Research Center

MAK-18/Borderlands Working Group

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Center
Opened in 2006, the Research Center (RC) was founded to provide full business activity support for faculty grants, contracts, and continuing education projects.  Headed by Monica Denny, the College Academic Services Officer, the RC provides all levels of account management, purchasing, paperwork associated with staffing, audit preparations, and other business related activity, which frees principal investigators and project innovators to manage the actual research and other deliverables of their projects.

Major accounts managed by the RC include all IG^kNU accounts, including the Intelligence Community Center of Excellence and the National Center for Border Security and Immigration, all Survey Research Center accounts, an AHRQ award, plus small accounts such as UTPA Faculty Research Grants, and seed grants.  Individual faculty are not required to use RC services, but they are available to all college faculty and staff.  The RC also manages grants for some faculty in other colleges, on a negotiated cost basis.

Pre-Award Support
The RC supports pre-award activity by managing Working Groups of faculty and staff preparing for grant submissions.  In the case of some of the more complex groups, this includes support of organizational and research work that far precedes actual grant or contract submission, and pre-service continuing education activity. RC staff maintains close communication with pre-award staff in the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects to assure consistency of purpose and mutual support among UTPA offices.

Post-Award Support
Post-award support manages all aspects of business activity, both internal and external to the University.  The RC staff maintain close communication with University post-award research office to assure consistency of purpose and mutual support among UTPA offices.

Research Center Staff
Monica Denny
ASO and RC Assistant Director
(956) 381-3551
dennym@utpa.edu

Richard Reeves, II
Working Group Coordinator (Pre-Award)
(956) 292-7436
rdreeves@utpa.edu

Eleni Escorza
Research Coordinator Associate (Post-Award)
(956) 292-7881
eiescorza@utpa.edu

Questions of Interest
Q:  How do I sign up for support?  
A:  The services of the RC are available by calling (381-3551), emailing (dennym@utpa.edu), or meeting (SBS 234) with Monica Denny.

Q:  When should I ask for support?
A:  As soon as you start thinking about applying for a grant is the best time to contact the RC.  Getting early input is strongly advised because of the many benefits of having RC staff help scope out early budget versions that take account of full costs, including hidden ones.

Q:  If I am the only SBS faculty working on a grant with colleagues from other colleges, will the RC support our project?
A:  Yes, as long as at least one SBS faculty member stands to benefit from an externally funded project, the RC will provide support.

Q:  I am from a different college, with no SBS faculty involved in my project.  Can the RC support my project?
A:  Yes, as long as your department chair and college dean do not object.

Q:  How is the RC funded?
A:  The RC is funded mainly from indirect cost allocations.  However, some grants and contracts allow direct cost payment for services.  Continuing education cost are paid out of revenue from CE services provided.

Q:  How is the management cost determined?
A:  Each project’s management cost is negotiated with the primary investigator (PI) and determined based on the amount of work required.  Management costs are always negotiated between the PI and the RC manager.

Q:  I have a small grant, will I be required to pay?
A:  No cost is required for small grants, such as internal UTPA awards, except in exceptional cases.

Q:  Will I have control over my own project?
A:  Yes.  The RC works strictly to support your decisions and to advise you about legal and compliance issues.  All project decisions are made by the individual PI.