NIH grant for an adjunct?

[Emma]

Hi folks,

For various geographic-constraint reasons, I'm considering putting in an NIH (R03 - small project) grant with the institution I adjunct with. The NIH announcement says that job title isn't important as long as institutional support is there (which I think their recent equipment acquisitions in my field demonstrate). So I don't think I'm flat out ineligible, although I realize it may be a concern for the review committee. My big question right now is how is salary handled? As an adjunct, I'm paid by the course. My idea would be to teach fewer courses and spend the time in lab with undergrads, with grant money to cover my salary (hopefully and then some, given the lousy adjunct rate here). But all the calculations I'm seeing involve a base salary, and of course, I _have_ no salary.

Thoughts? Anyone out there done something like this before?

(Yes, I tried the NIH site without success, and yes, I tried google, also without success. But please tell me if I've overlooked the information somewhere!)

[Rob]

You should speak with the office of sponsored programs at your school and get their input on how to handle this. Also, it would be helpful if you contacted the individual listed on the NIH website for the respective NIH agency you expect to be reviewing the proposal once submitted. That grant office can certainly answer your question.

Good luck.

[Andy]

Emma,

Rob's advice to call the NIH is good. There should be a "point person" for the study section to which you plan to submit your grant. This person will be very helpful.

Do you have lab space lined up at the place where you teach as an adjunct?

Good luck,

Andy