Microsoft Research Faculty Fellows opportunity posted

Microsoft Research Faculty fellowship opportunity posted on Computer Sciences Funding opportunities web page.

NIDRR Field Initiated Projects posted

NIDRR Field Initiated research and development grant opportunity posted on Special Education Funding Opportunities web page. Due date is January 6, 2010.

SAMHSA Knowledge Dissemination Conference Grant posted

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Knowledge Dissemination Conference grant posted on Psychology Funding Opportunities web page.

New Funding Opportunities Posted

New funding opportunities have been posted on the following pages: Health (Public Health Conference Support), Natural Sciences & Mathematics (Science Master's Degree Program), Special Education (Public Health Conference Support), and Library (Leadership). See the Sponsored Projects Links on the left to go to these pages.

Mozilla Foundation Design Challenge for Web Interface

Mozilla Foundation announces the Jetpack for Learning Design Challenge which is inspired by and modeled on the Design Challenge series of events sponsored by Mozilla Labs. Design Challenges are intended to encourage innovation, and experimentation in user interface design for the Web. and provoke thought, facilitate discussion, and inspire future design directions for Firefox, the Mozilla project, and the Web as a whole.

Amount: $4,000

Date due: November 27, 2009

The Jetpack for Learning Design Challenge is divided into three phases: the submission period for mockups that runs until midnight (US Pacific Time) on 27 November, an online course during December 2009 and January 2010, and a face-to-face design camp in March 2010, immediately prior to SXSW Interactive. During the first phase of the Jetpack for Learning Design Challenge participants are asked to produce a concept, mockup and an explanation of their thinking behind it. A mockup can be anything from a low-fi sketch on a napkin to a high-fi video presenting the concept. The Jetpack for Learning team (consisting of Jetpack for Learning instructors and other project staff) will review all submissions. Sixty participants will be selected to participate in a two-month online course to further their ideas and concepts. At the end of the course, 10 will be selected for an all expenses trip to Design Camp.

For more information, click here.

Sponsored Projects on Newsvine!

The Sponsored Projects Office now has a Newsvine page to post updates of higher education related articles and reports that pertain to issues that impact external funding for grants and contracts. To follow the updates, simply go to http://wouspo.newsvine.com/.

Barbara Jordan Health Policy Student Scholars Program

An initiative of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, the Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program brings talented college seniors and recent graduates to Washington, D.C., where they are placed in congressional offices and learn about health policy issues, particularly those affecting racial and ethnic minority and underserved communities.

Through the ten-week program (May 17-July 24, 2010), scholars gain knowledge about federal legislative procedure and health policy issues while further developing their critical thinking and leadership skills. In addition to gaining experience in a congressional office, scholars participate in seminars and site visits as a way of augmenting their knowledge of healthcare issues and write and present a health policy research memo that addresses a problem of concern to disadvantaged populations.

Scholars receive approximately $7,500 in support, which includes a stipend of $2,000 upon successful completion of the program, a daily expense allowance for meals and local transportation, transportation/airfare to and from Washington, D.C., and lodging at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

For more information, click here.

Funding for master's degree programs

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced funding to support the development of master's degree programs that combine business and STEM disciplines. More information is located on the Business & Economics, Computer Science, and Science & Math funding opportunities pages.

Beginning a Research Program in the Natural Sciences at a Predominantly Undergraduate Institution

This is not a grant opportunity, but a workshop being offered by the Council on Undergraduate Research for beginning faculty. Deadline for application has been extended until October 15, 2009.

Excerpted from announcement:

"Starting a successful research program and doing scholarly work at a predominantly undergraduate institution poses unique challenges for a beginning faculty member. A goal of the institute is to give pre-tenured faculty the opportunity to learn from and discuss with experienced faculty how to establish and manage a research program with undergraduates. While at the institute, participants will also prepare plans for starting and/or advancing their individual research programs at their respective campuses. The institute is timely and especially important for faculty in the beginning of their career due to the increased national emphasis on research that is part of the national stimulus package. A range of topics will be covered during the institute, and the specific goals include ways to achieve career success in undergraduate research by learning how to:

• select undergraduate researchers

• mentor student researchers and develop and use their research skills

• time management - balancing teaching, research and service activities

• develop and select research projects appropriate for undergraduates

• adapt to an undergraduate research environment vs. that in graduate school

• link research to the classroom and

• develop grant skills related to gaining external and institutional research support."

There is a $50.00 application fee which will be applied to the tuition of attendance.

For further details, please visit http://www.cur.org/institutes/newfaculty.html