Supporting research in today’s changing federal environment remains a top priority at Brown.
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OCTOBER 2025
In the Spotlight
Innovation@Brown Showcase powers Rhode Island’s startup scene
Third annual event at the Cambridge Innovation Center brought together founders, partners, and innovators driving the next wave of discovery.
MESSAGE FROM THE VPR
Greetings,
Supporting research in today’s changing federal environment remains a top priority at Brown. With the academic year underway, the Research Strategy and Development (RSD), Brown Technology Innovations (BTI), and Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR) teams are here to partner with you across every discipline—helping to identify funding, strengthen proposals, and advance new ideas.
This fall, these teams are introducing new resources and programs, including the expanded 2026 Division of Research Seed Program thanks to generous gifts from donors, the Pivot-RP funding discovery platform, and a series of workshops on foundation funding, early-career awards, and cross-institutional grants. From the humanities to medicine, our teams are eager to support your research journey.
I encourage you to take full advantage of these opportunities, and I look forward to working with you and celebrating your successes in the year ahead.
Cheers,
Greg Hirth
Vice President for Research
Now open: DOR’s expanded 2026 Seed Fund Program
The Division of Research is pleased to share expanded internal funding opportunities designed to foster new ideas, build research capacity, and support discoveries across campus. This year’s Seeds program includes three tracks: the Research Resilience Award (up to $75K for 12 months), the Research Innovation Award (up to $250K for 24 months), and the Research Seed Award (up to $75K for 12 months). See program details.
Brown joins forces with Brookhaven National Lab to drive innovation
Brown University and Brookhaven National Lab signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance joint research and national science and technology goals. The MOU enables collaboration, faculty exchanges, and STEM ecosystem development in the Northeast. This is Brown’s first agreement with Brookhaven Lab, a DOE facility known for seven Nobel Prizes. Read the full story.
BROWN TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS
Innovation@Brown Showcase opens with debut Pitch Competition
The first-ever Pitch Competition drew a standing-room-only crowd as five Brown startups showcased bold ideas. Congratulations to Fermi Energy, the inaugural winner! A big thank you to our VC panel for their expert insights and to Thorne Sparkman and the Slater Technology Fund for emceeing and sponsoring the $1,000 prize. Read the full story.
Now open: Equalize Startups applications
Equalize Startups is a nonprofit launchpad for women with IP suited for university startups. This free six-month program provides training, mentorship, and events to prepare participants for commercialization and investor engagement. Apply by Nov. 14, 2025.
RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Huron: Creating subaward budgets
When creating a subaward budget, be sure to select a Subrecipient, not sponsor, for Q2 in the Subaward Budget Information view.
RESEARCH INTEGRITY
Reminder: iThenticate software is available to faculty, postdocs, and graduate students
Brown offers free iThenticate access for faculty, postdocs, and 4th/5th year graduate students. Use it to check for plagiarism and ensure proper citation. Learn more on the library website or log in directly.
Contact Regulatory Advising for help with IRB submissions
Need help with human subjects research or IRB review? Brown’s Regulatory Advising Unit (RAU) offers support with protocol design, submissions, and more. Book a consultation or email regulatoryadvising@brown.edu with questions.
BEARCORE RCR training program registration open
BEARCORE will be held in person on Jan. 14-15 and May 13-14, 2026. Register in Workday Learning. BEARCORE meets NSF and NIH RCR Training requirements. Email Torrey Truszkowski with questions.
RESEARCH STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT
Webinar: Successful Strategies for Landing Foundation Grants and Fellowships for Humanists and Social Scientists
Join us Wednesday, Oct. 29, 12-1pm, for a webinar on finding private funding, building funder relationships, and making a winning case for foundation support. Hear advice from CFR, RSD, and faculty who’ve secured grants and fellowships. Open to all career stages. Register here.
