November 10, 2016

Meet the SPA Fellows - Cohort B

Sponsored Projects Administration is pleased to introduce you to the 2016-17 Fellows (Cohort B). The SPA Fellows Program is an intensive educational experience designed to develop the knowledge base and grant-writing skills of faculty members who display superior potential regarding the ability to obtain external funding in support of research, scholarship, creative projects, and other fundable endeavors. 

Sergiy Rosokha
My name is Sergiy Rosokha. I grew up in Carpathian region located in the western part of Ukraine and received my M. Sc. in Chemical Physics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. After completion of Ph.D. at Institute of Physical Chemistry in Kiev, I spent several years as a research scientist at National Sciences of Ukraine studying kinetics and mechanisms of complex chemical processes and developing industrial technologies for the recovery of platinum metals from scraps and wastes. For this work, I was awarded State Prize in Science and Technology of Ukraine. From 2000, I was carrying out research in physical-organic chemistry at the University of Houston in Texas, and, subsequently, teaching and doing research at Roosevelt University, Chicago. I joined Ball State University as an Associate Professor of Chemistry in 2016.
My research is focused on the mechanisms of chemical reactions, as well as on the fascinating intermolecular interactions which are vital for the molecular recognition and reactivity, functioning of biomolecules, pharmaceutical substances, and molecular materials. I co-authored 84 articles and 2 book chapters, with more than 2000 citations and h-index of 26.  My current work is supported by the $296,600 grant from the National Science Foundation “Supramolecular anion-pi and halogen-bonded complexes and their role in electron-transfer processes” and by the $70,000 grant from the American Chemical Society’s Petroleum Research Fund “Characterization of ion-radical pi-bonding and electron transfer using cation-radical salts with weakly coordinating anions.”

Cori Jenkins
My name is Cori Jenkins. I completed my doctoral work in chemistry at Purdue University where I utilized polymers to mimic mussel proteins in order to develop new adhesives. After graduate school, I conducted research as a postdoctoral scholar at California Institute of Technology where my work focused on creating polymers displaying different sugar motifs to regulate neuronal growth.
This is both my first year at Ball State University and as a professor. My research here focuses on incorporating thiol groups into diverse polymer architectures. These polythiols can be easily modified to incorporate an array of functional groups via ‘click chemistry,’ form internal cross-links, and bind metals. Once developed, these materials will serve as scaffolds for a range of applications including environmental remediation via metal entrapment as well as drug delivery. The breadth of possibilities allows students to explore their own interests and will allow me to engage in collaborations to utilize polythiols in new and interesting ways.
Whether at work or at home, I try to get outside as much as possible. I firmly believe fresh air and sunshine make any task more manageable. When I’m not working, my fiancĂ© and I love cooking, exercising, and traveling together. We often take our husky on long walks or hikes. I enjoy experiencing new places and one of my goals is to visit all 50 states during my life.  

Xin Sun
My name is Xin Sun and I joined the Computer Science Department at Ball State University in fall 2016 as an assistant professor. From 2012 to 2016 I was an assistant professor at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. I received my Ph.D. from Purdue University, West Lafayette, in 2012. My general research interest lies in computer networking and networked systems, with a focus on network management and operations.

The current goal of my research is to develop rigorous scientific approaches and software-based automation tools for the operations and management of large and complex cyber-infrastructures, which are kept working today entirely by manual effort and human intelligence and are thus prone to human errors.  I am also very passionate about Computer Science education. I love working with students, particularly with undergraduate students who are often able to “think different”, and I have been evolving undergraduate students in every stage of my research projects from the initial design to development to evaluation and deployment.

When I am not lecturing in class or writing a grant proposal in office, I am probably working out in the gym or checking out the latest gadgets on YouTube.



YoungAh Lee

My name is YoungAh Lee; I am an assistant professor teaching both undergraduate and graduate Public Relations courses in the Department of Journalism. I graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism with a Ph.D. degree and before coming back to academia, I have worked as a PR strategy consultant for more than 8 years.

With a scientist-practitioner perspective from my professional background, my research interests are focused on the role of strategic communication in the achievement of organizations’ goals, specifically in the context of social media and university reputation management. Especially, I have developed keen interests in social media analytics both for teaching and research in order to examine pervasive impact of media analytics in public relations planning, execution and evaluation. This effort has been recognized by the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations and I was chosen as one of nine nationally selected 2016 Plank Educator Fellow. I hope that my research will benefit my teaching and ultimately my public relations students, who will face fast and significant changes driven by new communication technology.     


