Research Excellence Fund (REF)—Proposal Format

Program Description | Proposal Format | Letters of Support & Submission Requirements | Review Criteria & Procedures | Award Procedure | Reporting

Proposal Format

REF-IE and REF-MG proposals are limited to no more than five (5) pages. REF-RS proposals are limited to no more than seven (7) pages (including tables and figures)

NOTE: Beginning 2009, to ensure the fairness of all applicants formatting requirements will be strictly enforced. The proposal must be formatted according to the following guidelines or it will be returned without further review:

• 1. Font used to be Times New Roman at a font size of 12 points. (If you do not have access to this font, contact your systems administrator). Note: a smaller font size may be used for mathematical formulas, equations, figures, tables, or diagram captions. This text must still be readable.
  2. Margins in all directions must be at least one inch.
  3. The proposal must be single spaced.
  4. Page numbers should be placed at the bottom center of each page with the exception of attachments, i.e. profiles from COS or digital measures, letters, etc

  References should be added at the end and do not count toward the page limit. Proposals should be accompanied by a Michigan Tech Transmittal Form. You will need to create and submit your budget to Sponsored Programs Office, Attn: Suzan Caron (sjcaron@mtu.edu or 487-2225). She will work with you and then submit the final approved budget to the VP for Research Office which will be attached to your REF proposal. Proposals are due by the deadline outlined above.

  Proposals must have a signed Michigan Tech Transmittal Form as the cover page and be in the following format only:

  1. Title
  2. Investigator(s). The investigators names, including their departments and email addresses.
  3. Project Summary. A short, 300 word summary of the proposed project.
  4. Project Description. A description of the proposed project, its goals, and a description of the approach and methods that is succinct, but sufficient to evaluate the likelihood of success.
  5. Rationale. The contribution of the proposed project to enhancing research capacity and graduate studies (REF-IE) or the development of an externally funded research program (REF-RS and REF-MG) should be described. A discussion of the contribution of the proposed project to the achievement of the Michigan Tech and unit strategic plans should be included.
     

  The above five items should be given in five (5) pages or less (seven (7) pages for REF-RS proposals). In addition, the following items should be attached at the end of the proposal unless otherwise indicated :

  1. References cited in the proposal.
  2. Budget (reviewed and approved by Sponsored Programs Office); there will be no indirect costs assessed on REF projects. A limited amount of extra compensation (summer) salary may be included in REF-RS proposals. Summer salary is capped at two weeks. There is no graduate student support and no academic year support for REF-RS proposals. Matching funds should be shown if they are used. Do not include a copy of your approved budget - the Sponsored Programs Office will provide an official copy.
  3. Budget Justification. A short description of the need for each budget item, including the use, source, and amount of any other (non-REF) funding.
     1. Supplies and services need to be outlined in enough detail for the committee to determine how you arrived at your estimate.
     2. Travel detail: all travel costs over $1,500 must include hard copy back-up documentation for expenditures outlined, i.e. estimated airline travel costs (from Northwest Airlines website), Michigan Tech per diem calculated, conference information and fee documentation. In other words, each trip should have a travel expense estimate along with supporting documentation. The committee wants to easily see where you are traveling to, benefits of the travel, and how you arrived at your estimates.
  4. Existing Resources. A description of existing resources available to the investigator(s) to complete the proposed work.
  5. Current Digital Measures or COS expertise profiles of the investigator(s) files are reviewed and an incomplete profile may weaken your proposal. A complete proposal packet must contain a current profile. It is important to be thorough.If you do not remember your userid and/or password for COS, e-mail cagherna@mtu.edu and this information will be sent to you. Digital Measures can be found online.