Start-Up Awards

Funds must be requested during the recruitment process and included as part of the candidate’s offer of employment. 

University of Kentucky and University of Louisville are not eligible for KY INBRE Start-Up Awards. All other Kentucky Colleges and Universities eligible for NIH R15/R16 funding may apply (see R15: NIH Research Enhancement Award, R16: Support for Research Excellence (SuRE) Program).

Kentucky Colleges and Universities may not apply for KY INBRE Start-Up Awards for faculty who currently hold a position at their institution.

The recruited position must be a tenure-track position in any discipline or research area that is potentially fundable by the NIH.

The recruited candidate must have an active research agenda, evidence of appropriate research training (post-doctoral research preferred, with publications) and be motivated to obtain independent funding from the (NIH).

Institutions must provide the newly recruited assistant professor sufficient research space and release time from teaching (at least 25%).

The KY INBRE will match up to $25,000 to help new investigators establish a competitive laboratory as part of a recruitment package. KY INBRE matching funds must be spent in the year awarded.

The recruited candidate must attend the KY INBRE NIH R15 Proposal Development Workshop at the annual Kentucky Academy of Science meeting, and be committed to seeking NIH funding.

 The recruited candidate will be expected to submit a proposal for continued support though the KY INBRE Investigator Development Award program during their first academic year.

Awardees must submit an NIH-Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA, R15) or Support for Research Excellence (SuRE, R16) grant proposal within two-years of receiving initial support.

 Awardees must involve undergraduate students in their research and to publish a minimum of one research manuscript per year.

All publications must acknowledge support from NIGMS grant # P20GM103436.

Awardees must submit an annual progress report to the KY INBRE office no later than January 15th.

Awardees are expected to present their research progress at the KY INBRE Annual Research Conference. Expenses to attend this conference will be covered.

The award may be used to cover typical research expenses including supplies, equipment, use of core facilities, summer salary, and undergraduate research assistants.

KY INBRE Start-Up funds cannot be used support research activities, such as conducting experiments. 

 Travel funds are not allowable expenses for Start-Up Award

KY INBRE Faculty Start-Up Awards will be limited to a maximum of $25,000 and cannot exceed the amount provided by the institution as part of the start-up package if less.

A facilities and administrative (F&A) cost will be allowable in addition to direct costs.

All KY INBRE funds must be expended within the KY INBRE fiscal year between May 1st and the following April 30th. With institutional approval, institutional startup funds may be expended after the KY INBRE fiscal year end date of April 30th, but no later than two years after the initial start date.

Requests for start-up support may be sent via email at any time to Dr. Martha Bickford.  However, since  awards decisions  will be based partially upon  the availability of funds, requests for funding early in the academic year (e.g., Fall semester) will have a greater probability of approval . Where possible, KY INBRE Lead Faculty at each of the Network institutions should be alerted to searches in progress and the expected date of potential requests for funding.

Requests should be made and approved during the recruitment process.

The requests should include: 1) the candidate’s CV; 2) a statement of candidate’s research interests or agenda; and 3) a support letter from the appropriate Chair, Dean, or other authorized university official that must include the institutional commitment to the mandatory cost-share requirements.

The request will be reviewed by the KY INBRE Leadership committee and a decision should be available within 3-5 business days.