Applying for PACT

The PACT program was created to bolster collaborations between UT and ORNL by leveraging the strengths and talents of both institutions to accomplish research that cannot be achieved by a single PI or small collaborative team. Therefore, each research team must include multiple principal investigators from UT and have strong support and involvement from ORNL. All UT faculty members are eligible to apply, including faculty who have had previous ORNL collaborations and/or have existing joint appointments.

A primary focus of the PACT program is to generate new significant funding for larger collaborative teams of scientists and engineers. Therefore, each funded PACT team will be expected to work with the Science Alliance and UT Knoxville’s Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development (ORIED) proposal development team as they prepare proposals for external sponsors.  

Progress will be assessed as follows: 

• Six-Month Report: The PACT team will provide a two-page report providing preliminary results and outlining how the funding has positioned the team for funding success. Funding for months seven-nine will be released upon submission of the report. This document will be reviewed internally to determine whether the funding will proceed in months ten-twelve. 
• Engagement with Proposal Development Team (Month Nine): If funding is continued for month ten-twelve, the PACT team will be expected to meet with the Proposal Development Team to prepare submission of an external proposal. 
• Proposal Submission (End of Year One): Each PACT team is expected to successfully submit an extramural proposal at the end of year one. Second-year funding will only be available to teams that accomplish this goal. 

A review committee appointed by the director of Science Alliance will review the proposals and make recommendations for funding. Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 

• Team strength and likelihood of funding 
• Merit and significance 
• Inclusion of graduate and undergraduate students in the research 

A complete year-one application will include the following: 

A. Cover Page 

• UT PIs name, faculty status, department, college 
• ORNL collaborator(s) name, title 
• Project title 

B. Research Proposal (6-page max with 12-point font, not including references) 

• Project summary written for a general audience (150-word max) 
• Description of the proposed research 
• Description of prior interactions with funder or program manager/officer 
• Description of all prior affiliations, collaborations and publications with ORNL, and how this project represents a new interaction in a new scientific/engineering area 
• Description of expected extended collaborations with your ORNL colleagues, for example: joint faculty opportunities, student mentoring, team development, publications, etc. 

C. Appendices 

• Appendix A: A budget* 
• Appendix B: A letter from the ORNL PI(s) supporting the partnership. 
• Appendix C: A one-page bio for each PI that includes most recent grants, professional awards, and recent publications 

A complete year-two application will include the following: 

A. Cover Page 

• UT PIs name, faculty status, department, college 
• ORNL PI(s) name, title 
• Project title 

B. Research Proposal Prepared for External Funding Agency (format will vary based on target agency) 

C. Appendices 

• Appendix A: A budget* 
• Appendix B: An endorsement letter from the ORNL investigator stating the specific impact of the previous year’s partnership and their desire to continue with the partnership 
• Appendix C: A one-page bio for each PI that includes most recent grants, professional awards, and recent relevant publications of both the UT and ORNL investigators 

Allowable costs include: 

• Graduate student support 
• Undergraduate student support 
• Postdoc support 

• Supplies 
• Other incidentals to support the research 
• Academic year and/or summer salary (applicable to all colleges) up to a maximum of $5,000 per year, inclusive of benefits 
• Benefits for all personnel 

Unallowable costs include: 

• Membership fees 
• Conference registrations 
• Equipment is discouraged and is unlikely to be awarded. 
• Computers 
• Travel – except where travel is necessary to meet with ORNL collaborators or external funding agencies and/or program officers 
• F&A charged to the project 
• Expenditures above 5% outside the budget categories require approval from the Science Alliance director. 
• Individuals’ accrued benefits before participating in the PACT program require a department head letter covering accrued annual leave. 

IMPORTANT: If the project is selected for funding, the funds must be used as requested in your project budget unless prior approval is granted, and unused funds will be reclaimed at the end of the project year.