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Funding Strategy Workshop

Funding Strategy Workshop. December 11, 2001 Randolph Hall Associate Dean for Research. Why Funding?. Enables research Attracts Ph.D. students Can build collaborations, increase exposure Measure of quality Helps school -- overhead and student support Helps in promotion. Funding Cautions.

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Funding Strategy Workshop

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  1. Funding Strategy Workshop December 11, 2001 Randolph Hall Associate Dean for Research

  2. Why Funding? • Enables research • Attracts Ph.D. students • Can build collaborations, increase exposure • Measure of quality • Helps school -- overhead and student support • Helps in promotion

  3. Funding Cautions • Develop coherent research program • Funding should help Ph.D. program • Should not distract from publications • Continuity of support • Effort should not be overwhelming • Better to pass an opportunity, than to embark on one with little chance of success

  4. Proposal Writing A good research proposal demonstrates innovation and significance within its field of study

  5. Myths of Proposal Writing • Technical and scientific merits alone determine winners • Proposals should be written for the top experts in your field • Peers pick proposals, not program managers • Don’t ask your colleaguess to review your proposal -- they won’t appreciate it anyway

  6. More Myths • It’s a good idea to submit the same proposal to several agencies • Budget allocations don’t matter, just the bottom line • Follow your own writing style -- reviewers don’t care about the guidelines • Don’t worry about schedules and deliverables -- this is research

  7. Reality • Reviewers do not read proposals carefully, and they look for the “big idea” • Reviewers also look for reasons to deny proposals -- there should be no holes • Reviewers are not always experts • Managers make the final decision, and influence the process

  8. What Peers Want • Innovation and significance • Responsiveness to program • Care in writing proposal • Capability to accomplish objectives

  9. What Managers Want • Proposals that fulfill programmatic priorities • Complementary work (no duplication) • Investigators who are good to work with • No black marks (always deliver on promises)

  10. Step 1: Know the Program Manager • Call or meet in advance -- treat like a customer • Identify his/her priorities • Understand selection processs • Find out what’s coming • Find characteristics of winning proposals • Volunteer for review panel

  11. Step 2: Collect Data on Program • Available funding, number submitted, hit rate • $ range and duration • Universities, departments, faculty that have won • Related topics

  12. Step 3. Develop Concept • Understand literature and needs • Build from your strengths • Discuss with program manager • Identify/develop partners • Reaction from colleagues and peers

  13. Step 4. Write Proposal • Follow section format exactly • Clear statement of benefits and significance: in abstract, introduction, conclusions • Complete review of relevant literature • Include clear schedule, and describe the deliverables • Justify budget expenditures • Present your qualification

  14. 5. Feedback • Ask an expert that you know to review • Ask someone else (non-expert) to review

  15. Summary • Begin with innovation and significance • Treat programs like customers -- you need to be responsive • Get as much feedback as possible -- avoid risks

  16. Where to Go for Money • National Institutes of Health • National Science Foundation • Department of Defense • DARPA, ONR, AFOSR, Army, Various • NASA • Department of Energy • Department of Transportation • Foundations, Corporations, State

  17. Special Programs • NSF Career • Young Investigators

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