Research Development Guidance

The most competitive funding proposals harness strengths from a diverse team of researchers and draw upon partnerships with other academic institutions, industry, community organizations, local education agencies, and more. Ideally, these relationships are cultivated and established ahead of pursuing a particular funding opportunity. A track record of successful collaboration (and publication) reinforces the feasibility and potential broad impacts of your work for reviewers.

Your colleagues, department, and college/school are often the best place to start making connections specific to your field and approaches.

The Research Development Office is also a resource for PIs looking for guidance in establishing connections with other UMD faculty or external partners. The RDO is steward of successful local, regional, and national initiatives with other USM institutions, minority-serving institutions, corporations, defense contractors, federal cooperative agreements,

See here for a full list of research centers and institutes.

Several internal funding mechanisms administered by the RDO are designed to foster such relationships in the early stages and generate pilot data for external funding proposals: Maryland Catalyst Fund New Directions and Big Opportunity Fund. Review our Internal Funding Calendar and internal seed grant descriptions.

Review PDM services and request support 

Review Limited Submissions overview and consult InfoReady database

Review our Internal Funding Calendar and internal seed grant descriptions.

Cost sharing is the commitment of University of Maryland's resources to a sponsored project. Cost sharing should be included in the proposal only when required, and in accordance with the UMD Cost Sharing Policy. The UMD Office of Research Administration overview on cost sharing can be found here.

When a Federal sponsor mandates cost sharing, standard contributions from the Vice President of Research and the Provost are 10% of cost share direct costs each. Note that this is not a combined 20% of the total project costs, but 20% of the mandatory cost share direct costs. If subawards are issued to other institutions, the VPR and Provost support the mandatory cost share for the budget amount that remains at UMD.

The remaining 80% of any mandatory cost share secured by the PI/team often includes a combination of UMD faculty/staff effort, partner contributions, and unrecovered indirect costs.

Submit all cost share requests to the VPR and Provost using the University Funding Form. Attach the form to an email to Eric Chapman, Dylan Baker, and Jeff Snider.
Obtain unit level commitments/signatures before submitting this form for VPR/Provost support
Please submit at least 2 weeks prior to the sponsor deadline to ensure time for review and determination.
If you have questions about this process, please contact Eric Chapman - echapman@umd.edu

The Universal Funding Request Form (UFF) accompanies two types of funding requests to the Division of Research:  

• Applications for Maryland Catalyst Funds
• Requests for cost share contributions toward sponsored research applications (described above)

PIs and Grant Administration staff should secure and document Unit-level contributions before submitting the UFF.

• For Maryland Catalyst Funds, include the UFF in the application package, submitted via InfoReady
• For cost share contribution requests, attach the UFF to an email to Eric Chapman, Dylan Baker, and Jeff Snider 

When applying for sponsored programs or funding opportunities, proposals often require letters of support or commitment. These letters may need to be signed by high-level university administrators such as the Vice President for Research (VPR), the Provost, or the President. To ensure a smooth process and timely submission, please follow the guidelines outlined below.

Please keep in mind:

• If your request does not require an institutional commitment or a signature from the President, Provost, or VPR, please direct your request to your respective Department Chair or Dean.
• If your request does require an institutional commitment or a signature, please consult with your unit and college/school leadership before submitting the request. This ensures that all relevant parties are aware of the request and that any cost-sharing considerations have been addressed at the unit/college level.
• Requests for letters of support must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the proposal submission date. Requests submitted with less than two weeks’ notice are not guaranteed completion.

Steps for Requesting a Letter of Support or Commitment

1. Craft Your Letter
   1. Draft your letter using Word or Google Docs, ensuring it meets the solicitation’s requirements.
   2. Have the letter reviewed by your Department Chair and/or Associate Dean for Research (ADR) before submission.
2. Submit Your Request
   1. Submit your request via the designated Google Form. Ensure the form includes a clear deadline and all necessary supporting documents.
3. Address Financial Commitments (If Applicable)
   1. If your request includes financial commitments, cost-sharing, or matching funds, submit a separate request for Cost Sharing following university guidelines.
4. RDO Coordination and Processing
   1. Once submitted, the Research Development Office (RDO) will facilitate the review process and coordinate obtaining the necessary signatures.

For questions, contact vprletters@umd.edu.

By following this process, faculty can ensure their proposal receives the necessary institutional support documentation efficiently and on time. Thank you for your cooperation!

Guidelines for the Establishment and Review of Academic and Research-Based Centers and Institutes (PDF)
(Approved by the President April 27, 2021)

The University of Maryland Policy and Procedures for the Establishment and Review of Academic & Research-Based Centers and Institutes (IV-1.00[A]) defines and provides for the development of entities meant to facilitate research, foster collaboration, and enhance the academic experience. These Guidelines were created to support the implementation of the Policy, in the interest of enhancing consistency while recognizing that these entities vary widely across the University.

If you are interested in learning more, or to discuss what it takes to establish, launch, and maintain a successful center or institute, please contact Eric Chapman - echapman@umd.edu.
 

Centers and Institutes on Campus