Learning Lab Videos

Dr. Tobias Rodriguez, Strategic Initiatives Manager, discusses how to develop a research idea for external funding and match a funding source to your project. The topics include how to design specific aims and a research plan.

Scylla Hecateis, MLIS, introduces Pivot-RP, a powerful database of funding opportunities available for researchers at the University of Pittsburgh. The video covers basic instructions on how to log in and use the database, along with best practices for ease of use.

Dr. Michael Holland, Vice Chancellor for Science Policy and Research Strategies, offers advice on reading and responding to a funding solicitation. The topics include identifying eligibility requirements, funding restrictions, alignment with your research goals, review criteria, and how to present your proposed project to a program officer.

Lauren Ward, Executive Director, Health Sciences, in Corporate and Foundation Relations (CFR), provides a high-level overview of the office and how it partners with faculty to maximize philanthropic funding success. The video covers CFR’s role throughout the grant lifecycle, the Select Funders policy, and best practices for engaging with foundation and corporate funders.

Dr. Mike Holland, Vice Chancellor for Science Policy and Research Strategies in Pitt Research, discusses how to strategically prepare for foundation funding by aligning research with foundation priorities and building lasting relationships with program officers. The video covers researching foundation strategy beyond a website search, clarifying your pitch, and best practices for engaging program officers and corporate partners.

Megan Hall discusses Limited Submissions, funding opportunities where the sponsor sets an institutional limit for the number of proposals they will accept. The video provides details on how to apply for this type of funding opportunity, as well as the selection process when the number of entries exceeds the institutional limit.

Megan Hall discusses strategies and best practices for working with a Proposal Project Manager on your grant proposal.

Christine Barberio, Senior Grant Writer and Pitt Research Concierge Program Proposal Editor, discusses tips, lessons learned, and common pitfalls to avoid when preparing competitive proposals for external funding.

Laura Kingsley, Executive Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs, discusses how effective collaboration between pre- and post-award administrators and faculty relies on four pillars: practicality, consistency, risk mitigation, and communication.

David Selman, Shared Research Administrator II, describes Uniform Guidance and the components of a budget. The topics include the four costing principles and a high-level overview of direct and indirect costs.

Alisha Cuniff, Director of Finance at the School of Public and International Affairs, provides an overview of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and their budget requirements. The video covers the different types of RFPs (federal, foundation, and industry), key components to look for, and best practices for reviewing budget guidance and avoiding common pitfalls.

Nicole Webb, Director for Submissions and Research Analytics at Hillman Cancer Center, discusses the roles of the Research Administrator and the Principal Investigator in preparing a proposal budget. In this video, Nicole will cover the importance of communication, what budget element details the PI should provide, and the difference between the budget and justification.

Tyler Fleck, Director of Research Administration in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS), discusses the shared roles and responsibilities of research administrators and principal investigators in preparing budget forms and budget justifications for extramural funding. 

Chris Keys, Grants and Contracts Specialist in the SVCHS Research Administration Office, discusses how to budget subawards and purchased services on sponsored research projects. The video covers the key distinctions between the two budget categories and provides guidance on how to accurately plan and document each within a sponsored project budget.

Dr. Jennifer Iriti, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research-Education & Evaluation Strategy, provides an overview of evaluation plans in research proposals. The video covers the purpose and focus of evaluation, core components of an evaluation plan, how to review evaluation requirements within a solicitation, and tips for building a competitive evaluation plan.

Dr. Jennifer Iriti, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research-Education & Evaluation Strategy, continues the evaluation series with a focused look at logic models and their role in research proposals. The video covers the distinction between logic models and theories of change, the purpose of creating a logic model, the core components, and the role logic models play in evaluation, including common limitations and practical tips.

Dr. Rory Cooper, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research for STEM-Health Sciences Collaborations, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and Founding Director and VA Senior Research Career Scientist of the Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL), outlines the strategies, structural anchors, and cultural values needed to build a successful research team. The video covers recruiting and retaining talent, mentoring, securing diverse funding, and fostering a culture of generosity and resilience to sustain a lab long-term.

Laura Kingsley, Executive Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs, discusses Fee For Service and the types of projects it supports. The video covers how to determine if Fee for Service is the right fit for your work and the steps to get started.

Eric M. Larson, the Electronic Research Support & System Administrator in the Office of Sponsored Programs, offers guidance on how to request and set up an eRA Commons account. Eric outlines the steps for requesting an account, logging in, and provides helpful tips for completing the online forms. 

Helenmary Sheridan discusses effective techniques for organizing and storing files to optimize research data management. The video covers best practices for naming files and folders and setting up a system for easy access.

Update: Helenmary Sheridan is no longer an employee at the University. You can also utilize this source for more information: https://www.hsls.pitt.edu/data-services

Melissa Miklos, Assistant Director of the Human Research Protection Office (HRPO), provides a high-level overview of the role of the office, how to access their online submission application, and who to contact with questions.

Beverly Harding, Director of the Institutional Biosafety Office (IBO), provides a high-level overview of the office, including its committees, website, how to initiate a submission, and who to contact with questions.

Jeremy DeRicco, Director of Animal Research Protection, provides a comprehensive overview of the office, including its purpose, membership, protocol review process, and the offices with which they collaborate.

Dr. Joseph Ancosky provides an overview of project management. In the video, Dr. Ancosky highlights the project management resources available to Pitt faculty on the PPMO SharePoint site, including how to use various templates that are available and project management best practices.