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
Professional Profiles
Thursday, November 6
11 AM | Teams
Learn how to navigate professional profile databases and track your research efforts throughout your career.
Grants for Humanities
Friday, November 21
11 AM | Teams
Join us Friday, November 21st at 11 AM via Teams for a practical and informative workshop designed to help humanities scholars identify and pursue funding opportunities, collaborative initiatives, or institutional support. This session will guide you through key strategies for locating funding sources, understanding application requirements, and crafting compelling proposals.
Topics include:
- Overview of major humanities funders (NEH, ACLS, private foundations)
- Tools and databases for grant discovery
- Tips for aligning your research with funding priorities
- Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Q&A and resource sharing
Previous Events
- Getting Started with Research Grants
Getting Started with Research Grants
Friday, September 12Sessions will cover the essentials of the grant cycle, introduce key proposal terminology, and explain the pre-award grant process. 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.
- » 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. - » 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. - » 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.
- » Research & Grants at Tennessee Tech
- Research Strategies for Social Impact and Economic Development
Research Strategies for Social Impact and Economic Development
Friday, Sept. 26Explore how local and regional partnerships can drive research activity in Tennessee, benefiting both researchers and local communities. Gain insights into the history of economic development initiatives and their impact on the state’s innovation landscape. This session will also include a panel discussion from current grantees about their projects.
- » Session 1: Rural Reimagined and the Tennessee Research Landscape
Session 1: Rural Reimagined and the Tennessee Research Landscape
Dr. Michael Aikens, Associate VP for Economic Development (Currently serving as Vice President for Research & Economic Development)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: Intellectual Property and Commercialization
Session 2: Intellectual Property and Commercialization
Dr. Michael Aikens, Associate VP for Economic Development (Currently serving as Vice President for Research & Economic Development)Learn about intellectual property and commercialization within Tennessee.
- » Session 3: Changing the World through Research and Creative Activity Discussion Panel
Session 3: Changing the World through Research and Creative Activity Discussion Panel
Colin Hill, School of Music; Amanda Powell, College of Business and iCube; Melissa Geist, School of Nursing and ESTAR Sanos – Be HealthyHow 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!
- » Session 1: Rural Reimagined and the Tennessee Research Landscape
- Streamlyne
Streamlyne
Thursday, October 23Dr. Neal Hunt & Kelly Kigor, 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!
- Proposal Production & Best Practices for Managing Your Grant
Proposal Production & Best Practices for Managing Your Grant
Friday, October 24Join us this Friday, October 24th, from 9 AM–12 PM in LIB112 or via Teams for a workshop focused on strategies for responding to RFPs and basic project budgeting. Learn practical tools to strengthen your submissions and manage budgets effectively. Open to graduate students, faculty, and anyone involved in proposal development. Lunch provided for in person attendees. Register below and contact cafe@tntech.edu with questions.
Session Slides: