Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence - Research Workshop Series
Close

Research and Sponsored Programs Workshop Series 

Join us for an exciting series on research and sponsored programs. Workshop session descriptions and information are below. Please contact cafe@tntech.edu with questions. 


2025-2026 Events

Getting Started with Research Grants 

Friday, September 12 

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM | LIB112/Teams 

Join us to discover the research infrastructure at Tennessee Tech that can assist you in applying for and securing external research funding. Sessions will cover the essentials of the grant cycle, introduce key proposal terminology, and explain the pre-award grant process, as well as hear from current faculty regarding their experiences as a New PI. Discover the research infrastructure at Tennessee Tech that can assist you in applying for and securing external research funding. Learn more about each session below. 

  • Session 1: Research & Grants at Tennessee Tech
    Session 1: Research & Grants at Tennessee Tech
    Dr. Michael Aikens, Acting Vice President for Research

    Learn about research goals, support, and infrastructure available at Tennessee Tech to help you apply for and secure external and internal research funding. 

  • Session 2: Introduction to the Proposal Process
    Session 2: Introduction to the Proposal Process
    Mark Lynam, Office of Research & Economic Development

    This session will summarize the grant cycle, introduce proposal terminology, and describe the pre-award grant process. Learn about research infrastructure available at Tennessee Tech to help you apply for and secure external research funding. 

  • Session 3: Identifying Funding
    Session 3: Identifying Funding
    Dr. Neal Hunt, Assistant VP for Research Administration

    How do researchers find funding? Master the tools available at Tennessee Tech to monitor and identify sponsored programs that match your area of expertise.

Register


Research Strategies for Social Impact and Economic Development

Friday, September 26 

9:00 AM-12:00 PM | LIB112 or Teams

  • Session 1: Rural Reimagined and the Tennessee Research Landscape 
    Session 1: Rural Reimagined and the Tennessee Research Landscape 
    Dr. Michael Aikens, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

    How can local and regional partnerships be leveraged to support research activity in Tennessee? Learn about the history of economic development activities in Tennessee and how such activities benefit local communities. Explore the current and future research landscape in the southeastern U.S. and discover emerging partnerships across diverse disciplines for inspiration in forming your own.  

  • Session 2: Legislative Support for Research and Industry 
    Session 2: Legislative Support for Research and Industry 

    Learn how the Governor’s budget impacts Tennessee research and how legislative funding from the state and federal level is used to advance science and technology. This session will focus on the history of legislative support for research in Tennessee, how fiscal support is allocated, and the many ways critical research topics are identified by policymakers. 

  • Session 3: Changing the World through Research and Creative Activity Discussion Panel
    Session 3: Changing the World through Research and Creative Activity Discussion Panela

    Colin Hill, School of Music; Kevin Liska, College of Business and iCube; Kimberly Winkle, School of Art, Craft, and Design and Appalachian Center for Craft; Melissa Geist and Jennifer Mabry, School of Nursing and ESTAR Sanos – Be Healthy

    How does our research change the world? Celebrate the diversity of scholarly and creative activities that happen through Tennessee Tech-community partnerships. Hear from panelists who’ve worked hard to establish connections with local and international communities where their expertise makes a positive impact. Be inspired and identify ways that your work could do the same. Questions welcome! 

Register


Funding Databases 101

Thursday, October 2 

11 AM | Teams

Dr. Neal Hunt & Mark Lynam, Office of Research & Economic Development 

Learn how to navigate funding databases to identify funding opportunities. 

Register 


Streamlyne 

Thursday, October 23

11 AM | Teams

Dr. Neal Hunt & Mark Lynam, Office of Research & Economic Development 

Learn to use good faith estimates to create a simple budget in Streamlyne. This discussion will cover basic grant budget items, from indirect costs to cost sharing to subawards. Learn to build a budget during the proposal process that makes grant management easy when the project is awarded!  

Register


Proposal Production & Best Practices for Managing Your Grant

Friday, October 24

9:00-12:00 PM | LIB112 or Teams

Learn about the best practices for managing your grant from grant activation to budgets and building your research team. 

Register


Professional Profiles 

Thursday, November 6

11 AM | Teams

Learn how to navigate professional profile databases and track your research efforts throughout your career. 

Register


Grants for Humanities

Thursday, November 20

11 AM | Teams

Learn about grants for the humanities! 

Register

Experience Tech For Yourself

Visit us to see what sets us apart.

Schedule Your Visit