This page has been designed to assist faculty with submitting proposals for funding.

Who may submit a proposal? Regular faculty members and fixed-term faculty employees of the University with a rank of assistant professor and higher may be identified as the sole or co-principal investigator on proposals seeking support for a sponsored research, education or service project. Individuals holding other appointment titles such as research associates, specialists, postdoctoral fellows, and visiting, adjunct and clinical faculty normally may submit proposals only as co-investigators with a regular MSU faculty member. Upon approval by the appropriate department, college, and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, these non-regular faculty may serve as sole principal investigators.

To approve non-regular faculty members as sole project directors, the Office of the Vice President for Research (VPR) will need to review the transmittal and proposal at least three days prior to the intended submission date. A VPR signature on the transmittal will serve as the approval. The VPR is located in Room 232 Administration Building, phone # 5-0306. Early and/or blanket approval for specific types of projects for certain project directors is highly encouraged.

As soon as you know you will be submitting a proposal, please let Debra Mills know. She can help you with preparing the budget and assist with the explanations needed in your budget justification. The following items MUST be submitted to Debra Mills or Sharon Nichols at least FIVE working days prior to the proposal deadline. The chairperson will not sign the transmittal unless first reviewed by the department office. The CNS Research office requires at least 48 hours to review the items listed below before they will sign the original transmittal sheet. Keep in mind, if you are in collaboration with PI's from other departments, each department has its own deadlines which can delay the process.

• Transmittal
• Sponsor & RFP
• COI (Conflict of Interest) - Required only by NSF, NIH, USDA
• Project Summary/Abstract/Description
• Budget (please send electronically)
• Budget Justification

• Transmittal Form in Word or Transmittal Form in PDF

• Conflict of Interest Form in Word For more information see: Guidelines for Potential Conflicts of Interest - this form is required for NSF & NIH

• Multi Year Budget Template in Excel

MSU Contract & Grant Administration home page

Indirect Cost Rates see Explanation of IC rates for more information

Salary Budget Builder - must log in using your MSU NetID (be sure to select the correct start date)

Specific Identification (SI) Fringe Information - this section will provide the documentation and help explain the MSU fringe rate system in your budget justification

Calculating Fringe Benefits: The above Budget Builder will assist you with calculating fringe benefits.

Graduate Assistant Costs - when budgeting graduate students on your grants, you must include the health care and tuition & fees costs listed on this worksheet. Note: the tuition & fees are exempt from indirect so they should be subtracted off your total direct expenses prior to calculating the indirect

Animal Use & Care Guidelines - if you are using animals in your research this is an important website for you to review. You must complete the Animal Use and Care Forms prior to submission. MSU and Federal Regulations require training and continuing education to ensure that all scientists, research technicians, animal technicians, and other personnel involved in animal care, treatment, and use are qualified to perform their duties in the care and use of research animals. On line training is available at the MSU IACUC Website

Intellectual Property at MSU

Regulatory Affairs at MSU

Advance Accounts - these are also known as hardship accounts. They are available ONLY when a contract has been received by CGA and CGA believes is can successfully be negotiated

Fastlane Registration If you need to establish a Fastlane account, contact Lupe Carrera, at dominguez@cga.msu.edu

Grants.gov - Please note that several agencies are beginning the transition to Grants.gov

NIH Forms and Applications

Contact List - Who do I contact at CGA with questions?

Frequently Required Proposal Data - Duns #, Congressional District, etc

NIH Salary Guidelines