Expectations, Processes, and Support

INFO Faculty members are invited to propose an Emerging Research Interest Community (ERIC) focused on an emerging or critical topic.

• Proposed by faculty after consultation with the Associate Dean of Research
• Focused on communication, coordination, and collaboration to advance scholarly understanding of an emerging or critical research topic.
• Research and scholarship are the primary purpose, but funds may not support performing research, nor be used as a mechanism for a mini-grant awarding program.

Two tracks are available:

• Track I ERIC Incubator (ERIC-I) supports the planning and development of a successful ERIC-E.
• Track II: ERIC Established (ERIC-E) supports launching, growing, and sustaining a generative and successful Research Interest Group.

ERICs support groups of scholars in coordinating and communicating their research to advance a field or develop new research directions and to reduce isolation by nurturing a sense of community. An ERIC provides opportunities for faculty to foster collaborations within INFO, between UMD Colleges, and across universities.

GOALS:

• Foster significant interactions, research-focused communication, and a sense of community among a network of scholars within INFO, UMD, and beyond.
• Catalyze new collaborative programs of research, develop proposals for funded research, and publish/present joint scholarly work on critical topics.
• Establish a public presence in critical INFO research areas within UMD and beyond.

ERICs do not support primary research. Rather, they support networking activities and infrastructure that enable researchers with common interests to share information and ideas, coordinate current and future research activities, foster synthesis and integration of research on topics of common interest, and otherwise advance knowledge. They contribute to further progress in the information sciences, strengthen collaborative and interdisciplinary research, and expand participation in INFO research to include organizational and international partners.

INFO particularly encourages ERICs to work collaboratively toward developing:

• Plans for cross-disciplinary programs of research
• Plans and proposals for joint research and scholarly projects
• Research proposals to external funding sources

ERIC supports research and scholarship coordination efforts, but a group may also have a separate education or outreach aspect.

Track I: ERIC Incubator (ERIC-I) proposals should include at least 2 full-time faculty members with a primary appointment in INFO with research responsibilities.

Track II: ERIC Established (ERIC-E) should involve 5 or more faculty members, at least 2 of whom are full-time with a primary appointment in INFO with research responsibilities, and at least 1 of whom is an INFO affiliate faculty member or non-INFO faculty inside or outside of UMD.