OIBR Grant Development Program

The Owens Institute for Behavioral Research (OIBR) Grant Development Program prepares participants to compete successfully for extramural funding. We welcome applications from UGA faculty members who have not previously received significant extramural research support as principal investigator and have been in their position at UGA for at least one year. The 2-year program provides a systematic training experience that includes workshops, seminars, and staged guidance on proposal preparation. This is a significant time commitment and requires frequent in-person group meetings. Successful completion of the program requires submitting an extramural grant proposal for management through the Institute as principal investigator. Upon successful completion of the program, the participant earns a certificate of completion.

The Application Process

Interested faculty members initiate the application process. The application materials include:

  1. Approval form completed and signed by the Department Head
  2. Curriculum vitae
  3. Overview of the applicant’s primary research agenda, including:
    • Research interest keywords
    • A brief overview of the applicant’s research focus (1/2 page)
    • A description of a research project that would be the basis of the grant proposal to be developed and applicant’s qualifications for conducting this research (1 page)
    • One or more potential funding sources for an extramural application, if known
  4. Applications should be combined into one PDF in the order listed above and are due at the end of the spring semester (specific date varies annually)

Participant selection is based on:

  • A track record of publications or advanced training in their area of interest
  • Commitment to develop the skills to successfully pursue extramural grant funding
  • Preliminary development of a focused research agenda in a fundable area of interest

OIBR is a service unit under the Office of Research:

  • OIBR does not retain any indirect cost return from grants administered through the Institute
  • Indirect cost return (F&A) should follow the policies and practices in the faculty member’s home academic unit
  • For grants submitted through OIBR, collaborator contribution credit is given to the participant’s home college/department and center & institute credit is given to OIBR

Resources Provided to Grant Development Program Participants

1. Seminars and Workshops

  • Overviews of specific funding agencies supporting social and behavioral science research
  • Group sessions for concept development and grant skills
  • Informal networking opportunities with eminent scholars and OIBR distinguished scholars
  • Structured mock grant reviews
  • Individualized feedback on grant concepts and responding to grant reviews

2. Pilot Funds

Competitively awarded pilot funds are available to support preliminary data collection and/or analysis for grant proposals.

3. External & Editorial Review Funding

Funds are available to pay for (a) an external review of grant proposals for program participants; and (b) professional editing services prior to grant submission.

4. OIBR Annual Meeting, Lectures, Mystery Meet & Greet Lunches

Attending these events provides networking opportunities, information on work groups and centers, and updates on Institute operations.

5. Pre-Award and Post-Award Services

Participants have access to assistance for (a) identifying funding opportunities, (b) budgeting, (c) grant proposal coordination, and (d) submission. When a grant is funded, it will be managed by OIBR’s specialized post-award accounting staff.

6. Departmental Support

OIBR encourages the program participant’s home department to provide release time from teaching and/or departmental service, although this decision is at the discretion of the participant’s home department.

Grant Development Program Schedule

All basic GDP sessions and workshops take place on Tuesdays from 12–2 p.m. Below is a general outline of goals and activities for the program along with a tentative schedule.

Year 1 – Fall

  • Program kick-off meeting *
  • Proposal Writing Basics workshop *
  • Orientation to NIH funding *
  • Orientation to NSF funding *
  • OIBR networking event
  • Proposal “Pitch” with feedback *
  • OIBR Annual Meeting *

Goals/Objectives: Idea generation and publication; acquire general knowledge of funding agencies; identify a fundable concept.

Year 1 – Spring

  • Participate in mock review panel *
  • Orientation to DoD funding *
  • Proposal concept refinement workshop *
  • OIBR-sponsored events relevant to grant funding and administration

Goals/Objectives: Refine grant concept; identify funding source; communicate with funding agency.

Year 1 – Summer

Complete draft of proposal

Year 2 – Fall & Spring

  • Second-year check-in meetings *
  • Receive and give feedback on GDP proposals *
  • OIBR networking event
  • Submit full proposal for mock panel review *
  • Participate in GDP1 “pitch” session *
  • Participate in mock panel review *
  • Budget development and post-award tips *
  • Building and managing large research teams *
  • OIBR-sponsored events relevant to grant funding and administration
  • OIBR Annual Meeting *

Goals/Objectives: Submit and resubmit; develop draft budget; obtain peer feedback; submit grant proposal; revise as needed.

* indicates required activity

Contacts

Director: Dr. Jody Clay-Warner, jclayw@uga.edu
Associate Director: Dr. Jennifer McDowell, jemcd@uga.edu
Director of Faculty Development: Dr. Dawn T. Robinson, sodawn@uga.edu
Assistant Director: Kimberly Cherewick, ksilvis@uga.edu

Website: www.oibr.uga.edu
February 2026