Resources to Support Our Researchers
The Research Innovation Center provides an array of services throughout the research cycle to ensure our faculty and researchers achieve the best outcomes for funding and project success.
For help with proposals and research funding opportunities, Tap the Torch!
Conducting & Collaborating Research Resources
- Faculty Research Innovation Fund – RIC funding awards to CCI faculty and post-doctoral researchers for direct research-related expenses.
- Research Visibility & Impact Fund – RIC funding awards to increase the visibility and impact of our CCI researchers’ research and creative activity.
- CCI Innovation Labs – Our three labs offer a range of technology and resources for research.
- Research Affinities – Explore where your research interests may intersect with others in CCI.
- CCI Research Symposium – Our annual Research Symposium elevates the research of CCI faculty, staff, and students.
- CCI Communications and Marketing can help you plan your communication objectives and connect with the best resources for sharing your work. Submit a Project Request here.
- Collaborating & Networking with the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development programs to strengthen and facilitate new collaborations and partnerships.
- OIT Guide to Sensitive Information helps researchers conduct responsible research and secure the data they collect while adhering to UT policies, grant guidelines, and federal regulations for handling that data.
- ELEMENTS a reporting system that helps faculty track their scholarly publications, teaching accomplishments, and service activities.
- ORCID provides researchers with a unique, persistent identifier and the ability to connect their research and professional work across positions, locations, and time.
- SciENcv (Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae) is a system for researchers to create and maintain biosketches that are required for NIH and NSF grant applications.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) Guidance
IRB Guidance for CCI Researchers
PLEASE NOTE: This page is prepared for researchers in the College of Information and Communication. Information for the university community about the Human Research Protection Program including the IRB can be found here.
The Human Research Participant Program (HRPP) is overseen by the Research Integrity and Assurance Division in UT’s Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development. The HRPP, in partnership with its research community, is responsible for ensuring the ethical and equitable treatment of all human subjects in research conducted under the university’s auspices. Human Research Protection (HRPP) includes institutional leaders, the Institutional Review Board (IRB), and staff.
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) regulates all research activities involving human subjects on the UT Knoxville campus. All UT Knoxville research involving human participants must be reviewed following UT Knoxville IRB policies and procedures. It must be approved prior to the initiation of research activity such as contact with potential human participants.
All IRB applications must be submitted through iMedRIS (Integrated Medical Research Information System).
For assistance navigating iMedris and/or questions about specific IRB requirements, contact RIC. For iMedris log-in and other access issues contact utkirb@utk.edu
IRB Resources (through the Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development)
- iMedRIS Guides — step-by-step guides for navigating iMedris, routing your IRB, and revising your application.
- Research Guidelines – IRB guides and workshop videos
- IRB Forms – IRB Review Checklist; Informed Consent
IRB Routing Procedure for CCI Researchers
CCI requires researchers to follow these steps in order to successfully route their application:
In Section 3.4 of the iMedris application, select the following individuals: Beth Meko (Department Review Chair) Suzie Allard (Department Chair)
At the end of the application (after selecting Signoff and Submit):
- Select YES when asked if you want to add additional personnel for routing.
- Check the box beside the following: Each PI, Beth Meko (Department Review Chair), Suzie Allard (Department Chair).
- Click SUBMIT.
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Training Resources
The Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) requires current CITI training for each PI, Co-PI, Sub-Investigator, Faculty Advisor, and all Research Personnel (e.g. research assistant, coordinator, etc.) listed on a human subjects research application.
The two modules required by CCI are:
Basic Courses in IRB/Human Subjects Research
- Social and Behavioral Focus Basic/Refresher — For most people in Social and Behavioral or Humanities disciplines.
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
- Social and Behavioral RCR (Psychology, Social Work, etc.)
Access CITI training here and use your UT NetID and password to log in.
Proposal Development and Submissions
External Funding Databases
- Pivot is a comprehensive, searchable database of funding opportunities and research profiles. Opportunities include federal, non-federal, foundation, and private opportunities, both domestic and international.
- Grants.gov is the most comprehensive public source for information on federal funding opportunities.
As soon as you are ideating around a grant funded project or participating in a non-CCI proposal
Proposal Deadlines
At least one month before sponsor deadline
- Register for submission management portals (e.g., Fastlane, grants.gov, ASSIST)
No less than ten business days* prior to sponsor deadline
- Submit all proposal documents to the RIC office whether or not the PI has worked with RIC to develop the proposal
- RIC reviews the documents, consulting the PI as necessary, o to prepare the most complete and compliant documents possible.
No less than five business days* prior to sponsor deadline
- RIC uploads the documents to Cayuse as a submission to Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development
- The budget documents (including subcontractor documents) and supporting documents MUST be in final form at this time. See, DRA Proposal Deadlines
- To enable direct submission support in portals (e.g., research.gov, grants.gov, ASSIST), give access to RIC
*does not include staff holidays and administrative closings
