There are many benefits that come with PSTC faculty associate status and they include access to services provided by PSTC staff, seed funding for research projects or workshops, support for conference travel, and more.
Funding
The PSTC finds it important to respond to emerging opportunities so proposals for use of developmental funds are accepted on a rolling basis. Periodically, we will announce special developmental opportunities to associates and provide application information. We encourage associates to talk to the Director before applying for funds to ensure that the scope of the proposed work is consistent with organizational objectives and available resources. For any projects that involve human-subjects research, the associate must have CITI certification before receiving funds and must have an approved IRB protocol before beginning the human subjects component of the research.
How to Apply for Funding
All PSTC associates, inclusive of postdoctoral fellows, are eligible to apply for the use of developmental funds made available by our NICHD infrastructure grant and other resources. Access to these funds depends on these factors:
- Scientific merit of each activity
- Potential to contribute to the scholarly development of participants
- Consistency with signature themes or with other emerging areas of strength
- Past success in translating developmental funds into externally funded research and publications
- Feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the proposed activity
- The evident need for timely and flexible resources
- Potential interdisciplinary impact
The relative balance of these priorities is different for faculty at different stages of intellectual development. Proposals are reviewed and approved by the Director in consultation with the Steering Committee and Assistant Director. See the 2012 Call for Applications for more details on requesting funds from the Pilot Research Program.
There are 3 types of activities PSTC supports and the procedure for application is outlined below.
- Individual or Collaborative Research Seed Money
Individual associates or a group of associates can request money at any time. For requests of $2,000 or less, we require the associate to submit a description of the proposed activity. For requests over $2,001, the associate must provide a budget and budget justification; summary of the overall research project or agenda; plans for obtaining external funding to support the broader agenda; and a discussion of how the timely nature of an opportunity and limitations on other possible sources of support make this activity particularly well-suited to the use of Developmental Funds. Resources requested might include data purchase or research-assistant time for preliminary feasibility analysis or background literature review. Within 3 months of completing the funded activity, a brief summary indicating how these funds have affected their research progress and specific plans for seeking external funding are required. - Workshops or Conferences
Requests for funds to support workshops and conferences require a discussion of the purpose of the proposed activity, a summary of the likely audience for the workshop both within and outside Brown, a characterization of how this activity will further the mission of the PSTC, a statement of other sources of support that PSTC funds might leverage, and a preliminary budget. Activities will be evaluated in part with respect to the number of PSTC associates likely to participate and the promotion of intellectual exchange between PSTC faculty and currently unaffiliated faculty in other units. Examples of the types of activities that could be supported are a conference bringing attention to a new line of scholarly research in which PSTC researchers are playing a leading role, or providing instruction in an emerging set of research skills that will likely benefit a cross-section of PSTC researchers. Within 3 months of the supported activity, a program summary and brief discussion of the impact of the activity is required following the use of developmental funds for this purpose. - Faculty Recruitment
Requests for resources to support faculty recruitment come from the departmental chairs of the recruiting department. In order to be eligible for consideration for support, faculty must have an active portfolio of population-related research and express an interest in PSTC affiliation. Requests can be for seed funds or in-kind such as office space.