Research Resources for Faculty & Staff - Research Office

Internal Funding Resources

For Students

• Undergraduate Research Program: Undergraduate students at Montana Tech have many opportunities to engage deeply in several types of diverse experiences that help prepare them for success in their careers. Contact our Undergraduate Research coordinator for more information.
• Scholarships for User Facilities: A limited number of scholarships are available for students seeking to use the University’s research centers that have equipment which charge for usage and/or assistance. Please contact OSP for more information on scholarships for these facilities.
• Funding for Graduate Student Researchers: Over 95% of our on-campus graduate researchers receive funding in the form of fellowships or assistantships to complete their work. Learn more here.

For Faculty

• Seed Funds: The Seed Grants Program is a competitive funding opportunity available each year for new and tenured or tenure-track faculty. Contact the Research Office to learn more or apply for seed funding.
• Research Prospector Boot Camp and Stipend: The Research Office has invested in training to help faculty increase success rates in submitting proposals to seek external funding. Please contact our Proposal Developer for more information.
• Limited Submissions: When a program announcement limits the number of proposals that our University may submit, we have an internal down-select process to select the best representative for Montana Tech. When a solicitation limits the number of submissions, PIs must confirm eligibility prior to submission.
  • Find opportunities and understand deadlines: Limited Submissions [Internal Webpage]
  • Learn what is required: Limited Submission Guidelines [Word Doc]
  • Submit this: Limited Submission Template [Word Doc]
  • Are we missing one? Please request it to be added to the list.

External Funding Resources

Researchers are encouraged to set up an auto alert with various central databases that will send regular announcements regarding funding opportunities. Our Pre-Award Grant Manager can assist. Available resources are:

• Grants.gov: Federal funding opportunities published on Grants.gov are for organizations and entities supporting the development and management of government-funded programs and projects.

Ask Questions About Pre-Award

The Research Office is committed to providing guidance and training to the Montana Tech community on federal, state, and university policies and the regulations for sponsored programs research. Through this training we will improve research administration service to faculty and increase assurance of compliance with state, federal and university policies and procedures. Trainings include:

Trainings and Bootcamp

• Principal Investigator (PI) - Required (see below)
• Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) (available on CITI) - Required (see below)
• Institutional Review Board Orientation (IRB) - Required only for research involving human subjects and managed through the University of Montana. You will need to:
  • Take IRB training on CITI. Request Access.
  • Request Access to Cayuse form to use the UM IRB resources.
• Federal Export Control Training (available on CITI) - Required for Department of Energy investigators
• Optional: Research Prospector Boot Camp. Learn more.

Would you like to see an additional training? Submit your request to researchoffice@mtech.edu.

Principal Investigator (PI) Training - Required

The PI training is now offered asynchronous and online. Click the green button below to get login information.

Why is this training required?

Montana Board of Regents Policy 401.C requires Montana University System (MUS) institutions to implement mandatory training for MUS employees seeking sponsored programs funding. Areas that must be covered are pre- and post-award grant management, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance (including: conflict of interest and responsible research.)

Because of this policy, Montana Tech requires that all faculty or staff who anticipate submitting applications for a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement as a PI or co-PI, must complete PI training prior to the funding request submission.

Responsible Conduct of Research Training - Required

RCR training is available on-line through CITI. Faculty, Staff, and Students who will participate in research at Montana Tech are required to take the RCR training prior to participating in research activities. RCR training must be completed every 3 years. Faculty mentors must ensure that students have completed the RCR training. Compliance is checked prior to approving a proposal submission

Request Training Login

Proposal Process

• Understand the proposal development process:
  • Quick version
  • Detailed version
• Ensure you are Eligible to Serve as Principal Investigator at Montana Tech

• Follow this timeline for on time and quality submission.
• Work smarter not harder!  These resources are here to assist you:

