2006 presentation in the Rice University NSF Advance Conference entitled “Negotiating the Ideal Faculty Position”. This workshop was on obtaining grants, and was authored by Semahat Demir (NSF), Lydia Kavraki (Rice-CS, Rob Raphael (Rice-BIOE)and Joan Strassmann (Rice-EEB).
Workshop Authors: Semahat Demir, Lydia Kavraki, Rob Raphael and Joan Strassmann
Introduction
Lydia Kavraki, Ph.D.
Noah Harding Professor of Computer Science
Rice University
Slide 1: funding is important
- 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
Slide 2: funding - logistics
- Identify a funding agency and learn everything you can about this agency (the web and your colleagues are good sources)
- Understand what is the mechanism for submitting a proposal from your institution (“Office of Sponsored Research”)
- Develop a time frame for writing and proofreading the proposal
Slide 3: funding opportunities
Slide modified from Kinney, Neptune and Wilson
Slide 4: your university
- A proposal needs a budget and appropriate signatures
- Lead time is typically required
- Your colleagues can help you understand all that
Slide 5: time frame
- Allow time for many drafts
- Allow time for feedback
- Allow extra time
Slide 6: 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
Slide 7: 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
Slide 8: nsf, funding opportunities and successful proposal writing
Semahat Demir, Ph.D.
Program Director
Biomedical Engineering Program
National Science Foundation
Slide 9: 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
Slide 10: nsf vision
- NSF: Where Discovery Begins
- Enabling the Nation’s future through discovery, learning and innovation.
Slide 11: nsf 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