Wednesday, January 28, 2026 · 1 - 2 PM

The Department of Human Research Protections and Integrity would like to invite you to join us for a webinar tailored to UMBC Research Administrators whose faculty may conduct human subjects research or work with human biospecimens. Bring your lunch and your questions for what we hope is an informative conversation! This invitation is for research administrators, but is open to PI's who may be in the process of submitting grant proposals that involve the use of human subjects.

Present Topic: IRB Basics for Research Administrators

Presenter(s): Emily Redding

Description: We will discuss what the IRB is, what its role is at UMBC and when research with human subjects requires IRB oversight. Additionally, we will touch base on some more nuanced questions like when PIs should obtain IRB approval during the lifecycle of a grant submission, what documentation is needed for collaborative research, and when unfunded agreements may be needed.

At the end of this session there will be time for some Q&A. Please feel free to comment with questions ahead of time to be answered during the current or future sessions. If you have questions that pertain to a specific proposal or IRB protocol, please email irb@umbc.edu.

Please sign up for the event at the link provided here:

https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/compliance/events/148408

Join WebEx Meeting: https://umbc.webex.com/umbc/j.php?MTID=mcf40e09f9ef68f66791bd0b4d59f9c8d

Attention: 1) Research Administrators, 2) Student PIs, and 3) Faculty Advisor to student PIs...

Please consider attending an upcoming webinar to support your role and learning related to Human Subjects Research at UMBC. All webinars will occur on WebEx and be facilitated by staff of the Human Research Protections & Integrity department (IRB@umbc.edu):

To the UMBC Research and Creative Achievement Community,

Effort Reports for Fall 2025 are available and ready for certification. 

The Fall 2025 period includes Payroll 2026‐001 through Payroll 2026‐014 (from June 29, 2025 through January 10, 2026). Certifications are due March 31, 2026.

Please remember that Effort Reports are both a Compliance Tool and a Grants Management Tool. After reviewing payroll charges, work with your business managers if any changes are needed. Payroll cost transfers (retros) should be processed prior to certification of Effort Reports as retros will re‐open any previously certified effort due to adjustments.

To find out whether you have open effort reports for Fall 2025 (see page 6, Year: 2025 Period: Fall) and to learn how to certify them, see the attached updated Effort Report Quick Guide with screenshots for your convenience. This guide provides detailed instructions on how to access the Effort Reports.

In order for UMBC to be in compliance, please check Open effort reports for previous periods under your PI/Certifier ID name to ensure they have been Finalized. Any payroll cost transfers (retros) for previous periods will re-open effort reports and they need to be certified and finalized again.

*NOTE: If you are new to Effort Report certification, please see page 13, FAQ #1 in the Quick Guide for information on how to gain certification access. You will not be able to certify without proper access in PeopleSoft.

*NOTE: If the PI on the project is not available to certify due to termination, sabbatical, etc. see page 13, FAQ #2 in the Quick Guide for instructions. Requests must come directly from the department chair/dean/director.

Additional resource: Effort Report Certification Guidance webpage, which includes definitions of Effort.

Your timely commitment to this process is appreciated.

To the UMBC Research and Creative Achievement Community,

Effort Reports for Fall 2025 are available and ready for certification. 

The Fall 2025 period includes Payroll 2026‐001 through Payroll 2026‐014 (from June 29, 2025 through January 10, 2026). Certifications are due March 31, 2026.

Please remember that Effort Reports are both a Compliance Tool and a Grants Management Tool. After reviewing payroll charges, work with your business managers if any changes are needed. Payroll cost transfers (retros) should be processed prior to certification of Effort Reports as retros will re‐open any previously certified effort due to adjustments.

To find out whether you have open effort reports for Fall 2025 (see page 6, Year: 2025 Period: Fall) and to learn how to certify them, see the attached updated Effort Report Quick Guide with screenshots for your convenience. This guide provides detailed instructions on how to access the Effort Reports.

In order for UMBC to be in compliance, please check Open effort reports for previous periods under your PI/Certifier ID name to ensure they have been Finalized. Any payroll cost transfers (retros) for previous periods will re-open effort reports and they need to be certified and finalized again.

*NOTE: If you are new to Effort Report certification, please see page 13, FAQ #1 in the Quick Guide for information on how to gain certification access. You will not be able to certify without proper access in PeopleSoft.

*NOTE: If the PI on the project is not available to certify due to termination, sabbatical, etc. see page 13, FAQ #2 in the Quick Guide for instructions. Requests must come directly from the department chair/dean/director.

