Division of Research, Commercialization and
Outreach
6300 OCEAN DRIVE, UNIT 5843
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS 78412
O 361.825.2177 • F 361.825.2755
April 13, 2015
To:
Faculty and Research Scientists/Fellows
From:
Luis Cifuentes, Vice President for Research, Commercialization and Outreach
Ahmed Mahdy, Director of Research Development and Commercialization
Ron George, Senior Research Development Officer
Dan Riechers, Research Development Officer
Subject:
Texas Research Development and Research Enhancement Funds – 2015 Call for Proposals
This memorandum announces the 2015 call for Texas Research Development Fund (TRDF) and Research
Enhancement (RE) proposals. The Division of Research, Commercialization and Outreach (RCO) administers
these funds and has designed five programs with the following goals.
 to help faculty members and research scientists/fellows write more competitive proposals
 to increase the presence of post-doctoral fellows on campus
 to seed new research and scholarly activity that will lead to funding opportunities
 to seek new areas of research funding
Funding is contingent upon state budget allowance. University rule (15.01.01.C1.01, section 4.1) sets aside 40%
of the funds to be awarded at the college level; the University Research Enhancement Committee awards the
remaining 60%. For FY16 (2015-2016) TRDF funded programs, funds will be available on September 1, 2015
and must be expended by August 31, 2016.
 Tenured faculty, tenure-track faculty and research scientists/fellows are eligible for TRDF funding
 Only tenured or tenure-track faculty members are eligible for RE grants.
Faculty members may apply for both college-level and university-level grants, but the same or substantially the
same proposal cannot be funded at both levels. In order to support the research efforts of as many faculty
members as possible, faculty members who have been awarded a university level grant for the 2014-2015
academic years are not eligible to submit a proposal for university level funding in the 2015-2016 academic year.
Please visit the research office web site for application information. Visit RCO Forms for forms and information
needed to prepare both TRDF and RE proposals.
For budget assistance, please contact Tuan Phung, [email protected]
For proposal development assistance, please contact Daniel Riechers, [email protected]
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Division of Research, Commercialization and
Outreach
6300 OCEAN DRIVE, UNIT 5843
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS 78412
O 361.825.2177 • F 361.825.2755
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INCENTIVE PROGRAM (POC: Dan Riechers)
Award limit: Up to $1,500
Number of awards: Based on availability of funds
Deadline: After June 1, 2016 and ongoing until funds are exhausted
Proposal not required—contact Daniel Riechers with your request
Objective: To encourage faculty and research scientists/fellows who have not submitted a proposal from
TAMU-CC since September 1, 2012, to write and submit a proposal
Eligibility: Faculty members and research scientists/fellows
Applicants can request funds between June 1, 2015 and May 31, 2016 for assistance after September 1, 2015
with submitting a proposal. The proposal must be for more than $5,000. The funds can be used by the faculty and
research scientists/fellows for research-related expenditures. For example, travel to a workshop or conference
(student and international travel are not allowed), travel to meet with a program officer or support for a studentworker to assist with research and scholarship. These funds will be allotted in a first-come, first-served basis and
must be expended by August 31, 2016.
PROPOSAL RESUBMISSION INCENTIVE PROGRAM (POC: Dan Riechers)
Award limit: Up to $2,500
Number of awards: Based on availability of funds
Deadline: After June 1, 2016 and ongoing until funds are exhausted
Proposal not required—contact Daniel Riechers with your request
Objective: To encourage faculty and research scientists/fellows to resubmit a proposal rejected within the last 18
months
Eligibility: Faculty members and research scientists/fellows who have recently been denied an external grant of
at least $100,000, with a strong possibility of funding if resubmitted
This program supports activities leading to a stronger resubmission. Requests for these funds should be
combined with matching support from startup funds, department heads or college deans. The PI must meet with
Daniel Riechers to create a plan for revision that meets a grant application deadline before July 15, 2016. Only
expenses that directly impact the development of an improved resubmission will be considered, such as
professional grant writers, travel to meet with program managers or salary for the assistance of a graduate
student. These funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis after September 1, 2015 and must be
expended by August 31, 2016.
