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Ohio Administrative Code (Last Updated: January 12, 2021) |
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3333 Department of Higher Education |
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Chapter3333-1. General Provisions |
3333-1-62. Ohio research scholars program; eligible proposals
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(A) Authority
This rule is established by authority conferred upon the chancellor of the Ohio department of higher education by section 3333.61 of the Revised Code.
(B) Policy
The Ohio innovation partnership, consisting of the choose Ohio first scholarship and the Ohio research scholars program, aims to strengthen the state and its citizens to compete in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as medical fields and STEM education. The Ohio research scholars program will support an increase in highly-qualified research talent in critical STEM and medical areas with a focus on long-term regional economic development.
(C) Eligibility for the Ohio research scholars program
(1) Eligible institutions
(a) All four year public universities and colleges, as well as all independent universities and colleges that are acting in collaboration with one or more four year public institutions, are eligible to compete for state funds as lead applicants to this program.
The lead applicant's human subject policies and procedures must be compliant with the Code of Federal Regulations Title 45, Part 46. The lead applicant's animal subject policies and procedures must be compliant with US Code Title 7, Sections 2131-2156.
(b) All state-assisted universities and colleges, all independent universities and colleges and public, independent, for-profit, or non-profit Ohio entities are eligible to serve as collaborators.
A collaborator's human subject policies and procedures must be compliant with the Code of Federal Regulations Title 45, Part 46. A collaborator's animal subject policies and procedures must be compliant with US Code Title 7, Sections 2131-2156.
(2) Eligible subjects
To be eligible for support under the Ohio research scholars program, a proposal must be seeking to support a single technology or research focus area in one of the two following tracks:
(a) Accelerating the growth of existing clusters of research excellence
A well established research cluster that has a critical mass of distinguished and highly productive faculty and researchers, quality graduate students, and infrastructure supporting a defined technology or research focus area that has attained international prominence in research and commercialization. Ohio research scholars' program funds are to be used to further enhance a competitive position or to move up in competitive rankings relative to benchmarked leaders.
(b) Capacity building to achieve clusters of research excellence
An existing promising area of research that has the potential to evolve into clusters of research excellence of importance to Ohio's future economy. Ohio research scholars program funds are to be used to improve the capability in a defined technology or research focus area to conduct sustainable and internationally competitive research and commercialization, build a critical mass of human and technical resources, and establish beneficial relationships with existing centers of research excellence within Ohio.
(3) Letter of interest
(a) Prior to submitting a statement of intent and a proposal, the president of the potential applicant institution must first submit a letter of interest. The letter of interest shall include the following information:
(i) The prospective lead applicant's name, address, phone number, contact person, e-mail address for the contact;
(ii) The proposed project title;
(iii) The estimated number of research scholars and dollars to be requested;
(iv) Known collaborators; and
(v) A summary of the proposed technology or research focus area and research cluster growth plan, in sufficient detail to allow a reviewer to gauge the purpose and impact of the potential proposal. The summary may not exceed five pages.
(b) Submitting a letter of interest does not bind the prospective lead applicant to submitting a statement of intent or proposal. However, no statement of intent will be accepted and no proposal will be reviewed unless a letter of interest has been submitted by the deadline.
(c) All prospective lead applicants submitting a letter of interest will be issued an identification number. The identification number must appear later on the statement of intent and on the application information page of the proposal.
(d) The lead applicant will receive a response to the letter of interest providing a summary reaction to the perceived applicability of the proposed project.
(4) Statement of intent
(a) Prior to submitting a proposal, a potential applicant must first submit a statement of intent. The statement of intent shall:
(i) Be submitted and signed by the president of the lead applicant;
(ii) Include the lead applicant's name, address, phone number, contact person, e-mail address for the contact;
(iii) Include the prospective proposal title, estimated types of dollars and amounts to be requested;
(iv) Reference the corresponding letter of interest number assigned;
(v) Identify all the collaborators;
(vi) Provide a statement of intent from each collaborator signed by their respective presidents or chief executive officers;
(vii) Describe the area of focus of the forthcoming proposal in sufficient detail for the external reviewer to begin selecting peer review panelists. This description may not exceed five pages.
(b) Collaborators not identified in the statement of intent will not be permitted.
(c) The letter must affirm that the lead applicant and collaborators are committed to the project and the submittal of a proposal. Submitting a statement of intent does not bind the prospective lead applicant to submit a proposal. However, no proposal will be accepted which does not have all corresponding letters of interest and intent submitted by their respective deadlines.
(D) Proposals
Subject to paragraph (E) of this rule, eligible institutions may submit one or more proposals for support of a research cluster under the Ohio research scholars program. Each proposal must define the specific technology or research focus area of the research cluster and the areas of investigation to be pursued by the newly hired scholars. Eligible institutions must submit separate proposals for each cluster for which they are seeking support.
(E) Limitations on number of proposal submissions
The number of proposals an eligible institution may submit may be limited, however, there will be no limit imposed on the number of collaborating partners contributing to each proposal nor will there be any limit imposed on the number of proposals that a given institution might contribute to as a collaborating partner.
(F) Dual applications
A single proposal may seek an award under one or both programs within the Ohio innovation partnership.
(G) The chancellor may partner with other state departments or agencies in the development of requests for proposals under the Ohio research scholars program. The areas of collaboration will be further described in an interagency agreement or as reflected in a jointly-issued request for proposal.