• • Our Proposal Developer can help you increase your success rate.
  • View our Research Prospector Proposal Training and Bootcamp schedule.
  • Note: For large submissions, the Research Office offers assistance with an external proposal writer.
• Prepare your Budget. This determines the scope of work and is part of the formulation strategy. OSP will assist you.
  • An Overview: Calculating Your Budget
  • Rates for Fringe Benefits and Indirect Cost Rates
  • Federally Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement
• Plan Ahead! Prior to submission, you will need to circulate the Proposal Certification Form (PCF) for approval.  Please review this document to prevent surprises.  The following items require special approval and routing PRIOR to submission:
  • Pre-Award Cost Share (when Required). Cost share, also known as matching funds, refers to the portion of a project supported by the university or a third party, rather than the sponsor. Cost share becomes a contractual obligation between the University and the sponsor. Complete this only if cost share is required by the sponsor. Prior to proposal submission, it is the PIs responsibility to identify and confirm funds for cost-shared direct costs. The cost share commitment will be confirmed when the PCF form is routed.
  • Release time requires pre-approval from your department head.
  • Facilities:  If your project requires space, you will need to meet with the campus facilities director prior to submission.
  • Human subjects research: Requires IRB training and submission of a plan prior to submission.
  • Recombinant DNA/Blood-porn pathogens requires approval by EHS.
• Review our Proposal Submission Checklist
• Before submission, the Proposal Certification Form (PCF) must be routed and signed, per these guidelines.

Ask Questions About Pre-Award

Congratulations! You’ve received an award! The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) is here to help you manage the financial aspects of your award, and also ensure the University remains in compliance.

Policy: The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) administers external funding (contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements) to Montana Tech, and ensures that this funding is in compliance with internal controls and applicable policies and procedures (e.g. the Uniform Guidance). Grants and contracts are truly contractual agreements between the University and the sponsor. As such, OSP acts as the fiscal liaison between PIs and sponsors, negotiating the cost and budget aspects of the mutually binding agreements, sub-agreements, and subawards. OSP is responsible for post-award compliance with non-technical sponsor requirement, such as financial report, invoicing, cash management, and account close-out procedures.

Procedure: When you receive an award, the following will happen:

• OSP will ensure the award is fully executed, i.e. signed off by the sponsor.
• OSP will send the PI his/her budget index number along with a copy of the award for his/her records.

Management of Expenses on your Award

• Materials, Travel, and Supply Expenses:
  • OSP will ask the PI to review and approve all expenses for the project, ensuring they are aligned with project goals and the scope of work.
  • The Accounting Analyst within OSP then reviews the expenses for compliance with University, State, and Sponsor Requirements; along with determining if the expense is allowable, allocable, and reasonable within the period of performance.
  • Travel: All travel paid for on a grant must follow all travel policies and forms found on MyMtech. Once you login, navigate to "Administrative Services" in the left navigation.
• Staffing Expenses (a.k.a. Time and Effort Reporting):
  • Time and Effort reporting is governed by Uniform Guidance 2 CFR Part 220.
  • The effort of everyone paid to or committed to work on the federally funded project must be tracked and documented, in the context of all the other actives each person does as part of his/her job duties. Actives are often blurred, therefore good-faith estimates are allowed.
  • Time and Effort must be documented "after-the-fact” every term.
  • OSP keeps the documentation on file
  • The PI is responsible for and must verify the effort by each person paid by the project (or whose effort is part of committee cost share).
• Reporting and Tracking:
  • OSP will send out monthly inception to date reports.
  • The PI should review this monthly report for accuracy.
  • Contact the Assistant Director of Sponsored Programs immediately if there is a discrepancy.
  • The PI should file this report as documentation of current and inception to date expenditures on the award including an available balance.
  • The PI is responsible for completion of the technical aspect and technical reporting.

• Cost Transfers: Cost Transfers occur when expenditures are moved from one index to another. The administration of cost transfers is very important whenever sponsored program funding is involved because expenses may only be charged to a particular grant or contract if they can be specifically identified with the funded activity they benefit. All cost transfers must be documented, explained, and approved. The Assistant Director of Sponsored Programs is available to assist with any cost transfer forms.
  