Bangshuai Han
Bangshuai Han is an Assistant Professor of Water Resources at the department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management at Ball State University. He received his doctorate in Environmental Resources Engineering from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and his master in Physical Geography from Chinese Academy of Sciences. Right before coming to Ball State University, he worked as a postdoc researcher at Boise State University, leading a team of social and biophysical scientists on the projection of water availability in Southwest Idaho.
His research interests center at critical water resources issues, by integrating expertise from hydrology, climate change, land use and human influences. He tackles research questions using models, laboratory experiments, field experiments, and surveys. He also likes to incorporate up-to-date research into class experiences. He is currently teaching introductory level environmental and water courses.
He is a father of two kids, one is three years old and the other is one and a half. In his spare time, he likes playing badminton, table tennis, gardening and hiking.

Matt Moore
My name is Matt Moore.  I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work at Ball State University.  My research centers on the integration of social work into the field of athletics.  I have a passion for positioning social workers to offer advocacy, case coordination, counseling, and program and policy change to improve athlete well-being and functioning.  I am currently working on a Sport Social Work Certificate Program and a Sport Social Work Model of Practice.  
In addition to this line of research, I love nothing more than being present for my students in the classroom and beyond.  I predominately teach in the areas of social welfare policy, research, and practice.  I was a finalist for the Ball State Excellence in Teaching Award and recently received the Greek Life Award for Outstanding Teaching.  
Outside of Ball State, my main priority will always be my family.  My wife and I take great pride in raising our three children (Brooklyn, Bronson, and Maverick).  In my spare time, I am the Varsity tennis coach at Zionsville High School.  I also enjoy coaching hockey through the Indianapolis Youth Hockey Association.  I hope you enjoyed learning more about my professional and personal life.  Please let me know if I can ever be of assistance – I truly operate on an open-door policy!

Kim Zoder-Martell

My name is Kim Zoder-Martell. I am an assistant professor of Applied Behavior Analysis in the Special Education department. I am a licensed psychologist and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral level. I am originally from NY, but I earned a Ph.D., in school psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi. I completed my pre-doctoral internship in Louisiana, and moved to Indiana to obtain post-doctoral supervision at Riley Hospital for Children. Broadly, my research focuses on improving outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. I am particularly interested in evaluating strategies to train consultees (e.g., parents, teachers, direct care staff) how to implement behavior analytic interventions with treatment fidelity.
Currently, I am the elected Member at Large, Past Conference Chair, and the Interim Chair of the Communications Committee for the Hoosier Association for Behavior Analysis. I am actively involved in pursuing licensure for behavior analysts in Indiana. I am also involved with the Indiana Association of Psychologists and serve on their Communications Committee.

I live in Carmel with my husband, Nick, and our daughter, Maibel. We have three dogs. I know, you’re thinking, “crazy dog lady!” I am the co-leader of a Girl Scout troop and I am avid crafter. Although I enjoy most crafts, crochet is my favorite.


Sanglim Yoo
My name is Sanglim Yoo, assistant professor of Urban Planning. I was appointed as a faculty member of the Department of Urban Planning at Ball State in 2014 and teach introductory and advanced level Geographic Information Systems (GIS), quantitative analysis and research methods, and regional planning studio to future urban planners. I come from various academic backgrounds including plant biology, environmental studies, city planning, and environment and natural resources policy.
I have deep rooted interest in the economic value of urban environmental amenities. For my dissertation research, I applied spatial statistical method, specifically Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), as well as machine learning techniques, such as random forest and Cubist, to investigate spatially heterogeneous benefits of various urban environmental amenities. My research interest lies in the sustainable environmental management and planning by focusing on the quantification of human – environmental interactions in urban area.

Together with economic valuation of urban environmental amenities, I am in the initial stage of expanding the realm my research into the investigation of the relationship between remotely sensed summertime land surface temperatures and biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics of urban areas. In my research, I tried to address Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) phenomenon reflecting more realistic and tangible urban scales, such as by planning zone, by neighborhood, by city block, or by parcel.

