use of animals, human subjects, hazardous materials, and export controls. All applicants are subject to audit.

Questions?