Research and Sponsored Programs Workshop Series
Join us for an exciting series on research and sponsored programs. Workshop session descriptions and information are below. Please contact cafe@tntech.edu with questions.
2024-2025 Events
Our 2024-2025 Research Workshop Series has ended. We will announce 2025-2026 events soon! In the meantime, resources and slides from this year's sessions are below.
Spring 2025
Managing Multiple Research Projects
February 28, 2025
Learn how to successfully navigate the challenges of being a PI or Co-PI on multiple projects. Sessions will cover strategies for building and leading research teams, best practices for grant management, and insights from experienced faculty.
High Powered Computing and Artificial Intelligence
February 8, 2025
Sponsored by the College of Engineering
Interested in using high-powered computing or artificial intelligence in your research? Join us for this 1-day workshop to connect and collaborate with other faculty using these tools. Learn about Tech’s HPC facilities and get started using state-of-the-art AI in your own research.
Engaging Undergraduates in Research: Methods, Experiences, and Opportunities
January 24, 2025
Dr. Dan VandenBerge
This workshop seeks to help faculty grow in their understanding and use of undergraduate research. Participants will learn how undergraduate research can grow faculty’s research programs as well as benefitting the students with whom they work. We will explore best practices for connecting students to existing research and mentoring them through the experience. Both internal and external resources for supporting undergraduate research will be highlighted. Methods for recruiting students to undergraduate research will also be discussed. Activities will include an introductory presentation, active group learning and discussions, a brief presentation of funding opportunities, and a panel discussion with faculty and students about their experiences with undergraduate research.
Writing to the Call, Proposal Reviews, and Panel Service
January 31, 2025
Jeanette Luna, Department of Earth Sciences
Take your proposal from good to excellent! This session explores best practices for submitting winning proposals, incorporating feedback from panel reviews, and leveling up your grant writing through panel service.
Fall 2024
Getting Started with Research Grants
September 20, 2024
Join us to discover the research infrastructure at Tennessee Tech that can assist you in applying for and securing external research funding. Sessions will cover the essentials of the grant cycle, introduce key proposal terminology, and explain the pre-award grant process, as well as hear from current faculty regarding their experiences as a New PI. Discover the research infrastructure at Tennessee Tech that can assist you in applying for and securing external research funding. Learn more about each session below.
- Introduction to the Proposal Process
Introduction to the Proposal Process
Mark Lynam, Research & Economic DevelopmentThis session will summarize the grant cycle, introduce proposal terminology, and describe the pre-award grant process. Learn about research infrastructure available at Tennessee Tech to help you apply for and secure external research funding.
- Grant Activation, Grant Management, and Compliance
Grant Activation, Grant Management, and Compliance
Gail Ligon, Business Office; Neal Hunt, Research & Economic DevelopmentYou got a grant! Now what? This session introduces the policies and procedures that govern grant spending. Build your vocabulary to understand index numbers, annual reports, import/export controls and the important rules (written and unwritten) of federal, state, local, and industry-funded research expenditures.
- Discussion Panel: Lessons Learned as a New PI
Discussion Panel: Lessons Learned as a New PI
Victoria Ayres, Agriculture; Gourab Bhattacharya, Earth Sciences; Kyle Murphy, Chemistry; Susmit Shannigrahi, Computer ScienceHear from tenure-track faculty who’ve successfully navigated the funding landscape to secure research grants. What challenges did they face? What approach worked best? Questions welcome!
Identifying Funding Opportunities
October 25, 2024
Mark Lynam, Research & Economic Development; Allen MacKenzie, College of Engineering
How do researchers find funding? Master the tools available at Tennessee Tech to monitor and identify sponsored programs that match your area of expertise.
Best Practices for Research Grant Budgets
November 1, 2024
Join for the second part of our research series and learn the best practices for creating and managing your research budget. In our first session, you'll learn to create a straightforward budget using good-faith estimates. Dive deeper in our second session, where we tackle complex budgeting scenarios. Gain insights into handling subawards, navigating contract negotiations, managing budget revisions, and more. Plus, hear from experienced budget bookkeepers on best practices and common pitfalls in research budget management. Learn more about each session below.
- Introduction to Budget Basics in Streamlyne
Introduction to Budget Basics in Streamlyne
Neal Hunt, Research & Economic DevelopmentLearn to use good faith estimates to create a simple budget in Streamlyne. This discussion will cover basic grant budget items, from indirect costs to cost sharing to subawards. Learn to build a budget during the proposal process that makes grant management easy when the project is awarded!
- Complex Budget Showcase
Complex Budget Showcase
Mark Lynam, Research & Economic Development; Kelly Kiger, Research & Economic DevelopmentYou mastered proposal budget basics. But, what about complicated budgets? Explore a series of complex budgets in this session to learn tips and tricks for subawards, contract negotiations, budget revisions, and other budget challenges that come up during the full grant cycle.
- Discussion Panel: Working with a Bookkeeper
Discussion Panel: Working with a Bookkeeper
Jill DeBord, Research & Economic Development; Sara Howard, Cybersecurity Education Research & Outreach Center; Karin Kopinski-Gilbert, Water Center; and Shanae Tyree, Center for Energy Systems ResearchHear from budget bookkeepers about best practices and biggest pitfalls in managing a research budget. Explore the role of a budget bookkeeper to assist you with grant expenditures and review your fiscal responsibilities as Principal Investigator. Questions welcome!