October 26, 2016

Meet the SPA Fellows

Sponsored Projects Administration is pleased to introduce you to the 2016-17 Fellows (Cohort A). The SPA Fellows Program is an intensive educational experience designed to develop the knowledge base and grant-writing skills of faculty members who display superior potential regarding the ability to obtain external funding in support of research, scholarship, creative projects, and other fundable endeavors. 

Allison Rober

Allison Rober is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Biology in the Department of Biology at Ball State University. Allison earned a Certification in Teaching College Science and her Ph.D. in Integrative Biology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior (EEBB) with a specialization in Environmental Science and Policy from Michigan State University.

Allison’s research focus is in the area of algal community ecology, with particular interest in environmental controls on benthic algal communities and their role in ecosystem processes. Much of her research focuses on how processes related to ongoing climate change (e.g., variable hydrology, light availability, nutrient enrichment, and warming) influence algal community composition in wetlands and the potential consequences for food web structure.

Allison is actively involved in a variety of initiatives to enhance science literacy through scholarly teaching and developed the BSU Scientific Teaching Program for graduate students interested in learning to build and implement student-centered instructional materials and teaching strategies for STEM courses.

Philip Smaldino

My lab is interested in studying “unusual” DNA shapes. We study a specific protein that is present in human cells, that can change the shape of certain regions of DNA. We are interested in how this change in DNA shape can turn a gene “on” or “off”. We use these findings to better understand and treat specific human diseases including HIV/AIDS and ALS (Lou Gehrigs disease).

Outside of research and teaching, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Melissa, and our (soon to be) two children. We enjoy working on our large vegetable garden, tending to our 11 chickens and three goats, and staying active at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.


Leeann Lower


Hi, my name is Leeann Lower, but most people call me Lee. I am an Assistant Professor in Sport Administration at Ball State University (BSU). This is my second year at BSU, having recently finished my doctorate at The Ohio State University (OSU) in Sport Management. While at OSU I acted as research coordinator for LiFE Sports, a sport-based positive youth development program.

My primary research interests are in the areas of organizational effectiveness and sport for development. My scholarship is based on the premise that a sport program can maximize participant outcomes and achieve the organization’s vision, if designed, delivered, and evaluated effectively. I became interested in the areas of organizational effectiveness and sport for development through my family’s involvement in Athletes in Action as well as my own experiences running collegiate cross-country and participating in recreational sport.

Apart from my position at BSU, I enjoy an active lifestyle with friends and family. You will often find me training for a marathon, playing recreational sports or games, or traveling to experience a new city or event. I also appreciate reading a good book and being out in nature. It has been such a joy joining the Ball State community. I hope to continue to expand my network and skills through meaningful experiences, such as the SPA Fellows program.


Brandon Kistler


My name is Brandon Kistler and I am a new faculty returning to Ball State after completing my PhD at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I have a background in both nutrition and exercise physiology with specific expertise in cardiovascular methodology including ultrasound, tonometry, heart rate and blood pressure variability.

My research focuses primarily on strategies to overcome barriers and help prevent inadequate or inappropriate nutrition in patients with renal disease. My recent projects have focused on the safety of providing nutrition support during hemodialysis treatment and have been geared towards providing the scientific knowledge to develop evidence-based guidelines for this controversial practice. I have been the primary investigator or co-investigator on grants from the American Heart Association, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, American College of Sports Medicine, and United States Department of Agriculture. 


Tya M. Arthur

Tya M. Arthur, PhD, MPH, CPH, is an Assistant Professor of Health Science in the Department of Nutrition and Health Science at Ball State University. She received a master of public health in Health Policy and Management from the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health and a doctorate in Health Education from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX.

Dr. Arthur’s research interests focus on culturally sensitive health promotion and health care with the goal of preventing and reducing chronic disease among racial/ethnic minority and low income communities. Her program of research involves (1) developing, implementing, and evaluating community-based, culturally sensitive health promotion interventions, and (2) identifying and addressing the health-related social needs (e.g., food insecurity, transportation, and housing instability) of low-income patients with the goal of reducing healthcare costs and improving quality of care and health outcomes.

Dr. Arthur has been inducted into the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health, the Eta Sigma Gamma National Professional Health Education Honorary, and the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education.


Christina Jones

Christina Jones, PhD, is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Health Science in the College of Health at Ball State University. Dr. Jones spent three years as an Assistant Professor of Corporate and Health Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater before joining the BSU faculty. She completed her doctorate in Health Communication from Purdue University in May 2014 and her Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in May 2009.

