CRADLE: Creative and Research Activities Development and Enrichment

A revamped CRADLE XI will be announced in the spring of 2025

The Office of the Provost and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) coordinate the Creative Research Activities Development and Enrichment (CRADLE) initiative. Up to 9 fellows participate for one and a half years. Preference is given to applicants entering years 2-5 of a tenure-track appointment.

Purpose

CRADLE aims to develop competitive external proposals that support multiyear research projects and creative activities. Fellows receive assistance from both internal and external consultants to improve their grantsmanship and to articulate a 5-year career plan that incorporates proven strategies for developing and funding superior research and creative activities.

The Award

Fellows receive group and individual training with grants consultant as assistance from ORSP.

The Program

Fellows contract with the Office of the Provost and ORSP to participate fully in the Initiative as follows:

September, Year 1

• Attend part one of an intensive, half-day, grants seminar
• Participate in an individual interview with a grants consultant to clarify their proposal agenda and professional development plan (PDP)

December, Year 1

• Attend part two of an intensive, half-day, grants seminar
• Participate in an individual interview with the grants consultant to review progress on the PDP
• Develop a project outline for approval as potentially fundable by the grants consultant
• Identify three top scholars in the field who might be approached for proposal review

March, Year 1

• Participate in a half-day seminar on Quality Circles*
• Participate in a half-day seminar on Forming Productive Groups and Teams
• Participate in an individual interview with the grants consultant to review and adapt strategies on the PDP
• Establish phone or email contact with at least one scholar who will serve as a proposal mentor
• Refine white paper into 5-10 page scope-of-work
• Identify potential funding sources and develop letters of inquiry, making site visits to top scholars and funding sources as necessary

*Participants will be expected to put their proposals through a quality circle improvement exercise and assist other CRADLE Fellows by acting as participant reviewers or as a quality circle leader

June, Year 1

• Develop a full proposal for submission to a funding source
• Have the proposal reviewed by the proposal mentor
• Have the proposal reviewed and approved by the grants consultant
• Make site visits to top scholars and sponsors as necessary

September, Year 2

• Participate in an individual interview with the grants consultant
• Refine and submit proposals not submitted in the summer

December, Year 2

• Participate in an individual interview with the grants consultant
• Discuss proposal reviews/feedback as received
• Refine and resubmit proposals for funding