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Sponsored Research

Our commitment

Assist in the execution of proposals and applications which reflect the superior quality and robust competitiveness of Cornell University research.

Our mission

  1. Provide administrative support to CALS principal investigators and academic departments during the proposal development process from concept to submission.
  2. Build proposal budgets in a format which communicates the costs associated with a project in a clear and uncomplicated manner which address the considerations of post-award accounting practices and policies.
  3. Understand and communicate sponsor, university, college, and department procedures and policies.
  4. Work closely with colleagues at the Cornell Office of Sponsored Programs through the preaward process; as stewards of initial and revised preaward budgets, documentation, and correspondence.
  5. Promote proposal award success within CALS.

Our Vision

We accelerate purpose-driven science by supporting inquiry that crosses disciplinary boundaries and stretches from discovery to invention. We help in this effort by preparing funding proposals which reflect the superior quality and robust competitiveness of Cornell University research and extension.

 

Grant Proposal Team

Working with a member of the team allows PIs to focus primarily on their proposed Scope of Work; thus alleviating administrative burden. Such services include:

  • Assistance interpreting program solicitations, sponsor application guides, and Cornell policies.
  • Working with PIs to draft a detailed and specific budget and budget justification which serves as the primary driver for setting up a grant award.
  • Coordinating with outside university and collaborating partners to collect all pertinent documentation, signatures, and assurances such as; letters of commitment, subcontract budgets, and subcontract forms etc.
  • Assistance navigating new electronic submission systems and platforms
  • Formatting various elements of the proposal package such as; biographical sketches/CVs; current & pending reports, etc. 
  • Filling out necessary application forms such as; grants.gov packages, NSF Fastlane packages, and federal forms SF424 and 424A.
  • Drafting and circulating internal documentation (if applicable)

Grant and Contract Officers 

The responsibilities of the two CALS Grant and Contract Officers differ from the Grant Proposal Team. CALS GCOs are authorized to sign and submit proposals to sponsors. Such services include:

  • Review of proposals to ensure they comply with all Cornell and sponsor policies.
  • Working with PIs, department, and OSP staff to correct any omissions or address any questions related to a proposal.

Submitting final proposals and applications directly to the sponsor.

A. Purpose:

CALS OSR understands that it is in the best interests of the PI, College, and University to put our best academic footprint forward. We acknowledge that project narratives need time to develop, and that last minute input from collaborators can be extremely valuable.

In order to provide CALS researchers with the time needed to refine their narratives, Cornell has adopted a policy which will allow PIs to retain the “Scope of Work” for proposals to Federal Sponsors. 

A link to the complete policy can be found here: Proposal Review Guidelines

B. Risks:

It is important to note that turning over incomplete portions of any application carries with it some risk; such as missed deadlines, incomplete applications, and dropped or missing attachments. OSR will make every effort to submit a complete and final application to the sponsor; however, turning in the Scope of Work at the last minute is at the risk of the PI.

C. Eligibility:

  1. The PI must make the arrangement in advance
    1. In writing via email in advance of the deadline
  2. Must make an effort to submit all other proposal elements in advance, 
    1. Preferably five (5) business days before a deadline
    2. Work with your department specialist or a member the Grant Proposal Team. They can help PIs meet this goal.
  3. Provided the above conditions are met, the final Scope of Work can be submitted on your deadline date.
  4. Proposals are submitted on a “first-come” basis on any given deadline date.

 

D. Scope of Work is defined as follows for each sponsor:

 

NSF

Project Summary, Project Description, Reference Cited

USDA

Project Summary, Project Narrative, References Cited

NIH

Introduction, Specific Aims, Research Strategy, References Cited

Other Sponsors

Contact GCO

It is our responsibility to provide full support to people who work with us early and are responsive to requests for information. Requests for assistance will be handled as best as possible given each specific situation, peak grant season, and presume a full complement of available staff. 

The response times below refer to active/actionable requests and they are different than courtesy messages acknowledging receipt of communications sent by you.

Timely courtesy messages stating that your request has been received can be expected from of all staff in the Research Office, regardless of your deadline date.

  1. Normal - The Research Office is notified that a proposal deadline is 6 months to 1 month away.

Response Time: 4 business days

GPT - The requester should discuss with the team member key information as early as possible. This timeline allows for the team to fully assist with all aspects of the proposal development process.

GCO - The Contract Officer will assist with submission of your proposal to the sponsor – with review based on receipt date as prescribed by Cornell OSP. This timeline allows for full comprehensive review of all aspects of the proposal.

  1. Critical - The Research Office is notified that a proposal deadline is 3 to 2 weeks away.

Response Time: 2 business days

GPT - This timeline allows for the team assist with limited portions of your proposal such as budget, and RASS. Other services are only available as time permits. In order for a proposal to remain at the critical level, the PI must be readily available for reciprocal consultation/response within 2 business days.

GCO - The Contract Officer will assist with submission of your proposal to the sponsor – with limited review based on receipt date as prescribed by Cornell OSP. Other services are only available as time permits.

Requests for assistance submitted under item a.) Normal Conditions, above, take precedent over those under item b.) Critical Conditions.

  1. Intensive - The Research Office is notified that a proposal deadline is 1 week away.

Response Time: 1 business day

GPT - In order for a proposal to remain at the intensive level, the PI must be readily available for reciprocal response within 1 business day. The team member will have extremely limited availability. They may be able to assist with RASS. Other services are only available as time permits, and are not guaranteed.

