Office of Sponsored Programs

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Before you embark on a research project, you will want to find out if you are eligible to serve as a principal investigator (also called project director).

You should also become familiar with the Proposal Submission Timelines Chart, which provides critical milestones for quality proposal submissions. 

For your reference, we have also created a Research Foundation Glossary should you come across unfamiliar terminology, abbreviations, and acronyms.

Project Types

Principal investigators will fall into one of two research categories: sponsored or self-support programs.  

  • Sponsored Programs: External Funding: These are research endeavors, service projects, and other specific initiatives funded by an external sponsoring organization.

  • Self-Support Programs: These projects are generally underwritten by the Research Foundation or self-funded through registration, user, or service fees. Examples include conferences and faculty development.

Grant Lifecycle

Many things happen behind the scenes before, during, and after a research endeavor. Each milestone brings you one step closer to a successful project. 

Learn More About Each Step