The Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies invites submissions to the 2008 Intramural Research Grants Program (IRGP). Guidelines and instructions appear online at the Grant Proposal System (GPS) (https://www.vprgs.msu.edu/gps/), and will not be sent out in paper form. Electronic submission of proposals is also required through the IRGP GPS site. If you have additional questions after you have explored the IRGP website, contact us at vprgs@msu.edu or 432-3773. The IRGP invests in MSU faculty who are conducting work that addresses important research questions or produces significant creative products. Projects selected for funding are expected to enhance the reputation of the researcher and the university, lead to external funding, or both. IRGP-funded activities may have an impact on teaching and outreach, but the primary goal of the program is to support intellectual inquiry. The program has three components: The Scholarly and Creative Grants Program is designed to support scholarly and creative projects and activities that seem likely to enhance the reputation of the faculty member and the university. These activities typically fall into the arts and humanities disciplines where external support is not generally available, but may include social sciences, education, communications and business disciplines as well. In unusual circumstances, certain projects in the biological and physical sciences may be appropriate for this program. The New Faculty Grants Program provides assistance for the research programs of new tenure track, non-tenured faculty. Projects supported must demonstrate the potential to develop into externally funded research programs. These grants most often support faculty in the sciences (natural, physical, and social) and engineering, but faculty from all disciplines are eligible. The New Directions Grants Program supports explorations in new areas that researchers have not previously explored and for which they have not previously received funding. Preference will be given to multidisciplinary teams. However, individual researchers who propose significant changes in their research activity that initiate new and innovative research directions are also eligible. Projects supported will have the potential to develop into externally funded research programs that are well regarded by peers. These grants may be awarded in any subject area. I encourage you to submit a proposal to the IRGP. The deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 9, 2008. Best wishes for a successful application! Sincerely, J. Ian Gray