New to UW Research
Welcome to the University of Washington!
A warm welcome to our new faculty at the University of Washington. You are among a distinguished group of research leaders in one of the top research institutions in the world. The UW receives more federal research dollars than any other U.S. public university and is home to eight Nobel Prize winners; 19 MacArthur Fellows; numerous members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and fellows in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and many other major awards. You are joining a university with a culture of collaboration and interdisciplinary research with opportunities for Global Engagement, external collaborations including industry, and internal collaborations with faculty from 184 departments and three UW campuses: Seattle, Tacoma, and Bothell.
The Office of Research aims to create an outstanding climate of support for UW researchers to enable innovation and impact. On this site, you will find support resources to orient you to research at the UW, whether you are new to research, new to the UW, or both.
Getting Started in Research at the UW
Research at the UW happens everywhere, from classrooms to far-flung remote sites, through mentored research experiences for undergraduates and graduate students, to multi-institutional, interdisciplinary extramural funded research. Research at the UW can be funded or unfunded, and there are resources to accelerate every kind of research. Here is a guide for getting your research started at the UW.
For All Researchers/Investigators
Your department and school/college will be supporting you in multiple ways; both through mentoring and providing administrative support. Schedule time with your mentor, department chair, and/or dean to discuss your research goals, agenda, and potential funding sources. These questions can help you get started. If you are transferring a research portfolio to the UW, refer to the Transferring Your Research webpage for the most applicable information.
Questions to ask your departmental administrative leadership:
- What college/school resources exist to support my research?
- What is the process for purchasing, travel, budget management?
- What support is available from central units (Office of Research units) vs. the department?
- How do I create my faculty and research webpages?
- Who can help me set up/install equipment in my lab?
Questions to ask your mentor:
- Who should I get to know for collaboration?
- What funding sources for research might exist in my area of interest?
Questions to ask advising staff:
- How can I hire students?
- What guidance/rules/procedures are there for working with students?
Corporate and Foundation Relations (Private Funding Resources)
Clinical Trials
Innovations, Startups, and Licensing
- CoMotion: partners with the UW community on innovation, providing tools and resources to transform ideas into economic and societal impact.
Research training–Scholarly and Sponsored
Shared Research Infrastructure
Sponsored Research Resources
Office of Research (OR)
Translational Research
UW Libraries
Onboarding Guide for Sponsored Research
Factors that can improve the competitiveness of a proposal include:
- Planning time for a thorough review by departments and central units.
- Taking advantage of guidance.
Review this material in preparation for meetings with your department and then start preparing your proposal.
- Confirm with your department your PI eligibility.
- Develop your required training plan and track progress using MyResearch Training Transcript. Your department administrator can assist you with planning and tracking.
- Identify potential funding sources.
- Meet your mentors and colleagues to discuss the best agency or foundation matches for your research interests.
- Look for funding opportunities for external and internal funding on the Office of Research Funding Opportunities.
- Meet with your mentor, chair, and/or dean for guidance on what can make your proposal competitive.
- Learn about ORCID iDs and their benefits. The University of Washington strongly encourages researchers to register for their unique iD and some sponsors require it.
- Review the Step by Step Proposal Submission Quick Guide to get a general understanding of the submission process.
- If appropriate, meet with your departmental staff to build a plan for proposal development and submission.
- Verify with your departmental leadership that you can fulfill the project requirements within the constraints of your department/school.
- For instance, equipment, graduate students, wet bench space, or items such as cost share and travel not paid for by the sponsor.
- Work with your department to provide documentation of support in these areas of the proposal.
- Budget
Pre-award Sponsor Requests
Reach out to the UW’s Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) when you receive pre-award sponsor requests for additional materials and information. Review guidance on responding to pre-award requests from sponsors for details.
Advance Spend
If approved for pre-award spending, use the SAGE Advance Request tool to request an Advance Award.
Award Acceptance and Setup
Consult with departmental staff to confirm administrative & compliance procedures are in place for:
Spending
Records management
Data privacy and security
Invoicing and reporting schedules
Hiring and Training Personnel
More guidance and resources on the Manage and Closeout stages of the research project lifecycle.