UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 36, Page 2
June 30, 1994
Project searches with new SPIN

     The Matchmaker project in the Office of the Vice Provost for
Research matches funding opportunities with faculty research interests
and disseminates funding information electronically. Sponsored
Programs Information Network (SPIN) and the Commerce Business Daily
enable interested parties to locate funding sources for specific types
of awards in selected subject areas.
     SPIN, a database of funding sources and grant programs from
federal and private sponsors, is available by subscription to several
hundred colleges and universities across the nation. Through a SPIN
search, individuals can locate available funding and information about
how it is obtained. Specifically tailored to meet the needs of
institutions of higher education, the SPIN database is updated daily
to incorporate new funding sources as well as updates to existing
sources.
     Based on a description of research areas or the type of funding
sought, individuals can search the database for specific areas of
interest.
     Similar to SPIN, the Commerce Business Daily (CBD) provides
funding information that is updated daily. CBD announces invitations
to bid on projects proposed by federal agencies.
     Hoping to get early notification of grant opportunities, Tony
Wexler, mechanical engineering, uses the CBD search entry in gopher (U-
Discover!). He said, "I usually search for research or development and
some topic such as environment or air pollution. This narrows the
search to a few that are more suited to my research needs."
     Wexler also said that he often enters searches for other topics
relevant to his department, such as composites.