Priscilla P. Nelson National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, VA 22201 703-292-7018

1. Priscilla P. Nelson National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, VA 22201 703-292-7018

2. Plan your career – your own strategic plan • researcher – discipline, intergation, interdisciplinary • basic and applied • educator • diversity welcomer • consultant, interactor with industry • leader in profession • administrator • mentor • direction changer • service provider, participant • align and exploit dept/college/university strategic plans

3. More • you get to have a life – so be selective and prioritize • be honest with and about yourself • you need your career plan concept and context to develop resources you will need –people, equipment, space, funding • if you know where you are going and why it is important, your proposals will be stronger and more compelling • EMPOWER YOURSELF

4. Know Your Source • do your homework • mission agencies vs NSF vs foundations • specific initiatives • state vs federal • use the web to search – the “style” of funding – amount, duration, topics, hidden priorities • know the review process, incuding criteria • meet your program contacts • get invited to every workshop you can • don’t be late with submission • understand the modes for funding • find out about flexibilities (e.g., supplements, SGERs, etc.)

5. Prepare your proposal in your context • do not stretch with tangential ideas • let colleagues read and comment • write to required format • think like a reviewer – plug holes or explain them head-on • on page 1 – compelling concept and excellence/innovativeness of work • spell and grammar checks – no tiny fonts • no unusual words, avoid long sentences • keep layout clean, simple • use figures for power and communication and write to the figures • explain the budget

6. Develop Partnerships • these take time to develop – start early and cultivate • be open about your ideas – there’s more where they came from • talk with people, network – ask how you can help them • work with industry, K-12, junior colleges • use complementary strengths at other universities • PUIs, HBCUs, primarily underrepresented

7. Get Connected • volunteer and then follow through • review proposals – process • review papers • attend workshops • organize workshops – and do a great job • get to know nas/nae activities/staff/structures, members • know what’s happening with agencies – influence agendas • set up agencies at professional society events • EMPOWER YOURSELF

8. Prepare for Leadership and Management • build experiences – take opportunities • management courses – UTX should support this • learn to run crisp meetings • network to expand your experience • visit people who are handling complex research coordination efforts

9. Support your sources • get them nuggets and gems • annual reports on time • always acknowledge support • ask agencies how you can help them

10. Prepare for a research and education world of increasing interdisciplinarity • strategize with agencies about this • develop intellectual relationships outside your discipline • seed awards for team building • seed faculty, seed awards • influence faculty hires • management skills

11. Help your department and college • agency knowledge, experience • connections inside/outside UT • help in identifying “hot” opportunities • conversations on concepts of balance, career, diversity

12. Keep you sense of humor and your grace • cherish connections • share credit • develop friendships • people are watching • you can only be an agent of diversity and change if people will let you be • mentor each other • CHANGE IS AFOOT IN ACADEME

13. Other comments • NSF program officer positions • NSF is serious about Merit 1 and 2 • FastLane • work with professional societies to establish agendas – take yourself seriously, get organizations to take themselves seriously • get politically savvy • value interdisciplinarity