FPG Internal Grant Resources

Six units within FPG provide services that help projects carry out their work.

These core units and their directors are:

Each core offers several standard services that are generally available to every project at FPG, with some limitations based on the project's indirect rate. Each core also offers additional, specialized services that can be utilized by a project if funding for those services is included in the project budget. The core descriptions list the standard and specialized services. Specialized services must be negotiated in advance between the PI and Core Director during the budget preparation phase. A form to document that these discussions took place is on the Intranet and is required before a proposal can be forwarded from FPG to UNC for signature. Even if the proposed project does not need the services of a core, the form should be submitted because it will begin the tracking of each grant submission within FPG. Guidance on these procedures is available from any core director, Greg Burress and/or Kelly Maxwell, Associate Directors.

BE SURE TO DISCUSS ALL SERVICES WITH THE CORE DIRECTOR BEFORE SUBMITTING PROPOSAL.

Use of Core Descriptions in Grant Writing

You may also download this information as a Word document.

FPG Child Development Institute (FPG)

The FPG Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is one of the nation's oldest multidisciplinary institutes for the study of young children and their families. It was founded in 1966 and is named in honor of Dr. Frank Porter Graham (1886-1972), a respected and beloved president of UNC. FPG's goal is to ensure that all children have a strong foundation for academic success and full participation as caring and responsible citizens in a multicultural world. Researchers, developers, trainers, and practitioners at FPG study important issues facing young children and their families and use this information to enhance policy and improve practice. Over 40 PhD-level investigators, 25 faculty members (FPG Fellows), and 350 staff work on more than 70 projects addressing a wide range of issues affecting young children and their families.

Resources for Observational Research at FPG

Researchers at FPG have considerable resources, including laboratory space, audiovisual and computer equipment, and technical assistance for observation of human behavior, to support research involving lab-based and field-based observational methods, and the coding of observational data.  These resources are provided jointly by FPG and by the Human Behavioral Phenotyping Lab of the Behavior Measurement Core of UNC’s Neurodevelopmental Disorders Research Center (NDRC).  FPG researchers who are affiliated with the NDRC have access to some specialized equipment and off-site laboratory space, but the majority of the resources are available to all FPG researchers.

NDRC Core Co-Director J. Steven Reznick, Associate Laboratory Director Barbara Davis Goldman, and Media Technician Donald Trull provide consultation on the applicability of observational methods for specific research projects; the development of ad hoc measurement procedures; the specification and implementation of coding protocols; and techniques for recording data.  Dr. Goldman and Mr. Trull have offices on site and are readily available for consultation.  Don Trull is supported by both NDRC and FPG.  Dr. Reznick is an FPG Fellow whose office is in the Psychology Department; he is available for consultation via meetings, telephone, and email. 

FPG’s Behavioral Unit provides the space for the Audio-Visual Resource Center and the majority of the space allocated for observational labs, and shares in the support of Don Trull. .This collaborative unit provides resources for data collection, including audio or videotape recorders for permanent recording of behavior; hardware and software for digital data entry, management, and storage; and training in the use of cutting-edge data acquisition software and hardware. Finally, the resources also include a library of tests and measures and assistance with the use of these assessment tools.  

The behavioral labs are primarily located at FPG.  On the 4th floor at the FPG Bypass Building is a 300 square ft dedicated observation/testing suite that is divided into three separate rooms that can be monitored (via one-way glass and headphones) from a 105 square ft observation room. Also available are a 72 square ft waiting room and three additional sound-attenuated testing rooms at 72 square ft each, directly adjacent to the suite and two additional observational/testing/clinic rooms with one-way glass and observation booths in FPG’s Sheryl Mar building across the street from the Bypass Building,   FPG researchers affiliated with the NDRC also have access to additional research space at the UNC Autism Building and the Psychology Department’s Community/Family Research Center.

The observation/testing rooms are equipped with multiple pan/tilt/zoom cameras mounted to facilitate flexible configurations.  Cameras can be connected to a video distribution hub to provide a means to record sessions in various formats (e.g., VHS, miniDV, Mpeg 2 DVD) for review and/or coding and some cameras allow web access.  Single or multiple camera inputs can be achieved in insert or split screen mode.  Miniature security cameras are also available for testing sessions requiring specialized applications. 

Various devices that are used for presenting or manipulating stimuli; computers for equipment control and data acquisition; and assorted tools and other equipment are available as needed.  A Tobii 1750 eye-tracker, which is being used to explore attention and face processing in infants and children is currently housed in the laboratory space in the Autism Building.  Tobii equipment is generally regarded as “state of the art” in eye tracking, providing fully automatic non-instrusive tracking that is highly accurate with good tolerance for head motion.  The accompanying software makes this system extremely powerful and relatively easy to use.  The laboratory has large and small monitors for computer-driven displays of study-specific stimuli; several studies use the lab’s Presentation software from Neurobiological Systems for stimulus control and delivery in neuroscience applications.

The Audio-Visual Resource Center (AVRC) occupies 300 square feet on the ground floor of FPG, and maintains additional coding and dubbing stations in the Bypass Building.  The AVRC provides a variety of audiovisual and computer resources to investigators for behavioral observation and coding, including video recorders and monitors, data-projection units, computers, printers, camcorders, audio recorders, microphones, Dictaphones, stopwatch/interval timers, and digital cameras.  The AVRC also provides physiological equipment, specifically the Minilogger Physiological Data Logger heart rate and activity monitors (four telemetry units and three hard-wired units). Investigators may sign-out this equipment for use in their research or use it in laboratory facilities. The AVRC’s coding room supports Noldus Observer Video-Pro 5.0 and XT coding systems that are used to inspect and analyze analog and digital video records in real time, slow motion, or on a frame-by-frame basis. Eight additional licenses for the Noldus Observer are provided and supported for off-site projects.  The dubbing rooms accommodate assorted video formats (viz., 8mm/digital 8, VHS, SVHS) for duplicating, digitizing, editing, or time coding. Other software systems are available for collecting and tabulating behavioral data either live or from videotape (e.g., MOOSES, CHILDES, and the Peak Motus video movement measurement system for studies focusing on motor development, motor control performance, and the assessment of movement disorders).

Audio-visual support and services include assistance with determining cost-effective, maximally effective choices of equipment for specific grant proposals, and then assistance with purchasing, training, and problem-solving with that equipment, as well as with all Institute-purchased, NDRC-purchased, and project-purchased AV equipment.  Expert complete pre- and post-production video and professional photography (digital and 35mm) services, on- and off-site, can be provided on an extremely cost-effective fee-for-service basis.

Data Management and Analysis Center

The DMAC operates in an environment and with facilities that are conducive to high levels of quality and productivity.
The DMAC computing resources continued to be upgraded significantly during the past year, with equipment purchased from state funds and individual project funds. Each programmer and statistician has a high-end Pentium dedicated to his/her use, with a total of thirty (30) such systems within the unit. While the Windows XP environment is primarily in use, there are VMware systems able to run earlier versions of Windows in order to run scoring software requiring it. Five Pentium computers are in use for data entry. All systems have CD-ROM or DVD drives for multi-media, software installation, and support/reference information access, and most can write CD's. The Novell local area network, running Netware version 4.11, continues to function effectively. The file server has been upgraded to a Dell Poweredge 4200, a Pentium 300 processor with 1 Gigabyte RAM and 54 Gigabyte RAID array. Institute and DMAC system back-up, data back-up and archival storage have been updated and are now using Cheyenne ARCserve 6 with a Dell PowerVault 120 Autoloader. Network printing services have been upgraded as well by the addition of an HP LaserJet 9000DN printer and an HP LaserJet 8100DN to keep pace with the high volume, duplex and postscript printing requirements. One HP LaserJet 4500 printer has been added for special project use. Graphics production needs are met by DOS, Windows and MAC systems that can access a Tektronix Phaser 850 color laser printer. There is a dedicated low end SAS server interfaced with the FPG webservers to produce output for web projects, with a server upgrade in process. Communications with the UNC campus and the internet has been upgraded to a direct fiber link to the campus switching system and continues to be essential in our ability to maintain projects across campus, including access to the campus Novell, other departmental local area networks, and campus computing facilities.
Other computers and peripheral equipment are available at FPG for use by DMAC staff. One Pentium computer, with an attached HP Scan Jet 3C flatbed scanner and CD writer is available for use in the common area. A fax machine is available in the DMAC area for receipt of data.
Computing facilities are available from ATN on the UNC Campus via a distributed UNIX system which includes Sun-based and IBM AIX computers. The main statistical computer system StatApps is a Sun Fire 15K system with 24 1.05GHz Processors and 48 GB of Shared Memory running the Solaris 9 operating system. This system provides access to research and statistical programs, including FORTRAN, SAS, SPSS and STATA. ATN also provides access support for electronic mail, libraries and Internet services.

Outreach

The FPG Outreach Department fulfills a vital part of the Institute’s mission: “Cultivating and sharing the knowledge necessary to enhance child development and family well being.” The Department makes FPG’s work accessible and applicable to the public, researchers, the University and anyone involved in the well being of young children and their families.

FPG has always taken the position that research provides important knowledge, yet it alone does not improve practice. FPG’s commitment to sharing the information generated completes the mission of “enhancing the lives of children and families.”

The Department is uniquely qualified to take advantage of today’s new media world, which makes available a multitude of strategies to enhance the work done by FPG staff. It provides ongoing consultation and implementation services to assist FPG staff, including:

  • Playing an active role in crafting message that speak to stakeholders, developing appropriate products, writing and editing, and providing a strategic communications framework for meeting goals;
  • Creating products (e.g., podcasts, reports, blogs, press releases, videos) that are accessible and useful to a diverse range of audiences, and disseminate information in ways that are relevant to key stakeholders and the public;
  • Promoting knowledge exchange via a variety of online tools to seek input from constituents to inform and shape the work; and
  • Collaborating and partnering with other institutions and organizations, serving as a bridge to UNC, and coordinating and sharing information across the 50+ projects within FPG.

 

Staff includes the Outreach Director, Public Relations Director, Publications Director, and Administrative Assistant.

The Unit serves as a clearinghouse for FPG-authored materials that are published in-house, publishes a national magazine (Early Developments ) three times a year, produces podcasts, translates complicated research into monthly summaries for the layperson, and crafts an electronic news bulletins of the latest research findings and activities.

The Outreach Unit maintains an active and frequently updated database of over 9,000 individuals and organizations representing relevant federal, state, and local policymakers, administrators, researchers, practitioners and the media. By providing decision-makers and practitioners with research-based information and strategies, the Outreach Unit helps FPG reach its ultimate goal of improving the care, education and development of all young children.

Data Management and Analysis Center

The Data Management and Analysis Center (DMAC), a section of the FPG Child Development Institute, provides data management and statistical services to a broad range of research projects within the FPG community as well as other university departments. The overall objectives of DMAC are to enhance the productivity of investigators and the quality of their research by collaborating with investigators, and providing them with services through every stage of a research project.
DMAC participates in writing grant proposals; developing efficient designs; advising on data collection instruments; designing, implementing, and documenting database management to process, clean, store and archive project data; planning, implementing and documenting project analyses; and assisting in writing research papers and reports.

Laboratory

Clinical

Animal

Computer

FPG Information Technology Services (IT Services) provides complete file and print services, internet connectivity, electronic mail, web mail, and web publishing support to the FPG research community of approximately 400 full- and part-time staff and students.  IT Services consists of eight full-time permanent employees and one temporary employee.  The IT staff members, having different areas of expertise and varying degrees of specialized training, maintain all computer, web, and network services throughout the Institute.

Basic network and desktop support is provided as standard service at no charge to projects.  FPG staff can rely upon receiving: secure, reliable storage of private and shared data, virus protection; tape archiving to protect the long-term integrity of data stored on the servers; web hosting to provide high-availability web sites for the Institute and the projects at the Institute; email via a globally accessible IMAP mail server with an optional web mail front end; globally available public address books; access to network print servers; and remote data access via secure connection.