Additional resource: Effort Report Certification Guidance webpage, which includes definitions of Effort.

Your timely commitment to this process is appreciated.

U.S. National Science Foundation Translation to Practice (NSF TTP) Collaborates with U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (DEVCOM GVSC)

The U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (DEVCOM GVSC) have partnered to issue a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) seeking proposals to advance cutting-edge scientific discovery, provide technological innovation and transition knowledge products to empower U.S. Army capabilities.

Proposers should tailor their use-inspired research and translation projects towards national security and/or national defense.

This DCL specifically seeks projects that are aligned with six core competencies: survivability and protection; robotics and autonomy; power and mobility; additive manufacturing; fuel and lubricants; and modeling, simulation and software development. In addition, projects should deliver on DEVCOM GVSC research initiatives and work toward developing, integrating, enhancing and sustaining DEVCOM GVSC capabilities to support U.S. Army modernization priorities and improve readiness.

"We look forward to supporting the U.S. Army and providing pathways to innovation to secure our nation's defense," said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. "This opportunity underscores how essential science and technology advancements are to our nation, not only for global competitiveness but for national security as well."

The DEVCOM GVSC funding opportunity is offered through the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, which recently launched the new Translation to Practice (NSF TTP) program. Projects should:

• Identify and support the initiation of use-inspired research and initial translational activities enabling a continuum from foundational research to practice.
• Develop partnerships and collaborations that include traditional (academic) and nontraditional entities. These sustainable partnerships will accelerate the transfer of technology by ensuring that needs and opportunities are appropriately addressed.
• Promote and advance the education and training of students and postdoctoral researchers, avoiding undue geographic concentration of funding and encouraging the participation of all Americans.
• Identify future customer needs and opportunities. 

"Through this collaboration with NSF, we are building a pathway to accelerate the maturation and transition of innovative fundamental research that shortens technology development timelines and delivers critical capabilities to the soldier faster," said David Gorsich, chief scientist for U.S. Army DEVCOM GVSC.

The NSF TTP program will consider proposals that are responsive to the core competencies and interests of the DEVCOM GVSC across all three tracks of the NSF TTP program solicitation.

To learn more about this funding opportunity, view the full DCL.

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U.S. National Science Foundation Translation to Practice (NSF TTP) Collaborates with Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD)

The funding opportunity is offered through the new Translation to Practice (NSF TTP) program, led by the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP). The NSF TTP program aims to invest in use-inspired research, translational activities and partnerships that turn scientific discoveries into real-world solutions. Researchers can participate in a wide range of translational activities, including but not limited to preparing and testing prototypes, protecting intellectual property, launching commercial activities, participating in open-source ecosystems, developing research standards, forming partnerships, and/or facilitating licensing and/or industry adoption.

"Together, NSF and the U.S. Navy are working to advance national security research and strengthen our national defense," said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for NSF TIP. "At the core of that work is accelerating the critical research and ideas that can help keep our country safe, secure and globally competitive."

The DCL requests that submitted proposals should align with NSWCDD research initiatives and work towards developing, testing, evaluating, integrating, enhancing and/or sustaining complex naval warfare systems, including:

• Intelligent automation systems which lie at the intersection of autonomy, artificial intelligence and unmanned systems.
• Software and cyber engineering.
• Digital engineering, including advancement in live, virtual and constructive capabilities and digital transformation.
• Hypersonic weapons advancement and information superiority, which includes advanced sensors and electromagnetics, integrated combat systems, advanced integrated fire control and battle management aid development.

Additionally, the TTP program will consider proposals that are responsive to the core competencies and interests of NSWCDD across all three tracks of the program solicitation. The three TTP program tracks are:

• Explore funds adventurous, "high-risk" use-inspired activities, bridging the gap between fundamental scientific curiosity and a practical desire to address real-world problems. Proposers must have a current NSF award and be interested in transitioning the foundational research to "use-inspired" activities.
• Translate funds translating prior research results into technological innovations with promising commercial, economic and/or societal impacts. This track starts with use-inspired research and further matures ideas, iterates and improves solutions, ensures scalability and accessibility and lowers the barriers to effective translation.
• Partner funds complex, multi-disciplinary, multi-organizational teams pursuing translational development projects. Strategic partnerships with stakeholders beyond their universities and research organizations are the essential ingredients for success and may include industry, government entities at all levels, philanthropies or other groups associated with large-scale productization and distribution.

To learn more about this funding opportunity, view the full DCL.