Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards

UM Call for Internal Pre-proposals for Institutional Nomination for
Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards 2025

Summary: Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) sponsors the annual Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards competition, providing seed funding for research by junior faculty and, catalyzing competitiveness for other funding. Awards are $5K for one year (June 1 to May 31) and require a match of $5K (provided by ORSP). UM may nominate up to 2 full-time assistant professors within two years of their initial tenure track appointment (Jan 1, 2023 through Jan 7, 2025) at time of application.

Projects must be proposed in one of these disciplines:

Engineering and Applied Science
Life Sciences
Mathematics/Computer Sciences
Physical Sciences
Policy, Management, or Education

Internal Application documents should be prepared in accordance with ORAU’s Application Instructions for Faculty Members[1], and must include the following, which should be combined into a single PDF for upload to the Info Ready Review Portal:

1. A one-page abbreviated resume

2. A one-page listing of publications and/or presentations

3. A two-page research proposal that should address the following:

Research goals and objectives and relevant background
Expected research outcomes and relevance
Research design and methodology
Competence of the applicant to perform the proposed research
Available research facilities and resources
Budget justification
Additional single page of references relating to the proposal (optional)

4. If nominated last year, but not selected for an award, you may also include:

a. A copy of the Summary Comments document provided by ORAU, and
b. A < 1 page summary of whether/how last year’s reviews are addressed

Internal Review Process

ORSP Research Development will oversee a down-selection review process consistent with our standard procedures for limited submission competitions[2], according to internal review criteria [3] mirroring the criteria listed in the program FAQ[4]. Based on the reviews, the two most compelling applications will be selected for nomination. Only the two selected nominees should then ask their department chair or dean to prepare the required letter of recommendation.

Key Dates (2024-25):
Sep 24: Original date of this announcement
Oct 24: Internal applications due to ORSP, via online InfoReady Review Portal[5].
Nov 19: ORSP will announce results/nomination status.

Nov or Dec: ORAU Councilor Higginbotham will receive the 2025 PeerNet competition link from ORAU.

When Available, UM’s ORAU Council (Dr. Higginbotham) will send nominees:

A standard letter of support (confirming your nomination)
A link to the PeerNet intake system (portal for submitting your app to ORAU)

Nov 6: Nominee or Research Administrator submits SPAN form[6]

Nov 20 - Dec 7: Nominees make improvements to their applications.
Chairs of nominees write letters of recommendation and provide to nominees.
Nominees work with ORSP RA Amy Williams on proposal transmittal process.

Jan 2: University reopens

Jan 3: Target date for submitting applications to ORAU.

Jan 8, 11am: Deadline for submitting applications to ORAU via PeerNet

Jun 1: Grant period begins (ending May 31, 2026)

Recent UM Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Achievement Awardees: