Research and Sponsored Programs

The deArce-Koch Memorial Endowment Fund supports medically related research and development projects. A bequest from Helen C. Ponton deArce as a memorial to the memory of her husband, Alfred Koch, Sr., and her son, Alfred Koch, Jr., established the endowment. This fund supports research and scholarly activity that will advance a faculty member’s professional career, position the faculty member for additional external support, or provide assistance in developing a promising research program. It is anticipated that this fund will foster cross-disciplinary research projects. The funds available are from an endowment, the value of which fluctuates with the market and determines the number of awards that can be made in any given year.

Although there is no maximum limit to the award, requests should not exceed $25,000. Funds may support personnel, graduate student stipends, travel necessary to conduct research, equipment, and supplies. Assistant professors can apply for summer salary support (maximum support for six weeks’ summer salary and fringe benefits). However, associate and full professors cannot apply for summer salary. Awardees may not teach during the summer if they receive summer salary under this program.

Funding will be available in May 2024, with all expenditures completed by June 30, 2025.

Proposals will be reviewed by the Research Council. The evaluation process takes into consideration the faculty member’s rank. For assistant professors, the most important consideration is the likelihood that a successful project would lead to external support. Although preference will be given to untenured, tenure-track professors, proposals from tenured faculty will be considered. All applicants must clearly identify where they intend to submit proposals resulting from the proposed studies. For example, if proposals are intended for NIH, the type of proposal (R01/03/15/21) an institute should be identified, if not a specific funding opportunity.