Research Initiatives
For the university community, the Office of Research Initiatives provides resources, referrals and technical assistance for university faculty and staff seeking or managing externally funded projects. For researchers, prospective students, and others outside the university, the Office of Research Initiatives provides information and access to research areas, principal investigators, and opportunities for involvement.
The Office of Research Initiatives was created in June 2002 to lead USM´s expansion of research and development programs, and to build the university´s capacity to perform high-quality research that promotes academic excellence and stimulates regional economic growth.
Research Initiatives:
- Provides support services and resources for university members seeking or managing funded projects;
- Connects students with researchers and promotes research activities and opportunities for involvement;
- Assures integrity of institutional research activity through compliance and review standards;
- Develops and manages funding agency relationships, partnerships and collaborations with businesses, non-profit organizations, and public agencies;
- Leads planning, policy and advocacy efforts to increase USM´s research capability.
Research at USM includes a diverse array of topics and projects, spanning the social sciences, public policy, and education, to earth science, the life sciences, technology and information. One element of the university´s overall research effort is R&D@USM: a State of Maine economic improvement mandate (enacted in 1999) to enhance USM´s capacity to carry out top-quality research and development.
Currently there are two Research Institutes at USM supporting the targeted industry sectors of biotechnology and information technology. These are the Bioscience Research Institute of Southern Maine (BRISM) and the Institute for Research in Information Science (IRIS).
Additionally, R&D@USM provides resources and supports to university faculty, staff and students conducting research in the target areas of biotechnology or information technology.
If you have a question about research activity at USM, want to know policies and procedures for seeking external funds, need proposal development services, collaborators, funding searches or assistance managing an existing project, we can help. Not sure where to begin? Contact us.
Office of Proposal Development
The mission of the USM Office of Proposal Development is to cultivate and facilitate the submission of high quality proposals to funding agencies in support of the university´s research, teaching, and service missions. The office works collaboratively with the Office of Sponsored Programs, University Advancement, and Research Compliance to assist university faculty and staff in achieving high standards in proposal writing. Services for individuals include:
- identification of strategic funding opportunities
- advice on proposal writing
- review of proposals
- assistance in contacting funding agencies
The office also sponsors an internal grant program and proposal writing workshop
series.
2004-2005 Proposal Development Internal Grants
2003-2004 Proposal Development Awards
Contact Sharon Locke, Director
FMI
207-228-8265