IT Services supports a standard suite of software, including current versions of MS Windows, MS Office, email clients and web browsers which are available to all FPG employees.  Additionally, specialized software for business applications, statistical analysis, database management, web publishing, and print publishing is maintained for special units on an as-needed basis.

IT Services staff currently provides installation, maintenance and upgrade services for 385 Windows-based computers, 11 PowerMac computers, and 80 LaserJet printers.  FPG network administrators centrally maintain five Novell servers for print and file services for the three FPG sites.  The web and network administrators are jointly responsible for three NT servers and two Windows 2003 servers which handle all FPG web-related services, including production, back-up and development.  The web servers are also integrated with a SAS Internet server for development use.  IT Services also currently maintains seven Linux servers, including one mail server, one back-up mail server, an authentication server, a web mail server, a help desk server, an internet data server and two development servers.  FPG currently uses fiber connections to the UNC network systems, and receives assistance from UNC Academic Technology and Networks for maintenance of switches, routers, and network registration services.
The Data Management and Analysis Center (DMAC) computing resources continued to be upgraded significantly during the past year, with equipment purchased from state funds and individual project funds. Each programmer and statistician has a high-end Pentium dedicated to his/her use, with a total of thirty (30) such systems within the unit. While the Windows XP environment is primarily in use, there are VMware systems able to run earlier versions of Windows in order to run scoring software requiring it. Five Pentium computers are in use for data entry. All systems have CD-ROM or DVD drives for multi-media, software installation, and support/reference information access, and most can write CD's. The Novell local area network, running Netware version 4.11, continues to function effectively. The file server has been upgraded to a Dell Poweredge 4200, a Pentium 300 processor with 1 Gigabyte RAM and 54 Gigabyte RAID array. Institute and DMAC system back-up, data back-up and archival storage have been updated and are now using Cheyenne ARCserve 6 with a Dell PowerVault 120 Autoloader. Network printing services have been upgraded as well by the addition of an HP LaserJet 9000DN printer and an HP LaserJet 8100DN to keep pace with the high volume, duplex and postscript printing requirements. One HP LaserJet 4500 printer has been added for special project use. Graphics production needs are met by DOS, Windows and MAC systems that can access a Tektronix Phaser 850 color laser printer. There is a dedicated low end SAS server interfaced with the FPG webservers to produce output for web projects, with a server upgrade in process. Communications with the UNC campus and the internet has been upgraded to a direct fiber link to the campus switching system and continues to be essential in our ability to maintain projects across campus, including access to the campus Novell, other departmental local area networks, and campus computing facilities.
Other computers and peripheral equipment are available at FPG for use by DMAC staff. One Pentium computer, with an attached HP Scan Jet 3C flatbed scanner and CD writer is available for use in the common area. A fax machine is available in the DMAC area for receipt of data.
Computing facilities are available from ATN on the UNC Campus via a distributed UNIX system which includes Sun-based and IBM AIX computers. The main statistical computer system StatApps is a Sun Fire 15K system with 24 1.05GHz Processors and 48 GB of Shared Memory running the Solaris 9 operating system. This system provides access to research and statistical programs, including FORTRAN, SAS, SPSS and STATA. ATN also provides access support for electronic mail, libraries and Internet services.
Office

All have personal computers and printers available for word processing, SAS-PC, and the ability to add graphic and specialized data analytic software to their hard drives.  All of the investigators’ computers are networked and have modems for using of electronic mail and coordinate access to key documents and data sets.

FPG is housed in 3 buildings one mile from the main UNC campus and adjacent to an elementary school.  A 35,000 sq. ft. building owned by the University houses the Child Care Program, the Behavioral Measurement and Observational core, the Business Office and offices for research teams.  Two buildings totaling more than 47,000 sq. ft are leased by the University.  They house research teams as well as the Design and Statistical Computing core, the Outreach core, Information Technology core, and Web services.

Major Equipment