Dr. Jones’ expertise and accompanying research program in health disparities and health advocacy in vulnerable populations spans across chronic disease prevention, social justice and health, and health behavior theory, using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

Considering her mass media and strategic communication background, Dr. Jones also maintains interests in community-driven research as well as health promotion, intervention design, and program evaluation. Dr. Jones is a recipient of the 2016 National Communication Association’s Golden Monograph Award, which is a competitively selected achievement bestowed at the top publication in the discipline of the prior year.

In her free time, Dr. Jones enjoys spending time outdoors with her son, Gabriel, as well as cheering on her favorite football teams – the Purdue Boilermakers and the Indianapolis Colts. In the Spring you may also find her at the speedway – Dr. Jones is a consistent attendee of the Indianapolis 500 and a committed fan of IndyCar racing.


Teresia Mbogori 


My name is Teresia Mbogori and I have recently joined Ball State University as an Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics. I was born and raised in Kenya where I did all my basic education and Bachelor’s degree. In 2009, I moved to Israel to pursue a Master’s degree in Nutritional Sciences at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. I returned to Kenya in 2011 and worked for a few years as an adjunct instructor at my Alma Mater, Egerton University. I then moved to Texas Tech University in 2013 to pursue a Doctoral degree in Nutritional Sciences. I graduated in August 2016 and immediately joined Ball State University as a faculty member.

My research interests are in food security, nutrition education and public policy. I am interested in community empowerment projects that enable the community to develop solutions for their own food security and nutrition needs.

I am married and have two boys, ages 12 and 9. When I can, I enjoy reading books and watching movies that are totally unrelated to my discipline. For example, I follow NASA on Facebook and watch their channel when they launch space ships. Although most of this happens late at night, I still stay up to watch it live.

October 25, 2016

Research Week 2016 - Mark Your Calendars!

Sponsored Projects Administration is proud to announce the schedule for our Annual Research Week conference. Research Week 2016 takes place November 14-18 and includes more than thirty workshops, presentations, and special events all designed especially for the Ball State research community. We have expanded the conference by adding several new events to the schedule this year. 

This conference is free and open to the entire Ball State community. Registration is not required for individual events, but is offered if you would like a record of your attendance. Registration links can be found in session descriptions on the Research Week webpage. New information is being added every week, so check back often for updates!

This year we are offering several different tracks of learning opportunities for Research Week:

SPA Primer Series – Workshops and presentations about the nuts and bolts of doing research at Ball State University. Topics range from funding searches and grantsmanship 101 to making the most of reviewer comments and compliance issues.

Spotlight Events  Just want the highlights? Spotlight Events may be just what you’re looking for. These events will appeal to the broadest range of the campus audience. Anyone, no matter the discipline or level of involvement in research, will find these events of interest. Spotlight events include a keynote speech by Jennifer Blackmer, Associate Provost for Entrepreneurial Learning and Associate Professor of Theatre, and a Teach-a-Thon featuring Ted Talk style presentations from several Ball State faculty members.

Guest Speaker Sessions – Many of this year’s sessions feature speakers from outside of Sponsored Projects Administration. They will be discussing the Fulbright experience, introducing the new College of Health, helping us to understand the export control process, and presenting on many other interesting topics surrounding the external funding enterprise on campus. 

Daily Panel Discussions – Join us every day at 2 p.m. in Bracken Library 104 for a panel discussion. See Research Week schedule for topics. 

*Special Presentation*
NSF Fall Grants Conference – We will be live-streaming both days of the National Science Foundation fall grants conference on Monday, November 14 and Tuesday, November 15. Viewing locations will be the SPA Conference Room and the Schwartz Learning Pod (Bracken Library, 1st floor). Check here for conference schedule.

This year there are three easy ways to access the full and up-to-date Research Week conference schedule. You can either visit Guidebook on the web or the Sponsored Projects Administration website to get the schedule online, or download the Guidebook app to have access to the complete schedule on the go!


Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for future updates and information. 

October 13, 2016

SPA Colloquium - The Fulbright Experience

The Core Fulbright Scholarship program sends more than 800 U.S. faculty and professionals abroad each year.

Founded by U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946, the scholar program disperses competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists. More than 20 Ball State faculty members have received the award since its founding. 