Help shape Brown's “Success in Science” proposal
Join us Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, 1-2pm to discuss Brown’s proposal for the HHMI Success in Science Initiative, which supports programs that improve the undergraduate science experience for all students. We’ll share details, gather ideas, and plan next steps for securing this funding. RSVP here.
Webinar: Strategies for Obtaining Cross-Institutional Center & Institute Major Grants for Humanists and Social Scientists
Join us Wednesday, Nov. 5, 12-1pm, to explore strategies for securing large cross-institutional grants to build or grow humanities and social sciences-based research centers and institutes. Designed for mid- to later-career faculty. Register here.
Webinar: Considering a Young Investigator Proposal with the DOE, DOD (ONR, Air Force), or DARPA?
We have you covered. Join us Nov. 6, 12-1pm, for an RSD webinar offering key insights into Young Investigator awards, with a faculty panel sharing experiences and answering questions to help strengthen your proposal. Learn more and register.
Webinar: Skill-building for Center & Institute Grant Success for Humanists and Social Scientists
Join us Wednesday, Nov. 12, 12-1pm, for a follow-up to the Nov. 5 session, focusing on actionable practices to strengthen leadership, build teams, and enhance success in pursuing major center and institute grants. Register here.
SPONSORED PROJECTS
Professional Research Services Agreement available in Brown Contract Management
The Division of Research and Strategic Procurement and Contracting have launched a new Professional Research Services Agreement (PRSA), available in BCM this month, designed for providers supporting the scientific or technical goals of research projects.
2025 Winter Break proposal submission deadlines
Please see the Winter Break Proposal Submission Deadlines page for updated OSP and BMRA proposal review timelines.
Reminder: Huron award access limited to record owners
Only award owners (Lead PI, Specialist, Award Approver) can view Huron award records. Others, like non-primary PIs, must be granted read-only or edit access by the lead department.
Subaward Budget Distributions
Subaward Budget Distributions submitted as Award Modification Requests in Huron will be denied. Departments should instead submit these requests through the Agreements module to ensure proper routing and processing.
Budget Templates reminder
Budget Templates are being returned with errors. Please use the Workday cumulative “Plan” as the baseline, enter adjustments in Column C, update only affected accounts, use whole numbers, complete headers, apply the correct indirect rate, and indicate if adjustments are not for the current year.
Training resources at your fingertips
Explore 'Additional Training Modules' under the Internally Sponsored Opportunities section to access videos, presentations, and PDFs tailored for Grant Managers and Financial Coordinators—covering key post-award and financial management topics.
OSP Open Office Hour Nov. 12 @ 2pm
OSP will be hosting a virtual OSP Open Office Hour on Nov. 12 @ 2pm. Representatives from each of the divisions in OSP will be in attendance. Sign up to attend, space is limited.
Using SciENcv to create NIH biosketches
The University Library is hosting an online session on using SciENcv and new common forms to create NIH biosketches, plus tips on using ORCiD and My Bibliography to add publications. Find more info here.
NIH
New guide notice on biospecimens
As outlined in NOT-OD-25-160 and NOT-OD-25-159, NIH is restricting the sharing of human biospecimens and related data from NIH-funded awards and repositories. If you believe this may impact your research, please contact researchsecurity@brown.edu.
Research Security NOT-OD-25-154 rescinded
In NOT-OD-25-161, NIH rescinded the requirement for Research Security Training and Program Certification that was set to begin in January 2026. Stay tuned for further updates from the Research Security Team, and direct any questions to researchsecurity@brown.edu.
NSF
Important Notice 149 requirements in effect
NSF investigators are required to submit certain supporting documentation on Current and Pending Support and complete Research Security Training prior to proposal submission. Contact researchsecurity@brown.edu with questions.
NCURA Region I - Essentials of Research Administration
This workshop offers an overview of sponsored projects administration, including cost principles, budgets, proposals, award management, closeout, audits, and compliance. Register by 10/19/25.
Sharing stories of research and discovery at Brown University.
