LAB FORUM — RESEARCH FUNDING & BUDGET

Research Funding & Budget (Outline)

Funding — Research runs on money. Knowing the flow of money is knowing the freedom of your research

A researcher who does not know the budget is a researcher who does not know the range of what is possible.

★ = fields to be finalized by Suzuki to match the actual state of the lab. Published as an outline, to be filled in step by step.

What this lecture covers

This was conceived as the third Lab Forum lecture. It covers where research funds come from, what they can be used for, how to apply, and where the ethical line lies.

Act 1 Types of research funding

Whose money is it?

Act 2 What it can be used for

Permitted uses and procedures

Act 3 Applying

Funding students can apply for

Act 4 Budget ethics

What must not be done

Act 5 Travel and purchases

Practicalities

B4: Learn that research funding exists. M: Apply for JSPS fellowships and on-campus grants. D: Hold your own research funding.

Act 1

Types of research funding

Whose money is it?

Where research funds come from

Type	Source	Whose money	Examples
Operating grant	University	The lab's base	Consumables, part of students' conference travel
Competitive funding	Government (JSPS, JST, NEDO)	For the research project applied for	KAKENHI, PRESTO, NEDO commissioned research
Joint / contract research	Companies, local governments	For the contracted project	★
Donations	Companies, individuals	Few restrictions on use	★
Funding for students	JSPS, foundations, on-campus	The student's own research and living	JSPS DC fellowship, ★ on-campus grants

Competitive funding is money "for that project." It cannot be used for other research, even within the same lab. This is where the ethical line starts.

Competitive funding is money "for that project." This is where the ethical line starts.

Act 2

What it can be used for

Permitted uses and procedures

Goods (consumables, equipment), travel, personnel and honoraria, other (publication fees, conference registration)
★ How the lab budget is used (whom to consult, how to order)
Do not go to the store yourself to order. ★ The procedure through the administrative office (Ms. Otomo)
The fiscal-year wall: there is a constraint that funds cannot be used in March. Order by counting backwards

Act 3

Applying

Funding students can apply for

JSPS DC1/DC2: apply in M2 or D1. Framing-A/B of the Paper Card becomes the skeleton of the research plan as is (Core Question, Compared to X we Y, Key Contributions)
★ On-campus student grants, foundation grants (list and timing)
Write the application on the assumption that "the reviewer reads it in five minutes." The principles of Design for Research apply
Even if you are not selected, what you wrote is not wasted. The Paper Card gets stronger

The skeleton of the research plan is Framing-A/B of the Paper Card. Even if you are not selected, the Paper Card gets stronger.

Act 4

Budget ethics

What must not be done

Use outside the purpose: do not use one project's money for another project
Personal use: goes without saying
Relations with vendors: deposited funds, fictitious travel, fictitious honoraria are treated the same as research misconduct
If in doubt, ask before spending. If you ask after spending, it sometimes cannot be undone
★ The university's handbook on the use of research funds (link)

If in doubt, ask before spending. After spending, it sometimes cannot be undone.

Act 5

Travel and purchases

Practicalities

The practicalities of travel and purchases

Travel procedures are in Notion Lab OS "Administration (AA, travel)." Apply in advance; settle within two weeks after attending
Registration fees and travel expenses are, in principle, paid out of pocket and reimbursed. If that is difficult, consult Suzuki early
When goods arrive, inspect and accept them. ★ The acceptance procedure

Checklist

Can you say which research fund your research runs on?

Before spending, did you check that the item is allowed under that fund?

Did you put the JSPS application period in your Quarter Plan?

Did you submit the travel application in advance?

What this lecture covers

Where research funds come from

Permitted uses and procedures

Funding students can apply for

What must not be done

The practicalities of travel and purchases

Checklist

Related links