  • Non-payroll Cost Transfer Form
  • Payroll Cost Transfer Form

Post-Award Cost Share (when required by sponsor)

Cost share, also known as matching funds, refers to the portion of a project supported by the university or a third party, rather than the sponsor. When the university commits to sharing in the cost of a sponsored project, it assumes a contractual obligation to the sponsor and is responsible for tracking and reporting cost share expenditures. Items included as cost share must comply with the same rules and regulations as direct charges to the award and must directly support the project's work. The requirements for cost share can vary significantly among sponsors, but generally include the provision of personnel time, equipment, or other valuable resources to the project. For example, 2CFR§200 outlines the following requirements for cost share on federal awards:

1. It must be verifiable by records.
2. It cannot be included as a contribution for any other federally assisted program.
3. It must be necessary and reasonable to achieve the program's objectives.
4. It must be allowable and allocable according to cost principles.
5. It cannot be paid under another federal award.
6. It must be included in the budget when required by the federal agency.
7. It must comply with other 2CFR§200 provisions.

• Costs funded by other sponsored programs, unless approved by the sponsor.
• Costs pledged as cost sharing for another funded project.
• Unfunded salary effort outside of the contractual appointment (e.g., unfunded summer months for faculty with a nine-month academic appointment).
• Costs related to construction or renovation of university buildings (except in rare circumstances and with prior sponsor approval).
• Costs incurred outside the performance period of the award.

The Principal Investigator (PI) and Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) will:

1. Review and verify the sources of cost share submitted with the proposal, confirming the commitment made by the budget custodian on the Proposal Certification Form at the time of proposal submission.
2. Notify all individuals who committed to providing cost share that the proposal has been funded and that MT Tech is now responsible for tracking and reporting the cost share throughout the project period.
3. Ensure that cost share committed by each subrecipient is included in the terms and conditions of their subaward agreement.

• Ensure funds are provided for cost-shared direct costs.
• Verify the cost-sharing commitment at the time the proposal is submitted.
• Ensure salary and non-salary cost sharing are properly identified and documentation is submitted to the Assistant Director of Sponsored Programs in a timely manner.
• Certify expenditures on cost-sharing accounts.

OSP’s Responsibilities in a Cost Share Commitment

OSP must document the University’s contractual commitments, including:

• Salary Reporting - Effort Reporting: The fulfillment of cost-shared effort commitments is reflected in time and effort reports, which indicate the percentage of work performed by faculty and staff members on sponsored projects. These reports capture effort performed for sponsored projects that was not directly charged to the grant or contract account.
• Non-Salary Reporting - Approved invoices should be sent to the Assistant Director of OSP with a note indicating the item is for cost share, the project, and index the item was originally charged to. The Assistant Director will verify that the item is allowable, allocable, and falls within the performance period.
• Third-Party Reporting - Obtain letters or written confirmations from external collaborators detailing their contributions, such as donated equipment, services, or time.
• In-Kind Reporting- Donated items and effort can be used as cost share but must be assigned a reasonable value that does not exceed the fair market value of the item at the time of donation. Services should be valued at the amount paid for a similarly skilled paid position, including reasonable, allowable, and allocable fringe benefits, but excluding overhead costs. OSP provides a form to document in-kind cost share.

Ask Questions About Post-Award

Research Centers

The following research centers house additional opportunities for researchers and collaborators:

• Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (MBMG): The MBMG is a non-regulatory State agency within the Montana University System. The MBMG serves as Montana’s geologic survey, addressing topics ranging from earthquake monitoring and geologic mapping to energy development and groundwater. We are housed on the campus of Montana Technological University and maintain a fully staffed office in Billings.
• Center for Environmental Remediation and Assessment (CERA): Established in 2000, CERA undertakes outcome orientated research to better understand the nature of environmental impacts and works to collaboratively develop and validate opportunities to remedy these impacts and improve our planet.
• Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP): Established in 1989, CAMP’s mission is to serve the needs of Montana’s people and industries through cutting-edge research and effective research management in materials science and engineering, expanding both basic and applied knowledge in.
• High Performance Computing Cluster (HPCC): Housed and funded now through CAMP, the HPCC has been designed to support collaborative research and instruction within Montana MUS. This computing cluster is available to faculty, students, researchers, and public/private industry collaborators.

