Hatch Start-Ups
A Hatch Start-up project is provided to some new faculty who have accepted a position with and are coming to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. These projects are not part of the annual Call for Proposals opportunity. Start-up project proposals can be submitted at any time after you have arrived on campus. These proposals are reviewed outside of the normal review process and can begin at any time after the proposal has been submitted, reviewed, and approved.
When you are beginning to develop your proposal, please contact Casey Hillmer at 608-262-2397 or at clhillmer@cals.wisc.edu. Please let Casey know when you are planning to submit your proposal and a desired start date for the project.
Your proposal must follow the same guidelines as those detailed in the annual Call for Proposals opportunity (Download FY2013 Call for Proposals). Your proposal should also include the required budget worksheets (Download FY2013 Budget Worksheet).
Once you have completed your proposal and it is ready to be submitted, you will need to submit your proposal via the WISPER system (http://www.rsp.wisc.edu/WISPER/index.html). If this system is new to you and you need assistance with your submission, please work with your departmental contact (http://www.cals.wisc.edu/research/staff/index.php?1?Cp8). Please route the WISPER record, with your proposal and budget worksheets attached, to Casey Hillmer in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and send Angie Seitler an approval.
After your proposal has been submitted through the WISPER system, two reviewers will be identified to review your proposal. These reviewers will address key items related to your proposal and provide relevant comments or concerns. The overall review process typically takes about two months. Please keep this in mind when you are developing your proposal and determining a desired start date.
If the reviewers of your proposal have identified the need for a revised proposal, Angie Seitler will be in contact with you. She will provide the reviewers’ comments and concerns and will request a revised proposal be submitted to address the reviewers’ comments and concerns. The revised proposal does not need to be submitted via the WISPER system. The revised proposal should be submitted directly to Angie Seitler at aseitler@cals.wisc.edu and include a cover page addressing the reviewers’ concerns.
When your proposal is deemed acceptable for funding,Angie will notify you of the approval and provide you with the reviewers’ comments. WAES asks that you keep these comments in mind when beginning your project.
The next step that is required before funding can be released is the completion of Current Research Information System (CRIS) forms (WAES CRIS forms page). The CRIS forms identify the key components of your proposal and are needed for USDA’s review of your proposal. If you have questions or need assistance with the CRIS forms, please contact Casey Hillmer (608-262-2397 or clhillmer@cals.wisc.edu).
After USDA has reviewed and approved your proposal, your budget will be established and you will be allowed to begin expending funds. Typical Hatch Start-up projects are for 2 years (24 months) and include $2,000 to $3,000 a year for supplies, student hourly, and data collection travel expenses. The federal fiscal year for USDA is from October 1 through September 30. Since WAES must budget and provide funds on this fiscal year basis, you will only receive funds during the first year of your project until the September 30 date. Each fiscal year, a new project number will be established. The funds within each of these projects must be expended by September 30 each year and can not be carried forward into the next fiscal year.
As you begin to expend funds, please review the policies and procedures information located on the WAES policies page. It is extremely important that you review this information. There are a number of items that can not be purchased with Federal Formula funds or require a justification prior to purchase. Please work with Angela Seitler (608-261-1432 or waes@cals.wisc.edu) if you have questions about an item being allowable.