Funding and Donations

Support for Work Performed by the Research Cores

Assistance is available for help to cover the fees for work performed by the research cores. This assistance can be requested through a special grant application process, or earned by participating in the BrainBucks program. 

Grant Application for Core Services

Requests for funds to be used for core services will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a turnaround time of less than two weeks. Applications can be submitted by faculty, students, and staff. Applications submitted by students or staff require approval of the PI. 

  1. Fill out a work request form for either the Behavior Core or Histology and Imaging Core. 
  2. Complete the application narrative. The narrative, completed on the application below, should include the following:
    • Background/Significance (a one paragraph overview of the project)
    • Research Core support (describe the work requested of the research core)
    • Support for the project (indicate the source of funding for this research project and why additional support is needed)
    • Funds requested (state the amount requested)

IACUC approval for studies involving the Behavior Core is necessary prior to approval. 

BrainBucks

With the help of our many dedicated volunteers, the Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences (CEN) coordinates numerous outreach events. Each year, volunteers bring interactive lessons about the brain into local public schools, assist with helmet fittings to promote brain safety, help high school students prepare for the Brain Bee competition, and assist in the annual Brain Fair. As a show of appreciation for all of your hard work, the CEN is pleased to offer BrainBucks.

What are BrainBucks?

BrainBucks can be earned by students, professional staff, and faculty for the time they dedicate to neuroscience community outreach. BrainBucks can be used to help support lab functions, research projects, or simply accumulated for winning prizes. Most importantly, BrainBucks are a way for us to say thank you.

  • Thank you for volunteering in the schools, teaching children about the importance of brain safety, and the consequences of brain injury.
  • Thank you for volunteering at the Annual Brain Fair, welcoming the community to campus so they can experience the exciting world of neuroscience.
  • Thank you for volunteering in the community, helping to educate the public about the science of addiction. 
  • Thank you for working with the Goulet Foundation, delivering helmets to thousands of Maine children.
  • Thank you for spreading the word, extending the impact of your work by letting the public know more about its day-to-day implications. 
How can I earn BrainBucks?

BrainBucks can be earned by volunteering for CEN-sponsored events. This includes the neuroscience K-12 outreach program, annual Brain Fair, helmet giveaways, and other CEN functions. In addition, BrainBucks can be awarded for communicating with the general public about the importance of research in their daily lives. This can include stories about recent publications, scientific meeting presentations, or student profiles. Spread the word of your great work and receive BrainBucks in return.

To receive your BrainBucks, log your volunteer hours with Mike D’Apice, the CEN neuroscience outreach coordinator.

What can I do with my BrainBucks?

BrainBucks can be used for general research support. This includes paying for laboratory supplies, charges for using the research cores and confocal microscope, or journal publication costs. Or do you simply want food for your lab meeting? Cash in some BrainBucks to help nourish your students. Students can accumulate BrainBucks over the course of the year to earn prizes.

For questions about the BrainBucks reward program email cen@mojie56.com.

Faculty Mini-Grant Applications

The UNE Mini-Grant program provides intramural funding that helps support faculty research and scholarship at the University of New England.

Giving to CEN

We're always looking to broaden the impact of our research and share resources.

The Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences and participating faculty, professional staff, and students are actively collaborating with a number of partners including many academic, nonprofit, and for-profit institutions within the State of Maine that share an interest in biomedical research and improving human health.

Some of these sponsorships have significantly helped out K-12 Outreach Program, specifically by providing funds for our annual Brain Fair, K-12 Outreach school visits, and salary for a K-12 Outreach Coordinator.

We welcome new opportunities for expanding our multidisciplinary approaches to studying the neurosciences. If you are interested in donating to the Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, please email the center at cen@mojie56.com.

For more information on giving to UNE visit our Institutional Advancement website.