The University Research Board (URB)

URB Mission and Funding Types

Introduction

The mission of the University Research Board (URB) is to foster and improve the research environment of the American University of Beirut (AUB). As a committee of the University Senate, the URB formulates policies and guidelines for the allocation of funds for research and faculty development. It establishes policies to be followed in seeking support from external agencies, and it advises the provost on the implementation of policies pertaining to the allocation of grants for research and faculty development.

URB Membership

URB membership consists of: two representatives from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (one from the arts/social sciences and one from the sciences), one from each of the other Faculties/Schools elected by the faculty for a term of three years, the Director of the Office of Grants and Contracts (or representative) as a non-voting ex officio member, and the provost as an ex-officio voting member. The president appoints the chair.

Types of Funding

Currently, the URB supports AUB faculty by providing 1) Short and Long Term Faculty Development a (primarily short-term travel to conferences and workshops to present research or long-term visits to research facilities), and 2) Faculty Research Grants.

1. Short-term and long-term Faculty Development Grants

These grants include primarily short-term travel to conferences and workshops to present research or long-term visits to research facilities. These Grants are administered by the Office of the Provost. For more information on application forms and guidelines see the "Guidelines" and "Applications" pages. Faculty of Medicine members (except for the School of Nursing) are not eligible to apply for such grants.

2. Faculty Research Grants

The URB provides two types of research funding and are administered by the Office of Grants and Contracts:

a. Regular Research Grants, awarded to support individual, group, or collaborative research projects. A group project must have a unifying, well-defined, and specific goal or central research theme to which each component project relates and contributes. Each component project will have its own PI. A collaborative project must have a single PI who may receive limited assistance from other faculty members.

b. Seed Grants, awarded to support newly appointed faculty members.

For applying to the Faculty Research Grants please refer to the section on URB Guidelines and Procedures