Dom Caristi, Ball State Professor of Telecommunications and official Ambassador for the Fulbright Scholar Program, discussed his experience with the program at the Sponsored Projects Administration Colloquium Series session Wednesday. 

"I've never met a Fulbright recipient who regretted the experience," Caristi said. "That's why they continue to have an attachment to the program."

Caristi has received the award twice since 1995 and continues his involvement in the program as an ambassador.

"Everyone who has done it has something positive to say about it, and that's the reason so many faculty continue their association with the program long after they receive the award," he said.

Dom Caristi, Professor of Telecommunications and official Ambassador for the Fulbright
Scholar Program, discusses his experience with the program at the SPA Colloquium Series session Wednesday. 

Justin Miller, Director of Sponsored Projects Administration, highlighted the various types of agendas set for Fulbright Scholar grant recipients at the SPA Colloquium Series session Wednesday.

"Some people will do more teaching than research and others will do a mixture of both," Miller said. "Every award is a snowflake - in that they are all unique."

Caristi said the application process to receive the grant can seem daunting, but it's well worth the effort.

"You have to make sure you are a good fit for what they are looking for," he said. "I have been turned down before, but every situation is different."


Attendees of the SPA Colloquium Series session on Wednesday discuss the
 application process involved with the Fulbright Scholar program. 
Miller said the program is a great opportunity for Ball State faculty in their research and teaching endeavors. 

"We have a really high success rate here at the university and it's been a great opportunity for Ball State faculty," he said. "Our role at SPA is to help with the application process and administer the award." 

Reasons to apply for a Fulbright Scholar grant:
  • Exposure to Different Culture and People in more than 150 different countries 
  • Prestige 
  • Rewarding Experience

The next full Core competition, for academic year 2018-2019, will open in February 2017. 

October 05, 2016

October Events

Sponsored Projects Administration has several exciting workshops and events on campus during the month of October! We are bringing back our brand new SPA Colloquium Series that will provide faculty with learning opportunities related to the external funding enterprise on campus.

SPA Colloquium:

October 12 - The Fulbright Experience: Dom Caristi, Professor of Telecommunications and official Ambassador for the Fulbright Scholar Program, joins Justin Miller (Director, Sponsored Projects Administration) to discuss the Fulbright application process and the various Fulbright programs.

October 28 - Faculty Success Stories: Pathways to Funding Success (Session 3): John Ludvick (Animation), Josh Gruver (Natural Resources and Environmental Management), Tom Holtgraves (Psychological Science), and Rui Chen (Information Systems and Operations Management) discuss how they achieved funding success to support their projects

All are welcome; professional staff and faculty members are especially encouraged to attend.

Please RSVP:

October 12 @ 12 PM - Arts & Journalism Bldg (Atrium Dining Room)

October 28 @ 3 PM - Bracken Library 104


Focus on the Search:
These intensive one-hour workshops are designed to equip faculty members to become sophisticated users of COS Pivot, Ball State’s primary funding opportunities database.

Please RSVP: 

October 13 @ 3 PM - Research House Conference Room

October 19 @ 5 PM - Research House Conference Room


Cayuse Learning Session: New for 2016-17, Cayuse SP provides a platform for electronic creation, tracking, and management of proposals and awards.

Please RSVP: 

October 14 @ 2 PM - Bracken Library 224



For more information: Stan Geidel (sgeidel@bsu.edu - 285-2022) or Jessie Roark (jaroark@bsu.edu - 285-5003)

September 27, 2016

Call for Proposals: Cohen Peace Fellowship

The call to submit proposals for the Benjamin V. Cohen Peace Fellowship is open! The Fellowship provides support to conduct basic or applied research on topics related to peace. Ball State faculty members AND graduate students are eligible to apply. 


  • For faculty members funds may be used for salary, supplies, expenses, and/or travel. Preference will be given to tenure track faculty members at Ball State University. 
  • For graduate students, funds may be used for an assistantship stipend, supplies, expenses, and/or travel and may also include tuition remission during the academic time period of the fellowship.


Applicants must consult with the staff of Sponsored Projects Administration by October 1, 2016 to receive assistance in the development of their proposals, including the narrative and budget. Failure to do this will render an application ineligible for further consideration.


Completed applications and all required materials are due to the SPA by 5:00 PM on October 31, 2016. SPA will route the completed applications to the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies. The Cohen Proposal Evaluation Committee will then review the proposals.

