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Research Development Services

The mission of Research Development and Services (RDS) is to proactively support Delaware State University’s research community by easing the grant lifecycle, from opportunity identification through proposal development and post-award processes, empowering faculty to maximize their research potential and focus on innovation and discovery. In short, RDS serves as a concierge between researchers and the rest of the University to ease the process of applying for, acquiring, and managing grants throughout their life cycles.

The vision of RDS serves to foster a robust research environment where Delaware State University’s faculty and researchers feel fully supported, enabling the pursuit and management of impactful, externally funded projects that advance knowledge, enhance institutional reputation, and align with DSU’s strategic goals.

Why engage with RDS early in your grant writing process?

  • Expert Guidance on Funding Opportunities: We can help you discover the grants that best match your research goals and deadlines.
  • Streamlined Proposal Development: We offer hands on support with budgeting, document preparation, and navigating internal processing forms which will save you time and better prepare you to meet compliance guidelines.
  • Stronger Grant Submissions: Early collaboration allows RDS to handle the administrative details while you focus on the research itself, ensuring a thorough, high-quality proposal.
  • Comprehensive Administrative Support: From ensuring you have all of your required document (including letters of support) to troubleshooting future award management tasks, RDS acts as your liaison with other university offices throughout the grant lifecycle.

Pre-award Services

  • Assisting With Obtaining Federal Funding
    • Identifying and seeking funding opportunities
    • Understanding the application process/requirements
    • Assisting with portals when necessary
    • Drafting supporting proposal documents (CV, Current & Pending, etc)
  • Assisting With Internal Processes
    • Drafting budgets and budget justifications
    • Drafting and obtaining letters of support
    • When to apply through OSP vs DSU Foundation
    • Understanding effort (summer effort, release time during academic year, etc.)
    • Internal Processing Form (IPF)/Kuali

Post-award Services

  • Troubleshooting and resolving complex or challenging grant-related transactions
  • Assisting new PIs with grant start-up
    • New hires
    • PAFs
    • Requisitions
    • Contracts

RDS Resources

Research Development and Services (RDS) provides personalized support to faculty and researchers throughout the entire grant lifecycle, offering extensive resources and proactive guidance to simplify and streamline the grant application and management process.

RDS team members are directly accessible to faculty, staff, and research admins through email, phone, zoom, teams or in-person meetings.

Resources list:

  • Color-coded budget template
  • Sample Budget Justification(s)
  • Facilities and Resources list
  • Hanover Research
  • Scite AI
  • PIVOT
  • When to apply through OSP vs Foundation

Trainings & Events:

  • Year-round, on-demand trainings on budget development, PIVOT (DSU’s grants database), etc
  • Frequent workshops and training sessions held in collaboration with the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL); recorded sessions available on CTL’s website
  • Annual presentation for PIs at university-sponsored event
  • RDS is actively working to roll out a monthly Grant Administration Coordination Meeting