Research Notes
April 2025
Information from the Division of Research for Brown faculty, grant-related staff, and students
Novel study at Brown shows how late-life health traces back to what happened in the womb
The New England Family Study, launched in 1959 and led by Brown epidemiologist Stephen Buka, spans three generations of participants and unlocks key insights for healthy aging.
PRIORITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
2025 Research Achievement Awards announced
The Division of Research's Research Achievement Awards program recognizes the extraordinary contributions of Brown faculty. Early Career Research Achievement Awards are presented yearly, while Mid-Career Research Achievement Awards and Distinguished Research Achievement Awards alternate every other year. Learn about the 2025 awardees.
2025 Seed and Salomon Awards announced
The Division of Research is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Seed Awards, which support early-stage research projects in becoming competitive for subsequent external funding, as well as the 2025 Richard B. Salomon Faculty Research Awards, which fund exceptional faculty research projects. Learn about the recipients and their research projects.
RESEARCH INTEGRITY
American Security Drone Act
Effective 12/22/2025, federal awards cannot be used to procure or operate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or associated elements built by a “covered foreign entity” as defined by NDAA FY24 Section 1822. If this restriction affects your research, contact ORI.
Animal Program Research Engagement Visits
QA/QI Animal Program Manager Rebecca Poncin is conducting Research Engagement Visits (REV) to build relationships, meet researchers, understand challenges, and offer education where necessary. Book now!
BEARCORE RCR Training - registration open
BEARCORE will be held in person on May 7-8. Register in Workday Learning. BEARCORE meets NSF and NIH RCR training requirements. Email Torrey Truszkowski with questions.
Department of Energy - research security training requirement
Investigators submitting DOE proposals after May 1, 2025 must complete Research Security Matters in Workday Learning before the proposal deadline. Train now to avoid last-minute training. Questions? Email Research Security.
Meeting dates & submission deadlines
TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS
Invent with Brown Technology Innovations
Watch our new video to discover who BTI is and how we can support members of the Brown community.
Join us: Best Practices for Industry-Sponsored Research
On April 21, 2025, the Division of Research will host a panel discussing Best Practices for Industry-Sponsored Research. The faculty member panelists have all established successful collaborations with the industry. This hybrid event is scheduled for 1-2pm at South Street Landing. Register here.
Arctura named a Time Top US GreenTech Company of 2025
Congratulations to RI-based Arctura, a two-time Innovation Voucher awardee with Brown’s Kenny Breuer, on being named one of Time’s Top US GreenTech Companies reducing environmental impact.
SPONSORED PROJECTS
Important reminder: Creating new financial accounts in a different cost center
Remember to enter the relevant cost center name on the budget template spreadsheet: “Cost Center for this Financial Account (Name and CCXXXXX)." This helps ensure that all financial transactions are accurately allocated to the correct cost center for effective budgeting and reporting.
Subaward invoice review - Sponsored Projects pilot
Research Subcontracting in Sponsored Projects is piloting a process for reviewing subaward invoices that reviews specific components on the invoice but does not change the PI and department's responsibilities for reviewing and approving the allowability, allocability, and reasonableness of the costs.
Subaward invoice review and certification
Sponsored Projects created a Subaward Invoice Review Checklist to help departments review invoices. This checklist features the certification language that subrecipients must include on federally funded subaward invoices. You can find it on the Division of Research’s Forms and Policies page.
Simons Awards interest cap
The Simons Foundation limits the retention of lifetime earned interest to $5,000 per award. Interest accrued beyond this limit must be remitted to the Foundation. Review award terms and spending activity closely to prevent over-expenditures.
Workday reports for monitoring financial deliverables
To assist in managing financial report deliverables, two Workday reports, “Task Status for My Awards” and “Tasks for My Awards,” provide a list of all upcoming reports and their respective due dates for your cost center.
NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual is back online
The NASA 2025 GCAM is now available. It includes policies, compliance information, regulations, guidance, and forms, as well as links to training, resources, and contacts for effective award management.
Changes to the federal research funding landscape
Please continue to forward any communication received that would revise the period of performance, milestones or scope of work on active grants and contracts to 2025federaladmintransition@brown.edu.
How is Brown University paid for federally sponsored research?
Federal agencies reimburse Brown on a ‘cost reimbursement’ basis. The University does not receive research payments in advance. As project expenses are incurred in Workday, they are reported to the Agency through an invoice or Letter of Credit drawdown. This is why consistent assignment of expenses is critical for ongoing research projects.
What’s the difference between an Early Termination and a Stop Work Order?
Brown has begun to receive Early Termination notices on certain grant awards and Stop Work Orders on certain contracts. Termination establishes a revised (earlier) end date for the project period. A Stop Work Order ‘suspends’ activity for a period of time (e.g., 30 - 90 days) but does not revise the project end date.
Save the date—OSP Open Hours
Our next OSP Open Office Hour is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 2 p.m. Sign up here.
When do I need a Foreign Justification in an NIH proposal?
If you checked "Yes" to Question 6 on the R&R Other Project Info form, you must include a "Foreign Justification." For additional information, review the SF 424 Application Guide or contact your Pre-Award Specialist.
RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Huron Funding Proposals: TBD sponsors
When creating a funding proposal, if the direct or prime sponsor is not listed among the available sponsors, select TBD from the sponsor list, enter the sponsor's name, and open a Sponsor Request ticket with RAIS. Visit RAIS’ guidance on TBD sponsors.
Huron Funding Proposals: Adding revised attachments
Did you know that you can upload a revised version of an attachment to a Funding Proposal record? Refer to RAIS's guidance on uploading a revised attachment to a Funding Proposal.
RESEARCH STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT
Considering an NSF CAREER proposal? We have you covered.
Research Strategy and Development can support faculty proposals for an NSF CAREER award (due to Sponsored Projects: July 15; NSF deadline: July 23). View details and deadlines.
Federal funding landscape: New tools and support for research funding
RSD, CFR, and BTI are expanding support for research funding through new tools, workshops, and strategic consults. Explore our new funding database and stay tuned for an upcoming federal landscape webinar with McAllister & Quinn. Check back here.
RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
Faces of Brown Research: Bryson Boone '27 researches canine cognition at the Brown Dog Lab
Through a mix of in-person and Zoom studies, research assistant Bryson Boone explores how dogs understand the world—testing memory, responsiveness to human gestures like pointing, and other cognitive abilities. Watch the video on YouTube and Instagram.
NIH
Guidance on salary limitation for grants and cooperative agreements FY 2025
Starting January 1, 2025, the salary limitation for Executive Level II is $225,700 for NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards and extramural research and development contract awards. See the April 3, 2025 notice.
CONFERENCES & TRAINING
NCURA Region I Spring Meeting: The Case of the Changing Landscape: Navigating the Future!
NCURA invites you to don your detective hat and crack the code of research administration’s evolving challenges. Solve clues, uncover solutions, and connect with fellow investigators in this exciting journey toward success! April 28-30, 2025, DoubleTree by Hilton, Manchester, NH. Learn more and register.
Sharing stories of research and discovery at Brown University.