Projects that focus on aspects of structural violence, direct violence, and/or social justice are permissible. You must clearly and concretely connect your focus with the mission of the Cohen Fund. How will your project expand knowledge and/or solve practical problems associated with issues affecting world peace to improve the human condition?

Some examples of projects include sexism, hydrology, criminality, racism, homelessness, human rights, suicide prevention, health disparities, sports for development, land use and ecosystems among others

Projects that involve peace building, peace making, or peace keeping are consistent with the mission of the Cohen Fund.

For more information on how to apply for the fellowship, visit the link below or contact the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, 285-1622. 

http://cms.bsu.edu/academics/centersandinstitutes/peace/academicopps/cohen-peace-fellowship


September 22, 2016

SPA Colloquium - Faculty Success Stories: Pathways to Funding Success (Session 2)

One thing is clear about the journey towards achieving funding success to support your research agenda: Every path is different and faculty success stories come in all shapes and sizes. 

Sponsored Projects Administration is excited to continue the inaugural year of SPA Colloquia, a series of faculty learning sessions addressing various topics related to grant seeking and the external funding enterprise on campus.

Susan McDowell, Professor of Biology, and Pamela Harwood, Professor of Architecture, shared their testimonies on Wednesday about achieving funding success at Ball State University. Their individual processes to receive funding were vastly different, but both agree that achieving funding advanced their academia.



"Collaboration was absolutely essential to get funding," Harwood said. "My students helped write the grants and the community was a great partner. Those one-on-one opportunities exist and they should be taken advantage of."
  Left to right: Pamela Harwood, Professor of Architecture, and Susan McDowell, Professor of Biology, 
  discuss the ways in which they achieved funding success to support their research and teaching agendas.
Harwood expounded on the importance of taking advantage of several smaller grants in the search for funding. 

"We were funded by a series of smaller grants that were both internal and external of the university," she said. "That might have been challenging for SPA, but the process went very smoothly. Any time I had a question they helped look for the answer."

McDowell highlighted some challenges in the search for funding, but maintained that it is always a learning experience.

"There is a lot that goes into grant writing," she said. "Going to SPA for help completely restructured my thinking." 

Several themes surfaced during Wednesday's discussion: 

  • Collaborating with students and surrounding communities is integral in the search for funding
  • Every path towards funding success is different 
  • Combining several smaller grants can be beneficial
  • Sponsored Projects Administration is a great resource when the search for funding seems daunting (We are here to help!) 



September 20, 2016

Aspire Internal Grants Information Session

Sponsored Projects Administration will be holding an information session to introduce and expound on the different internal funding opportunities available to faculty throughout their career at Ball State. 

This will include a discussion of many of the available Aspire competitions, including the new CREATE award.

Go to our website to view the specific opportunities available to faculty and students for project development support, travel support and more:

Learn how Ball State can help fund your research or creative endeavor activities through the many Aspire Programs.

No advance registration required but seating is limited; please come see us at Bracken Library BL 104 Friday September 23rd from 2:00-3:00.

SPA hosts first session in Colloquia Series


Sponsored Projects Administration kicked off September with the inaugural year of SPA Colloquia, a series of faculty learning sessions addressing various topics related to grant seeking and the external funding enterprise on campus.

The one-hour session in Bracken Library on Friday, "Faculty Success Stories: Pathways to Funding Success," featured faculty panelists and SPA personnel within a moderated Q&A format.

Faculty members Paul Gestwicki (Computer Science), Janay Sander (Educational Psychology), and Stephanie Simon-Dack (Psychological Science) discussed how they achieved funding success to support their projects.
Faculty members Paul Gestwicki (Computer Science), Janay Sander (Educational Psychology), and Stephanie 
Simon-Dack (Psychological Science) discuss how they achieved funding success to support their projects on Friday in Bracken Library.


Simon-Dack discussed how she was able to receive federal funding for the Department of Psychological Science at Ball State after a resourceful and collaborative experience with SPA. 

"I attached myself to Sponsored Projects Administration like a leech," Simon-Dack said. "It was about networking and allowing myself to be guided by people who knew how to do it."

Some attendees of the session asked panelists how they were able to effectively manage their time between grant seeking, teaching, and research throughout the academic year. 

