Seed Grant Program

• Eligibility: Radow College full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty
• Funding: Up to $7,500 (for single investigator) or up to $15,000 (for 2+ Investigators)
• Focus: Early-stage research leading to a proposal for extramural funding
• Application: Proposals accepted from September 1, 2024 – November 1, 2024. Submit applications via the InfoReady @ KSU portal

The Radow College Seed Grant Program supports grant proposal development, pilot research, and other activities that advance faculty research projects to the point where they can attract extramural funding. Recipients of seed grant support commit to developing their project for major grant or foundation submission within six (6) months of seed funding’s conclusion.

The program invites proposals on a range of topics.  However, in line with this year’s emphasis on mental health awareness, research proposals that engage the topic are eligible for additional funding beyond the above noted funding caps.  Proposals that seek the additional level of funding must make a clear and compelling case for how the project addresses mental health/mental health awareness and the value-added of the increased funding requested.

The Radow College seed program is not a small grant program. Funding will not be awarded to proposals that do not describe plans to secure extramural funding.

• Applicants must be tenured or tenure-track faculty members in Radow College
• Applications may be individual or collaborative projects. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with faculty from outside Radow College, but only Radow College faculty can receive funding.
• Faculty may receive Radow College Seed Grant funding at the same time as other internal funding, but may not use it for the same stage of the project. This distinction must be addressed and acknowledged in the application narrative.
• There is a limit of one (1) award per faculty member per fiscal year.

Awardees must submit a written plan for encumbering/spending funds to RCHSSresearch@kennesaw.edu within 14 days of a funding decision. Failure to submit a spending calendar within the 14-day window risks having the funds reclaimed by the college.  

• Funds can be used for equipment, materials, and technology purchases essential to the project.
• Funds can be used to hire a Graduate Assistant to support research efforts.
• Funds can be used for travel to undertake project-related research, including flights, mileage, lodging, per diems, or other eligible costs.  However, Funds cannot be used to attend conferences or other destinations not directly related to project research. All USG/KSU Travel rules apply (https://fiscalservices.kennesaw.edu/travel/faqs.php).
• Funds can be used for June compensation, but for no more than one (1) member of a research team. The award will be inclusive of fringes (23%) and overall support is subject to 33 1/3% summer compensation limit.  [Note: Budgets that include only summer compensation will not be as competitive as those that engage students or include research equipment and supplies.]
• Funds cannot be used for faculty salaries or to secure course reassignments during fall or spring semesters.

NOTE: All award funds must be expensed during the fiscal year and must observe Radow College year-end purchasing deadlines.

The Seed Funding program is using the InfoReady@KSU portal for all submissions. The application should be composed in an MS-Word compatible format using 12-point fonts and 1” margins. Text shall be double-spaced. Each Roman-numerated section should begin on a new page. Proposals that do not meet the formatting expectations are subject to being returned unreviewed.

I. Cover Page: Project title, name(s) of principal investigator(s), department/school(s), contact information.

II. Abstract (1 page max): Describe the primary objectives of the research project or creative activity, the significance of the project/activity, and key deliverables.

III. Project Narrative (3 pages max): The narrative should include the following in clearly identifiable sections.

1. Background Statement:  What is the project? Why is the project significant? What is the research question? Include a brief statement on current approaches to the topic, identify existing challenges or limitations of the current approaches, and explain how the proposed research or creative activity addresses those challenges.
2. Statement of Objectives: What do you plan to achieve? Explain the objective of your project. Avoiding unnecessary jargon, identify and explain the methodological approach and the anticipated results.
3. Plan of Work: What is the project timeline? Provide a plan for meeting objectives, with an explanation of procedures, activities, risks, timeline, and milestones. GANTT charts are encouraged.  If appropriate, explain the plan for human/animal use and safety.  For multi-PI proposals, identify the contribution of each investigator and provide a clear plan of collaboration.  Be sure to distinguish between activities funded by the seed grant program and project for which you will seek external funding.

IV. Selected Bibliography (1 page max).

V. Budget with Justification (1 page max). Explain how funds will be used. List major equipment and materials to be purchased and describe how they are necessary to carry out the proposed project. Explain how travel funds are necessary to meet project objectives and will be used to conduct the project.  

VI. CV or Biographical Sketch(es) (@ 2 pages max): Each PI should provide a current CV or biographical sketch.  Applicants are encouraged to follow NSF or NIH format.  A one-page summary of other key personnel may also be included (if applicable).

VII. Plans for Obtaining Extramural Funding (1 page max): Identify your plans to secure extramural funding.  The plan should include:  1) Name of funding agency (include URL), 2) title of the funding program, 3) a description of how your project relates to the RFP or program’s goals, 4) an estimate of the funding to be requested from the agency/foundation, and 5) an indication of any interactions you have had with granting agency (if applicable).  If considering multiple funding agencies, please provide above information for each. 

VIII. Statement on Human Subjects: All research involving human subjects must have IRB approval. Though a proposal that has not yet undergone IRB review will be considered for funding, no funds can be disbursed until the project is approved.

NOTE: Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis and awards offered until the available funding has been exhausted.

Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of: project feasibility; intellectual merit; clarity of objectives, methods, and anticipated results; reasonableness of costs; qualifications of personnel, including familiarity with the relevant literature, data, and methods to be used. Special attention will be given to the potential for outputs to serve as the foundation for a larger-scale, externally funded project.

• Funded investigators commit to submitting an End of Year Report (see below).
• Funded investigators agree to notify the Associate Dean of Research of project deliverables and to provide copies of articles, chapters, or other scholarly outputs supported by the award, including any publicity materials, press clippings, or reviews.
• Funded investigators agree to have research summarized in a Radow College publication, if requested.
• Funded investigators agree to participate in follow-on activities such as present their research at a seminar, workshop, or other event and/or serving as a reviewer, if requested.
• Funded investigators commit to acknowledge Radow College support in any papers and publication ensuing from the research.

• An “End of Year” report is due by June 30, 2025. 
• The report should be completed using the template distributed through InfoReady.
• The report shall include proof of proposal submission to an extramural funding agency.  If the investigator has not submitted a grant proposal by the report date, the investigator should provide a clear timeline for submission. 
• A project cannot be “closed” until the report has been received.  An investigator with an “open” project is not eligible for additional Radow College research funding.

The Radow College grant application scoring system uses the NSF’s 5-point scale.  The entire scale should be considered for each criterion.  The Summary Assessment should reflect the reviewer’s overall evaluation of the proposal (i.e., not a numerical average of individual criterion scores).  A score of “3” represents a “good” application.

Comments: Identify key strengths and highlight areas that need strengthening. Offer recommendations for how to address shortcomings.