The Culture, Grants and Advancement department within the Office of Culture, Community and Equity (OCCE) offers one-on-one assistance with social impacts, community engagement, education and outreach-related sections of research grant proposals. In partnership with Michigan Engineering’s Office of the Associate Dean for Research, we consult on research grant proposals for major funders – including NSF, DoE, NASA and NIH – as well as corporate and philanthropic foundations.
Our services include three primary levels of support:
- 30-minute information gathering and/or brainstorming sessions
- We’ll help you assess your needs and talk through your ideas as they relate to requirements of grant solicitations. These sessions can include an overview of OCCE’s K-20 programs or connections to other relevant campus programs and services, as applicable.
- 60-minute content review sessions
- We’ll review a draft of your proposal sections alongside the grant solicitation requirements. These sessions commonly follow the initial 30-minute meeting and can include a discussion of past reviewer comments on previously submitted proposals, as applicable.
- Ongoing
- We’ll review subsequent revisions of your proposal sections, plan partnerships with our K-20 programs and/or assist with information gathering. Ongoing sessions generally follow the 60-minute content review.
We consult with Michigan Engineering faculty at all career stages, regardless of whether they are the Principal Investigator or U-M is the lead institution on the grant proposal. Under specific circumstances, we may also consult with Michigan Engineering postdoctoral scholars and graduate students on a case-by-case basis.
Consultation Process
Consultations can be conducted virtually over Zoom or in person on North Campus. The sooner you reach out the better, as we find that meeting several weeks prior to the grant proposal deadline benefits faculty most.
How do I schedule a consultation?
Please complete our request form below to schedule a consultation with our Grants Consultation Lead. You can expect a response within 5 business days.
The Research Development department in the Office of the Associate Dean for Research may also connect you with us directly. Please let us know how we can help!
Resources, Tools & Additional Support or Collaboration Opportunities
Internal Resources
- Our Faculty Research Grants Consultation Lead, Michelle Campbell, is currently developing guides on a number of relevant topics. After meeting with us, she will provide you with any resources you might find helpful.
- OCCE maintains a Professional Development Platform where you can explore various topics, gain knowledge and develop skills.
- OCCE’s portfolio of K-12 programs, Engineering OnRamp, serves middle and high school students from across Southeast Michigan. Upon meeting with us, we can provide you with further information on partnership opportunities.
- The Office of the Associate Dean for Research webpage on investigator resources details a number of internal resources you might consult beyond OCCE. We are happy to help connect you with these opportunities for further consultation and collaboration.
External Resources
Contact
Lisa Yamagishi Levin, Broader Impacts Grants Consultant
Faculty Research Grants Consultation Lead
Lisa holds a PhD in Comparative Literature. Over her decade-long career in higher education, she has taught courses at the University of Washington and the University of Michigan. Her past research focuses on cultural exchanges across Japanese- and French-speaking communities. In her role as Grants Consultant, she supports faculty in developing research grant proposals to fund engineering research and educational outreach.