Shared-Use Research Facilities

• The Energy, Environment, & Innovation Field Campus (EEIFC): Funded and expanded as a testbed of the Headwaters Tech Hub (HTH), the EEIFC encompasses designated open space lands which contain rolling hills in a cold climate. Elevation changes across the field campus range from 5,400 to over 6,100 feet with temperature variations of over 150 F. Once fully installed as part of the HTH, the testing facilities will include:
  • 150-acres of surface and 3,000 feet of underground workings
  • Renewable energy field-scale integrative grid testing
  • Field-scale revegetation of waste-derived soil amendments
  • Baseline Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAV) mapping of both underground and surface aerial sites.
  • Green concrete field testing,
  • Pre-development stormwater runoff and mine waste assessments
  • Pilot-scale recovery of metals from acid mine drainage.

  Learn More

• Analytical Testing Laboratory: The CAMP Analytical Testing Laboratory provides a diverse spectrum of analytical services focused on high resolution imaging, elemental analysis, microcrystalline phase analysis and automated mineralogy, including modal mineralogy, mineral liberation, mineral associations and grain size analysis.

  Rates

• Materials Testing Laboratory: Run via CAMP, this facility offers mechanical testing, thermal analysis, metallography, forensic analysis, and mineral processing.

  Rates

• Electron Microscopy Laboratory: The Electron Microscopy Laboratory (E.M.Tech) within the Department of Biological Sciences at Montana Tech operates a Hitachi HT7820 transmission electron microscope (TEM) with scanning transmission electron microscopy and is equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) capability.
• MBMG Analytical Laboratory: The MBMG Analytical Laboratory conducts analytical method development and sample analyses in support of research being done by MBMG programs, with an emphasis on water testing and sampling capabilities.

  Rates

• Undergraduate Mine Education Center (UMEC): The UMEC is a unique hands-on, interdisciplinary educational and research environment. The UMEC serves as a testing facility for underground mining methods, rock mechanics, ventilation, fragmentation, and occupational health and safety. The UMEC consists of over 3,000 ft of workings that include both rock tunnels as well as submerged tunnels. Both tunnel types pose GPS and personnel restricted access conditions for testing complex conditions.

  Rates

• Drone Rental: The EEFIC provides UAV training and research areas in support of Montana Tech’s research and education in unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Limited drone rental is available at a cost-recovery rate.

  Rates

• Geomechanics Lab: This lab includes access to axial/lateral strain and shear testing, including the UCS Test, the Triax Test, and the Direct Shear Test.

  Rates

Intellectual property (IP) is defined as creative and scholarly works and inventions, and this includes patents, copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks, etc. Montana Tech is subject to the Montana Board of Regents' intellectual property policies. 

Submit an Invention Disclosure

For any potentially patentable or marketable invention or discovery, the inventor should file an invention disclosure with the research office as early as possible. View the required process in order to obtain a provisional patent. Complete the required forms and maintain records to continue developing your invention.

Invention Disclosure and the Provisional Patent

File a Patent

All Montana Tech inventions must be reviewed by the Patent Management Committee before filing a non-provisional patent. Inventors must provide technical files to the Director of Technology Transfer, who liaises with approved patent lawyers.

Instructions for Filing a Non-Provisional Patent

Resources for Student Inventors

See important resources and links that student inventors can utilize for their patents.

• Student Agreement for Work on Senior Projects [PDF]
• Student Rights MOU [PDF]

Contact Tech Transfer

Research Fast Facts

View our Research Fast Facts, that outline the impact of research initiatives and projects at Montana Tech.

Contact the Research Office

Distinguished Researcher Award

Each year Montana Tech presents the Distinguished Researcher Awards and Lifetime Distinguished Researcher Award to honor faculty and MBMG staff for their contributions to research and scholarly activity.

Learn about the Award

Undergraduate Research Awards

The Montana Tech National Student Awards Committee creates a campus community that fosters and supports outstanding Montana Tech students throughout their education and to nominate and assist our top students in the preparation of applications for prestigious National Awards.

Learn More

Techxpo

Techxpo is an annual, campus-wide event aimed at showcasing the many exemplary research and design projects developed by Montana Tech’s students. Students in any degree area involved in a research project at Montana Tech or Highlands College are encouraged to participate in Techxpo. A list of past Techxpo presentation is here.

