A General Guide for Hatch Proposal Development, AAES and CoAg, AU

  1. Why do we have these projects?
    • Funding sources (i.e., Federal and State dollars) are linked to these projects, and these dollars provide personnel salaries and support of AAES facilities.
    • Projects provide means for administrative oversight of progress on research conducted on AAES facilities.
    • These are research "plans of work" for faculty.  Note that in the College of Agriculture, these projects are supposed to be general enough to cover the possibility of a modification in emphasis, since these projects are active for five years.
       
  2. Project Selection—what a researcher addresses for a project should be based on the following :
    • Is the problem important to the Alabama producer and consumer, and is it compatible with the goals and objectives of the AAES?
    • Is the project timely in addressing problems that are most critical, yet general enough for long-term implementation?
    • Is the project aligned with the research interests of PI's and departmental field of specialization?
    • Is the project unique in AAES and other projects nationwide?

 

  1. Proposal development
    • Cover Pages:
      • Project Submission Form (includes suggested reviewers and intradepartmental signatory approvals) and
      • Project Form 1
    • Summary of CRIS retrieval to demonstrate that proposed research is unique and differs from other active projects in CRIS.
    • Justification.  Provide information relative to Alabama state needs for the research, the appropriateness of research for the mission of AAES; reasons for doing the work; and ways that knowledge will be advanced with completion of work.
    • Review of literature that briefly summarizes previous related work and present outlook. 
    • Procedure(s).  Keep these relatively general for flexibility.  Include a statement describing possible collaborations.
    • Schedule.  In the College of Agriculture, these are five-year projects.
    • Estimated Costs, for each year of project:
      • A. Salaries and Wages.  Include estimated salaries from Div. 3 (i.e, ‘hard’ money research support) for all PI's, staff, and wages of students.  Include possible grant-supported personnel.
      • B. Fringe Benefits.  For FY 2008, this is 26% on estimated salaries.
      • C. Equipment.  Include maintenance contracts, etc.  New purchases of needed major equipment will likely be through grants, yet should be included here.
      • D. Materials and Supplies.  Estimate costs associated with anticipated efforts.
      • E. Travel.  Include estimates of travel to research sites and to professional meetings.
      • F. Publication Costs
      • G. Departmental Charges.  Include phone, copies, etc. that might be charges through your department. 
      • H. Total Costs
    • Support and Collaborations.   State sources and estimated amounts of extramural monies that could provide additional support of proposed work.  Provide list of collaborators at AAES and other institutions.
  1. Project Review
    • Departmental—Each department will review faculty projects from within the department.

- Check for format and scientific merit.

 - After departmental approval, project should be submitted to AAES, 105 Comer Hall, by 15 May.

    • AAES Director's Office.

-  One hard copy and one electronic file copy of the project proposal are required for review by an ad hoc committee.  AAES Project Review Team compiles comments (Review Form) and makes recommendation to Director.

 -  If a project is found to be unsatisfactory, the faculty member will have an opportunity to correct weaknesses in order to produce a satisfactory proposal.

 

  1.  Project Submission
    • Final copy of proposal to AAES Office
    • When approved by AAES, AD-416, -417, and CSREES-2008 forms need to be completed.  For instruction, click here.
    • Electronic file will be required.
    • Project number will be assigned.
    • Notice should later be received of Federal acceptance.

 

  1.  Annual progress reports (Form AD-421) will need to be submitted in early months of each year of project.  For instruction, click here.