Research and Sponsored Programs

Bitmoji of instructor smiling and giving a thumbs upMessage from your peer facilitator:

Ask your colleagues for examples of successful proposals to help you craft your submissions.
 

5.2 RESEARCH AND SPONSORED PROGRAMS

 

Office of Research & Sponsored Programs

The Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) office supports research at CSUN. One of their primary responsibilities is in managing all research grants and contracted ("sponsored") programs for the university. The RSP office is also your institutional partner for matters related to research integrity, intellectual property, and all campus Centers and Institutes. We also work closely with the Research and Grants Committee, a Faculty Senate committee that supports faculty research efforts. If you haven’t met your college’s representative yet, you are encouraged to reach out!

In addition to supporting funded research, RSP houses the following research oversight boards:

As the department responsible for ensuring CSUN’s compliance with all federal, state, local, and CSU system-wide laws and requirements, RSP supports these committees to ensure careful consideration of the ethical implications of our research and compliance with research and safety regulations.

Above all, the RSP team is here to help you!  You can view the complete RSP staff directory and identify your college/department liaisons—they are the first people to ask when you’re thinking about submitting a new proposal or need some assistance but aren’t sure who can help you.

And speaking of proposals, you can visit the Funding Opportunities page to learn how to search for new grant opportunities. Some internal grants that may be of interest to first-year faculty are highlighted below.

 

Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity (RSCA) Awards

Each year, the CSU Chancellor's Office provides funding to each campus to support faculty research, scholarship and creative activity, interpreted broadly to mean the disciplined quest for broadening human understanding. There are two categories of awards: 1) mini-grant, not to exceed $5,000, or 2) 3 units of reassigned time (to be utilized during the academic year). Proposals are usually due each Spring, sometime around Feb 20th. 

 

Research & Sponsored Project (RSP) Summer Grant Program

The Research & Sponsored Programs (RSP) office is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 2024 Summer Grant Program. The purpose of the Summer Grant Program is to provide summer salary to support the development of a proposal for external funding, to be submitted through RSP as early as July 1, 2024, but no later than April 15, 2025. Visit the Funding Opportunities page at the Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) office website for more details.

 

Pathways to Tenure Grant Program (formerly known as the Probationary Faculty Grant)

The Pathways to Tenure Grant Program is supported by the Division of Academic Affairs and administered by the Office of Faculty Development.  It provides funding for 3 units of reassigned time to assist probationary, tenure-track faculty in meeting the qualifications for retention, tenure, or promotion. While tenure-track faculty members in their third through fifth years and those who have not previously received awards under this program will be given priority, all probationary, tenure-track faculty can apply. Proposals are due in March.

 

Community Engagement Grant Programs

The Office of Community Engagement also offers a set of grants that you might be able to connect to your scholarly agenda if your research and teaching involves service learning. For instance, in the Grant Cycle announcement (due in April), the following grants are listed as options: Pedagogical Grant ($2,500), the Faculty-Engaged Research or Creative Activity Grant ($1,500), Seed Grants ($1,000), the Student Scholar Grant ($500), and Travel Grants ($500). 

The 2024-2025 grant cycle is currently closed, check back next year.