"I relied heavily on faculty mentors and you will realize that people in your department and others on campus want to help each other," Sander said. "You have to keep your scholarly work as your focus and keep your mind on the bigger picture."

Gestwicki discussed how he was able to authentically combine immersive learning with the funding he received in the Department of Computer Science. 

"I had these ideas of things I wanted to do and I knew I couldn't do them the way I imagined them without external funding," he said. "The fact that my personal joy comes from doing immersive learning and I can get funding to do so is a great combination."


Campus Liason Stanley Geidel introduces faculty members Paul Gestwicki (Computer Science), Janay Sander (Educational Psychology), and Stephanie Simon-Dack (Psychological Science) to attendees of the session on Friday in Bracken Library.

Attendees of the session took away several major themes related to the grant seeking enterprise:
  • Start small - Don't expect to get big funding right away
  • Grant seeking is an iterative process and a learning experience
  • Collaborate with SPA, other faculty, and students on campus 
  • Time is everything - plan ahead and plan strategically
  • If it does not tie to your work, it is probably not fund worthy 
  • Stay focused on your scholarly work while effectively managing your time 

SPA will be holding several SPA Colloquia throughout the academic year. The next session, Faculty Success Stories: Pathways to Funding Success, Session 2, will be held in the Atrium Dining Room on Wednesday, September 21 at 12 p.m. Faculty members Pam Harwood (Architecture) and Sue McDowell (Biology) will discuss how they achieved funding success to support their projects.

September 14, 2016

Identifying Sources for Funding and Research - Graduate Student Edition


University Libraries and the Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) are combining forces to help you find funding sources for your research and creative work. 


Jessie Roark, Outreach and Education Coordinator, will give a tutorial on COS Pivot, the largest funding opportunity and researcher expertise database, as well as other resources SPA has to offer.


Brenda Yates Habich, Information Services Librarian, will share strategies for using Web of Science, a powerful database helpful in crafting necessary research in preparing literature reviews for grant proposals.


Please RSVP (Registration required for this event)

Date: Monday, September 19, 2016
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: BL 225

September 07, 2016

Sponsored Projects Administration September Events


Sponsored Projects Administration has been hard at work developing a full academic calendar of workshops, colloquia, and special events for the Ball State community. SPA is kicking off September with Cayuse SP training sessions, Focus on the Search workshops, and our brand new SPA Colloquia Series!

Colloquia Series: SPA is excited to announce a brand new SPA Colloquia Series starting in September that will provide faculty with learning opportunities related to the external funding enterprise on campus.

September 16: Faculty Success Stories: Pathways to Funding Success (Session 1): Paul Gestwicki (Computer Science), Stephanie Simon-Dack (Psychological Science), and Janay Sander (Educational Psychology) discuss how they achieved funding success to support their projects.

September 21: Faculty Success Stories: Pathways to Funding Success (Session 2): Pam Harwood (Architecture) and Sue McDowell (Biology) discuss how they achieved funding success to support their projects.

Campus liaison Stan Geidel will be moderating the forum in a Q&A format on topics of interest pertaining to sponsored projects. Those who attend are encouraged to ask questions/participate in the discussion.

All are welcome; professional staff and faculty members are especially encouraged to attend.

Registration for this one-hour session is requested, but it is not required.

Please RSVP:



Focus on the Search: These intensive one-hour workshops are designed to equip faculty members to become sophisticated users of COS Pivot, Ball State’s primary funding opportunities database.

At the end of this session participants will:

• Understand why it is important to make searching a regular part of your grantsmanship routine
• Learn about the resources SPO has to offer
• Learn how to use the COS Pivot database
• Conduct a search of your own

Please RSVP for one that fits your schedule (Spaces are limited):




Cayuse SP Learning Session: New for 2016-17, CayuseSP provides a platform for electronic creation, tracking, and management of proposals and awards along with other aspects of external funding operations to improve collaboration among administrators and faculty teams, and provide transparency from pre-award through post-award.

In these sessions, users will learn to:

• Navigate SP Dashboards
• Understand proposal, award, and project records
• Pull reports of real-time data
• Review and certify proposals

If you have any questions about Cayuse SP Learning Sessions, please contact Augusta Wray.
Please RSVP for one that fits your schedule:


For more information: Stan Geidel (sgeidel@bsu.edu - 285-2022) or Jessie Roark (jaroark@bsu.edu - 285-5003)