0.6 How to obtain funding

Funding is important – lydia kavraki (cs)

• You need to be prepared to address the issue in the long run

• You need more than a great idea

• You need to understand the logistics

Funding - logistics

1. Identify a funding agency and learn everything you can about this agency (the web and your colleagues are good sources)
2. Understand what is the mechanism for submitting a proposal from your institution (“Office of Sponsored Research”)
3. Develop a time frame for writing and proofreading the proposal

1. funding opportunities

NIH - www.nih.gov

• CRISP – Database of funded projects
  • http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/
• NIH Review Criteria
  • (External Link)
• Article: How to get NIH funding
  • (External Link)

NSF - www.nsf.gov

• CAREER program
  • (External Link)
• Engineering Division
  • http://www.nsf.gov/home/eng/
• Article: NSF grant writing
  • (External Link)

• Private Foundations

• Office of Naval Research (ONR) and other federal programs

NIDRR - The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research

• (External Link)

• Miscellaneous Funding links
  • GrantsNet - (External Link)
  • Science Magazine – search for articles
    • (External Link)
  • Grant writing
    • (External Link)
    • Google search for articles
    • Book – Research Proposals: A Guide to Success (Ogden and Goldberg)
• Industry
  • SBIR mechanism (NSF, NIH)
  • Direct Funding from Companies

*modified from Kinney, Neptune and Wilson]

2. your university

• A proposal needs a budget and appropriate signatures
• Lead time is typically required
• Your colleagues can help you understand all that

3. time frame

• Allow time for many drafts
• Allow time for feedback
• Allow extra time

Funding is important

You need to be prepared to address the issue in the long run

• How will you prepare yourself for the next grant?

You need more than a great idea

• You need to be able to communicate and support your idea

• You need to understand the logistics

Do not let funding consume you

• Your “ growth ” as a researcher is essential
• Publish, collaborate, discuss your ideas, read, be brave and be prepared to fail

Nsf, funding opportunities and successful proposal writing – semahat demir (nsf)

Outline

• Overview of NSF
• Different NSF Funding Opportunities
• NSF’s Priority Areas (NSF-Wide Investment Areas)
• NSF Merit Review Criteria
• Tips for Successful Proposal Writing

Nsf vision

NSF: Where Discovery Begins

Enabling the Nation’s future through discovery, learning and innovation.

Overview

• Founded in 1950
• An independent federal agency
• Responsible for advancing science and engineering
• Makes merit-based grants and cooperative agreements
  • Individual researchers and groups
  • Colleges, universities,
  • Other institutions: public, private, state, local and federal
• Does not operate laboratories
• Peer-review and evaluation of 42,000 proposals (FY05) submitted by science and engineering research and education communities
  • 9,800 new awards (success rates are different for different programs)
  • 246,000 proposal reviews done

Nsf support as a percent of total us federal support for academic basic research in selected fields

• Physical Sciences: 40%
• Engineering: 46%
• Social Sciences: 52%
• Environmental Sciences: 54%
• Biology (excluding NIH): 66%
• Mathematical Sciences: 77%
• Computer Science: 86%