Faculty Review Committee: a key to Rice's "limited submission" success

October 2024 update

The 2025 Faculty Review Committee is now actively reviewing internal pre-proposals in order to select those that move forward to "limited submission" external funding opportunities when slots are limited.

The committee, chaired by Dan Carson, is appointed by Executive Vice President for Research Ramamoorthy Ramesh and supported by the Office of Research Development, with OCFR advising on private foundation and corporate funding opportunities.

Members serve two-year terms, representing a diverse group of senior faculty members who have experience in proposal development and possess the ability to independently evaluate the quality of the internal preliminary proposals. They evaluate internal pre-proposals against a set of criteria (see below), provide their feedback whether or not the pre-proposal moves forward, and recommend their selections to Ramesh for approval.

The committee brings transparency and accountability to the limited submission process, while providing faculty with feedback that can help them to improve their proposal ideas in order to re-submit and find success in subsequent opportunities.

Pre-Proposal Review Criteria: Selecting the most competitive proposals

The goal of the review process is to select the best internal application that fits the funder’s guidelines and has the best possible opportunity for being awarded external funding. These are the criteria through which committee members review internal pre-proposals.

Intellectual Merit

Does the proposed research address an important problem, move the field forward, advance knowledge across fields, and/or improve scientific knowledge?

Methodology

Are the concepts, strategies, and analyses for the proposed research appropriate and reasonable, and are the methodologies and alternative strategies feasible?

Sponsor Relevance

Does the proposal respond fully to the sponsor’s funding opportunity announcement, and is the proposal likely to win based on the criteria spelled out in that announcement?

Effect on Rice

If funded, how will the proposed research support Rice’s strategic vision or otherwise strengthen the University?

Faculty committee members, 2025

Dan Carson, chair

Schlumberger Chair of Advanced Studies and Research, Professor of BioSciences
 
 

Laura Schaefer

Burton J. and Ann M. McMurtrey Chair in Engineering, Professor of Mechanical Engineering

    

Peter Wolynes

D.R.Bullard-Welch Foundation Professor of Science, Professor of Chemistry, BioSciences, and Physics and Astronomy, Co-Director of Center for Theoretical Biological Physics
 
 

Kirsten Matthews

Fellow in Science and Technology Policy, Baker Institute for Public Policy
 
 

Kaden Hazzard

Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy
 
 

John Mellor-Crummey

Professor of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering

    

Peter Nordlander

Wiess Chair in Physics and Astronomy, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and of Materials Science and NanoEngineering

    

Jeff Kripal

J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Religion

    

Bob Stein

Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science

    

Eduardo Salas

Allyn R. and Gladys M. Cline Professor

    

Lauren Stadler

Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

    

Kirsten Ostherr

Gladys Louise Fox Professor of English, Medical Humanities Director

    

Gang Bao

A. J. Foyt Family Professor of Bioengineering, Professor of Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and NanoEngineering

    

Jim Elliott

David W. Leebron Professor of Sociology