GCO - The Contract Officer will have extremely limited time. They will only provide a minimum review. Other services are available only as time permits, and are not guaranteed.

Requests for assistance submitted under item a.) Normal Conditions, and b.) Critical Conditions above, take precedent over those under item c.) Intensive Conditions.

  1. Imminent – The Research Office is notified that a proposal due in less than 2 days.

Response Time: Immediate.

GPT - The proposal team will not be able to assist with your proposal.

GCO - CALS OSR and OSP will make every reasonable effort to submit your proposal before the deadline. However, technical errors and system shutdowns may prevent submission. We encourage you to work with our team early and often, to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Last minute proposals are submitted on a first-come/first-serve basis and priority is given to people who finalize their applications early. This increases the risk of missing your deadline.

Abby Blinn (arb382 [at] cornell.edu)  – Grant Coordinator, Ithaca

  • Botanic Gardens
  • Communication
  • Microbiology
  • Plant Breeding and Genetics, School of Integrative Plant Science
  • SIPS Other
  • Entomology, Ithaca Campus

Ace Repka (acr78 [at] cornell.edu)  – Grant Coordinator, Ithaca

  • Dyson/SC Johnson College of Business
  • Horticulture, School of Integrative Plant Science
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Plant Biology, School of Integrative Plant Science
  • Plant Pathology & Plant - Microbe Biology, School of Integrative Plant Science

Clarice Burgman (crs17 [at] cornell.edu) – Grant Coordinator, Ithaca

  • Molecular Biology and Genetics (CALS)
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (CALS)
  • Neurobiology and Behavior (CALS)
  • Natural Resources

Melissa Hall (mah66 [at] cornell.edu) – Grant Coordinator, Ithaca

  • Food Science
  • Soil and Crop Sciences, School of Integrative Plant Science
  • NYS Master MOUs

Kate Keagle (kev35 [at] cornell.edu) – Grant Coordinator, Geneva

  • Supporting all units on the Geneva, NY campus/Cornell AgriTech

Jamie Slusser (jls679 [at] cornell.edu) – Grant Coordinator, Ithaca

  • CCE, Regional Agriculture Teams

Kyle Ferguson (kff29 [at] cornell.edu) – Grant Coordinator, Ithaca

  • Animal Science
  • New York Sea Grant

Allie Osborne (ao449 [at] cornell.edu) - Grant Coordinator, Ithaca

  • Biological and Environmental Engineering
  • Computational Biology
  • Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Lori Asperschlager (law32 [at] cornell.edu) – Senior Grant Coordinator, Ithaca

  • Center scale grant support
  • Global Development
  • Nutritional Sciences (CHE & CALS)
  • Neurobiology and Behavior (CAS)

Alita Trouble Howard (ath32 [at] cornell.edu) – Senior Grant Coordinator, Ithaca

  • Center scale grant support
  • Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research
  • Brooks School of Public Policy
  • Human Centered Design (formerly D+EA and FSAD)
  • Psychology (formerly Psychology (CAS) and Human Development (CHE))
  • Northeast IPM
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (CAS)
  • Molecular Biology and Genetics (CAS)

Erin Oates (eo73 [at] cornell.edu)  – Acting Grant Coordinator, Ithaca

  • Industry (if there is no RFP)
  • NYS Master MOUs

Mandy Kafka (ajk287 [at] cornell.edu)  – Administrative Assistant, Ithaca

  • Routine Product Testing Agreements
  • Sponsored Product Testing Agreements
  • Just in Time (JIT) Requests

Erin Oates (eo73 [at] cornell.edu)  – Director, Office of Sponsored Research

  • Industry (if there is no RFP)
  • NYS Master MOUs
  • Dyson
  • Global Development
  • Nutritional Sciences (CALS)
  • Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  • Northeast IPM

Rose Hastings (rwh10 [at] cornell.edu) – Grant & Contract Officer

  • Cornell AgriTech
  • Biological and Environmental Engineering
  • CCE, Regional Agriculture Teams
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (CALS)
  • Food Science
  • Natural Resources
  • Molecular Biology and Genetics (CALS)
  • Neurobiology and Behavior (CALS)

Colleen Kearns (cmk4 [at] cornell.edu) – Grant & Contract Officer and Team Lead

  • Animal Science
  • Communication
  • Computational Biology
  • Botanic Gardens
  • Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
  • Entomology, Ithaca Campus
  • Horticulture, Ithaca Campus
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Microbiology
  • Plant Biology
  • Plant Breeding and Genetics
  • Plant Pathology, Ithaca Campus
  • Sea Grant
  • Soil and Crop Sciences

 

Routine Product Testing Agreements are very limiting transactions. Our primary focus at CALS is Fundamental Research and Extension. Fundamental Research is defined as basic and applied research activities, including trials, conducted to further the mission of Cornell University. Almost all agreements with industry are categorized as "Fundamental" and should be managed by the Office of Sponsored Research and Sponsored Financial Services. In very rare cases, a Testing Services Agreement may be applicable. For further information visit the Routine Testing Agreement site (Routine Testing Agreement).

For questions about service agreements or to discuss your project, please contact: Mandy Kafka (ajk287 [at] cornell.edu). 

CALS is required to pay a university charge on all external funds received in CALS accounts. For awards that have an F&A rate that is less than 18%, the unit will be required to pay to the college the difference between 18% of total direct costs and the actual F&A recovered. This cost recovery does not represent the full cost that CALS pays to the university, nor the full indirect costs for the research. Questions about this policy can be directed to: eo73 [at] cornell.edu