The Research Development team in the Division of Research and Innovation is now accepting applications for the second year of the Beginning Investigator Research Development Support (BIRDS) program. The program will begin in January and last through the end of the spring 2024 semester. All faculty within their first two years at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to assistant professors, but associate and full professors will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The BIRDS program will focus on peer networking, finding funding and general grantsmanship development. Participants will receive several opportunities to network and collaborate with fellow beginning investigator colleagues. They will increase their grantsmanship abilities, begin building collaborative research teams and learn how to successfully shape their research career at the U of A.

The BIRDS cohort will meet once a month as a group. The cohort group meetings will include grantsmanship development, networking activities and guest speakers from research stakeholders on campus. The cohort will also have one networking event during the semester. Each participant will also have a one-on-one meeting with the Research Development team.

The cohort's in-person meetings will occur on Thursdays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on the following dates: Feb. 1, Feb. 29, March 28 and April 25. Additionally, the BIRDS will meet for a networking event from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. after the Feb. 29 cohort meeting.

The planned cohort meeting topics include:

• Presenting Your Research to Different Audiences
• Campus Research Priorities
• Panel Discussion with On-Campus High-Achieving Investigators
• Research Summary Swap and Share

If you are interested in joining the inaugural BIRDS cohort, please fill out the BIRDS application here. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, Jan. 17.

For more information, reach out to Molly Throgmorton, associate director for Research Development, at mthrogmo@uark.edu or at 479-575-3171.