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Division of Research, Commercialization and
Outreach
6300 OCEAN DRIVE, UNIT 5843
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS 78412
O 361.825.2177 • F 361.825.2755
POST-DOCTORAL SUPPORT PROGRAM (POC: Ahmed Mahdy)
Available funds: $90,000
Number of awards: 3
Full proposal due: Friday, June 5, 2015, at 12:00 midnight central time, no exceptions
Award period: September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016
Application: http://research.tamucc.edu/RCO-forms.html
Objective: To increase the number of post-doctoral fellows on the TAMU-CC campus
Eligibility: Faculty members and research scientists/fellows
The program will support a portion of up to three post-docs at $30,000 each. This award can be used only for
salary. The faculty member or research scientists/fellows writing the proposal must secure the additional funds
required to fully fund a post-doc for the award period. The funded post-doc must
 present their work at least once to the campus community
 work with the research development office to prepare at least one new proposal submission
 participate in an activity with the campus outreach office (e.g. speak at a summer camp, share their
expertise with the local community, etc.)
 report on these activities to the hiring department and the research office
A full proposal must be submitted electronically by the deadline to Daniel Riechers. Proposals must include PI
information and a brief statement about existing funding. The application for this call can be found at RCO
Forms on the Research Office website. Interested faculty and research scientists/fellows who are able to leverage
existing post-doc salary should contact Ahmed Mahdy as soon as possible.
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT FUNDING PROGRAM (POC: Dan Riechers)
Available funds: $100,000
Number of awards: 5
Full proposal due: Friday, June 5, 2015, at 12:00 midnight central time, no exceptions
Award period: September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016
Application: http://research.tamucc.edu/RCO-forms.html
Objective: To provide faculty members and research scientists/fellows with funding to conduct preliminary
research or scholarship that allows the PI to move into a new area of research and scholarship, particularly one
that involves interdisciplinary research
Eligibility: Faculty members and research scientists/fellows
The proposal must include a clearly stated plan for later submission of a proposal to a federal or state agency or
to a foundation that funds the PI’s new area of research and scholarship. This call requires that a full proposal be
submitted electronically. These projects will be funded at $20,000, no more, no less. The application and other
forms can be found at RCO Forms on the Research Office website. Support of graduate students is strongly
encouraged.
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Division of Research, Commercialization and
Outreach
6300 OCEAN DRIVE, UNIT 5843
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS 78412
O 361.825.2177 • F 361.825.2755
RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT FUNDING PROGRAM (POC: Dan Riechers)
Available funds: $60,000
Number of awards: 12
Full proposal due: Friday, May 15, 2015, at 12:00 midnight central time, no exceptions
Award period: September 1, 2015 to August 31, 2016
Application: http://research.tamucc.edu/RCO-forms.html
Objective: To provide faculty members with seed funding to jump-start research programs or scholarly activity
that has a clearly stated plan for sustaining the project beyond the funding period
Eligibility: Tenured and tenure-track faculty
This call requires a full proposal, which must present a research plan or course of action for scholarly activity. A
brief discussion of how the project could be funded or sustained after the award is expended. Projects will be
funded at $5,000, no more, no less. The application form is posted at RCO Forms on the Research Office
website. Student support is strongly encouraged. Course releases can be budgeted with the approval of your
department chair and college dean.
KEY POINTS:
1. Visit http://research.tamucc.edu/RCO-forms.html for forms and information needed to prepare both TRDF
and RE proposals.
2. TRDF or RE funding will not provide funding for projects that are currently or have been recently supported.
3. Student and international travel are not allowed.
4. An internally selected panel of research office staff and selected associate deans from the colleges will
review TRDF proposals. Primary evaluation criteria are found below.
5. The University Research Enhancement Committee will review RE proposals. The University Research
Enhancement Committee consists of two representatives elected by each of the colleges to serve for two
years with staggered terms. Dr. Luis Cifuentes, the Vice President for Research, Commercialization and
Outreach, chairs the University Research Enhancement Committee, serves as a non-voting member and
provides administrative support to the Research Enhancement Program. Primary evaluation criteria are found
below.
PRIMARY EVALUATION CRITERIA:
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5.
Clarity of proposal
Research merit
Potential for submitting research proposals to federal or other agency within 1.5 years
Qualifications of PI
Appropriateness of budget
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