Techxpo Homepage

Graduate Student Theses and Non-Theses

A digital repository or our Graduate Theses & Non-Theses is available via the Montana Tech Library.

Ripple: The Center for Education and Ecosystem Studies

RIPPLE (Formerly The Clark Fork Watershed Education Program, or CFWEP) has been operating at Montana Technological University since 2005. The core focus of the program is watershed science, providing in-class service days and field trips for the communities of the Clark Fork. The call to action for the program when it was started was to educate students and local residents about the damages from historic mining practices and the on-going restoration of the river system. As the program has grown, K-12 teacher professional development in STEM has become a second focus. The program utilizes partnerships from campuses throughout Montana in order to achieve the goal of providing high-quality professional development. The combination of K-12 student and teacher STEM education is aimed at creating pathways into STEM education for K-12 students. The program has partnered with Montana school districts and campus researchers to provide authentic research experiences for students in the classroom, at summer research locations, and in campus laboratories. The program employs in-depth research practices to evaluate program efficacy, leading to publications about effective practices in STEM teaching and learning. RIPPLE has presented both empirical research and our developed instructional practices at state, regional, and national education conferences. The program operates within formal K-12 structures and also within informal community settings, providing a necessary connection between schools and communities. This connection is promoted from K-12, communities and regional campuses, providing accessible pathways into STEM for students. The program relies completely on soft dollars from a variety of sources including federal and state grants, private donations, fundraising efforts, contracts, and fee for service offerings.

Contact RIPPLE

Phages

Led by biology Professor Marisa Pedulla, in collaboration with RIPPLE, these projects engage undergraduate and high school students in the discovery and characterization of bacteriophages (a.k.a. phages). Phages are tiny viruses that infect bacteria, and have been used to successfully treat infectious diseases caused by bacterial pathogens. Phages are the most numerous biological entities on the planet, yet the majority have not yet been discovered. Through this effort, Montana Tech undergraduates work with middle and high school teachers in the PHAGES Pipeline Program. The PHAGES project is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health.  See also: https://youtu.be/0XwzWcWyERY

Learn About Phages

Staff

View our list of Research staff, their expertise, and more.

Agreements and Forms

The following situations require special forms. The research office maintains a list of templates that have been approved by our legal counsel. If your external partner wishes to use a different form, please allow for a minimum of two weeks for review.

• Non-Disclosure Agreement [Fillable PDF]
• Industrial contract
• Material Transfer Agreement

Resources from Funding Agencies

• NSF: Research.gov: Online Grants Management for the NSF Community.
• NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: The NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts is NIH’s official publication of notices of grant policies, guidelines, and funding opportunities. We publish daily and issue a Weekly Table of Contents.
• Department of Energy: The U.S. Dept. of Energy supports a number of grants, loan and financing programs. Learn more about these programs and how they can help you—whether you are a startup energy business looking to launch a pilot project, a company with proven technology that needs help reaching commercial scale, or a state, local, or tribal government looking for funding resources for energy projects.
• The Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation Grants & Loans: Our mission is to help ensure that Montana’s land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations.
• Grants to USA Institutions and Organizations for Scientific Research Studies: Grants to USA research institutions and organizations for scientific studies related to the environment, physics, computing, and energy. Applicants are advised that required registrations may take several weeks to complete.

Ask a Question

Projects that involve any of the issues listed below are subject to special review processes to assure compliance with federal, state, and/or Montana Tech regulations and to ensure the health and safety of those involved in the project. Principal Investigators (PIs) are responsible for obtaining the approval of the Director of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) before submitting proposals for external funding. Projects: Radiation Safety, Hazardous Materials, Respiratory Protection Program, Treatability Studies, and Disposition of Waste.

• Principal Investigator (PI) Handbook
• NSF: Safe and Inclusive Working Environment Plan
• Research Integrity
• 420. Policy on Research Buyout
• 400. Research and Public Service
• 415 Regulatory Compliance for Sponsored Projects at Montana Tech
• 402.0 Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure Policy
• Federal Export Controls
• Review the Montana Tech Research Misconduct Policy
• Additional Regulatory Issues (the most up-to-date safety policies)

Ask a Question