How to Find Funding
Kerry Kinney (CE)
Rick Neptune (ME)
Preston Wilson (ME)
You have a Great Research Idea Now What?
Identify Appropriate Funding Agency
Search On-line Databases
Once you have identified the appropriate funding source:
Specific Agency Web Pages Ask Others in your Department
Community of Science Database GrantsNet
Read RFP guidance carefully Talk to other faculty who have experience with the funding agency you are considering.
How to Find Funding for your Great Research Idea – The Bottom Line
You need more than a great idea! You must be able to communicate your research plan and convince reviewers to fund it. Proposal writing skills are absolutely essential…
Tell a concise “Story” Submit a few well-written proposals; not many poor proposals
Logistics
Numerous drafts likely – allow enough time. Have mentor, other experienced faculty members review it. Review other successful proposals to get an idea of scope and format….
Logistics
Understand the procedures at your “Office of Sponsored Projects”
Institutional Budget Requirements
Lead Time Required? Signatures Required? Overhead Rates Tuition and Fees Summer Salary
Once you have scope of proposed project defined, develop a reasonable time frame for the project
Keep in mind that you may have a new graduate student working on the project.....
The Aftermath
If your proposal is funded - Great! If it isn‟t, remember you are in good company
Some agencies fund less than 10% of the proposals they receive!
Don„t get discouraged; Revise proposal – Refine research idea; Submit to new funding agency Keep Trying
Funding Opportunities
NIH - www.nih.gov
CRISP – Database of funded projects
http://crisp.cit.nih.gov/ http://www.csr.nih.gov/guidelines/r01.htm http://nextwave.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2000/10/12/1
NIH Review Criteria
Article: How to get NIH funding
NSF - www.nsf.gov
CAREER program
http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/career/start.htm
Engineering Division
http://www.nsf.gov/home/eng/
http://nextwave.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2000/07/06/8
Article: NSF grant writing
Funding Opportunities
NIDRR - The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/nidrr/index.html
Miscellaneous Funding links
GrantsNet - http://www.grantsnet.org/ Science Magazine – search for articles
http://nextwave.sciencemag.org/ http://www.research.umich.edu/proposals/PWG/pwgcontents.html Google search for articles Book – Research Proposals: A Guide to Success (Ogden and Goldberg)
Grant writing
Industry
SBIR mechanism (NSF, NIH)
A Specific Example: Office of Naval Research (ONR)
ONR sponsors a wide range of basic and applied research.
From biology and medicine to math, computer, physical and social sciences, and engineering.
Research areas are listed in the Science and Technology (S&T) pages:
http://www.onr.navy.mil/sci_tech/
Find the areas that best coincide with your expertise.
ONR Funding
Many research opportunities discussed in the S&T pages are open to all: university faculty, university and national lab personnel, Navy labs, small and large businesses.
ONR Funding
Special Programs for University Faculty
ONR-Wide Young Investigator Program
http://www.onr.navy.mil/sci_tech/industrial/363/yip.asp
Individual S&T Program Faculty-Specific Awards Ocean Acoustics-Entry Level Faculty Award
http://www.onr.navy.mil/sci_tech/ocean/321_sensing/inf o_acous_awd.asp http://www.onr.navy.mil/sci_tech/engineering/333_mech anics/usea_uli.asp
Mechanics and Energy Conversion
ONR Funding
In general, ONR proposals are not peerreviewed. You need to meet the program managers (PMs) in your area. The PMs are obligated to interact with offerers. Call or email, introduce yourself, set up a meeting. Present your ideas to them. Receive feedback on your ideas and what they need.
ONR Funding
Develop a pre-proposal (white paper) that fits into an existing program and utilizes your expertise. If the project has a high likelihood of being funded, PMs will offer suggestions and request a full proposal. Receive grant, do work, repeat process! ONR PMs tend to provide long-term support to a core group of Principal Investigators (PIs) in their areas.
Questions?