Proposal Development

All faculty are encouraged to work with RD staff to explore possibilities. Typically, one to two meetings per research topic includes funding opportunities, fit and readiness assessment, conceptual brainstorming, team building, and competitive intelligence. Requests should be made via email to AVCRD@utk.edu.

RD support includes the following:

• Plan, prepare, and edit proposals;
• Provide project management, budget support, graphics, and timelines to address solicitation requirements;
• Engage external reviewers to provide feedback on technical aspects of the proposal before submission and provide actionable comments similar to agency review panels; and
• Marshal the proposal through the last five-day coordination with the Office of Sponsored Programs to ensure timely submission.

Typically, investigators should engage one month before deadline to receive two reviews of the proposal narrative; alternatively, investigators may engage two weeks before deadline to receive one review. Requests should be made via ADRs (resources in academic units should be used first).

RD staff are already embedded in several UT  communities and will actively match opportunities, explore collaborations and tap well-positioned PIs, and customize proposal support to each project. Requests should be made via email to AVCRD@utk.edu. Typically, these projects will focus on:

• Arts and Humanities opportunities,
• CMUP awards, incl. NSF CAREER,
• NIH R Series,
• Diversity/inclusion scholarship and programs, and
• Follow up on ORE investments/seed funds.

The CRAFT Program is an ORE initiative dedicated to helping faculty in arts and design succeed in their professional goals. Through programming, regular communications, individualized support, and new internal funds, the CRAFT Program has been designed to meet the needs of faculty engaged in creative activities.

CRAFT is primarily for faculty in the School of Art, School of Music, College of Architecture + Design, Theatre Department, and creative writing faculty in the English Department. Other faculty who are engaged in creative activities as part of their research or are interested in collaborating with faculty in the above departments should contact the program coordinator, Hannah Schmidt, at hschmidt@utk.edu.

The faculty Fulbright fellowship provides a year or semester at a host university abroad. The ORE Fulbright Program offers a sequence of opportunities for faculty members to receive advice on their applications for the Fulbright fellowships. The program includes: workshops devoted to the distinctive concerns and problems of the Fulbright application; a group meeting with a UT faculty member who has served on a Fulbright review panel; small writing groups that develop the Fulbright applications; matching individual applicants with a UT faculty member who has received a Fulbright for further review; and finally, reviews of final drafts. For more information, contact Alan Rutenberg at arutenberg@utk.edu.

The Humanities Faculty Fellows Program offers a sequence of opportunities for faculty members in the humanities to receive advice on their applications for humanities fellowships, including the NEH, ACLS, Guggenheim, and off-campus fellowships. The program includes: an initial meeting with the humanities fellows, who are UT faculty members who have received major fellowships, along with Alan Rutenberg, the ORE fellowship advisor; matching the applicant with one of the humanities fellows for further review, and finally, reviews of final drafts. For more information, contact Alan Rutenberg at arutenberg@utk.edu.

Typically, these projects focus on major multi-million-dollar opportunities and special, institutional requests.  Comprehensive support includes representatives from RD staff, the Office of Sponsored Programs, and other research administrators. Support often includes project management, content development, external reviews, and team-building activities. Requests should be made via email to AVCRD@utk.edu.