Overview
The proposal submission process is multifaceted. This website outlines information and resources available to assist faculty interested in submitting a research proposal.
Writing a Proposal and Preparing a Budget
The University's Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (ORSP) website provides helpful information on writing your proposal, determining the indirect cost rate, calculating graduate student stipend costs, preparing your proposal budget, and completing the electronic Proposal Approval Form (PAF) for signature.
Completing and Submitting a Proposal Approval Form
The Proposal Approval Form, or PAF, is the internal document the University uses to record the submission of a proposal. Among other things, it details the cumulative budget, cost sharing, indirect cost rate, and conflicts of interest. Please see the College of Engineering's Proposal Submission Timeline for internal deadlines to ensure that the proposal is submitted by the sponsor's proposal deadline as well as information on what documents you need to submit to the Associate Dean for Research and ORSP. Please visit the eRPM website to access the electronic Proposal Approval Form (PAF).
Cost-sharing on a Proposal
Sponsors sometimes require an institutional investment to show the University's commitment to a proposal. Please see the College of Engineering's procedures for requesting cost sharing for more information.
NSF Proposal Toolkit
- Data Management Plans & Resources:
CoE NSF Data Management Template & Comprehensive Resource List (UM Libraries)- (Direct Link to CoE NSF Data Management Template by Jacob Glenn)
Data Sharing Resource Center (ORSP) - Postdoctoral Research Fellow Mentoring Plan Template
- Broader Impacts: Education and Outreach Contact: Mary Beth Damm
- Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship training



