The University of New Mexico’s Office for the Vice President of Research (OVPR) has created the FRESSH Pilot Program, a cohort of Social Science and Humanities faculty, predominantly from the College of Arts & Sciences to develop research concepts and proposals suitable for federal agencies and foundations such as the NSF Directorate on Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) program and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

FRESSH, or Fostering Research Expansion in the Social Sciences and Humanities, will focus on awareness and utilization of internal resources, targeted training for opportunity scoping, concept and proposal development, and building community around Social Sciences and Humanities research.

Key Activities as part of the program include monthly 3-hour hands-on workshops and seminars as a full cohort (some portions open to wider UNM faculty); weekly hands-on small group and mentoring sessions focused on the development of extramural funding proposals, including concept development, proposal development training, peer writing support and review, mentoring from successful researchers, and opportunities for collaboration; engagement with agency (e.g., NSF and NEH) program officers to understand agency-specific expectations and needs; and if submitted proposal is awarded, participants may be asked to serve as a mentor for future program cohorts.

Various program expectations from the participants will be required including:

  • Each participant will submit a research proposal for funding consideration in 2022-2023
  • Faculty will develop the skills needed to effectively prepare research proposals and respond to critiques of their work
  • Important cross-department and cross-campus connections will be built by developing cohorts of faculty participating in the program
  • The program will increase participation in extramurally funded research programs and will help create a culture of collaboration and cooperation in pursuing research funding
  • UNM will build expertise in understanding programs of support for Social Sciences and Humanities and will diversify its portfolio of funding

Eligibility:

  • All participants must demonstrate support from their Department Chair in the final application
  • Competitive applications will demonstrate commitment to pilot expectations (including active peer review and milestone achievement), a research vision, and interest in external funding. Selection is not based on perceived merit of proposed research ideas.
  • No restrictions on faculty rank
  • No experience with targeted extramural research funding agencies required

  Dec. 17, 2021

  * Due date: InfoReady Statement of Interest

  Jan. 13, 2022, 3:30 – 4:15 p.m.    

  Jan. 19, 2022, 2 – 2:45 p.m.  

  Information Sessions:

  Jan. 13 - Registration: https://bit.ly/3ls8row; Jan 19 - Registration: https://bit.ly/3ohm4bG  

  Jan. 18 – Feb. 4, 2022

  Pilot Program Application Period

  Mid-Feb. 2022

  Pilot Cohort Selected

  Late-Feb. 2022

  Pilot Program Kick-off

  Feb. – Nov. 2022

  Pilot Program Duration

  Oct. 2022 – Oct. 2023

  Expected Extramural Funding Proposal

  Submissions

If you are interested, fill out a brief survey on InfoReady.

* Statement of Interest is for planning purposes. Anyone potentially interested is encouraged to submit a statement to that we can provide a more robust and relevant program.

Email questions to the Faculty Research Development Office at frdo@unm.edu.