After your First Award: Next Steps in Your Journey with NIH Dr. Anita Bechtholt NIAAA Dr. Danielle Carlin (NIEHS) Dr. Ron Kohanski (NIA) Dr. Grace Shen (NEI)
You Got the grant, now what Leadership
Other funds Diversity supplements: to improve the diversity of the research workforce by supporting and recruiting students, postdocs, and eligible investigators from groups that are underrepresented in health-related research. Administrative supplements: to meet unforeseen increased costs within the scope of the approved award. Private foundations
Making Hotdogs Once you have the formula for a successful grant
Seek Leadership Training Maybe there are courses you can take, or books you can read. There are certainly people you can talk to. Who do you see as good leaders. Talk with them.
Develop a Leadership Philosophy What kind of leader do you want to be? Authentic Positive energy Accountability Decisive Listen and follow through Visionary (goal focused, willing to risk) What are your core values?
How could you have been helped? Be a Good Mentor Emulate yours Suggest direction Provide feedback and praise Consider the needs of the individual Look for growth opportunities Don’t be equals How could you have been helped?
Progress Reports We really do read them
Got results? Where do the data lead? Prioritize your tasks and set goals.
How do you get there? Chart your course Do you need: Funding Collaborators Staff Equipment Resources
What’s right for your stage? https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/search_results.htm?year=active&scope=pa
Funding: Choosing the right grant R21/R03 R03 or R21
Competing Continuation vs New Application?
Funding: Choosing the right grant Finding Program Announcements Moving away from PAs https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/search_results.htm?year=active&scope=pa
Finding Contacts/Mentors Use Reporter to find program staff, collaborators, mentors, program announcements, study sections https://projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfm
Foster Your Network Your friends may become your collaborators Science is a small world Don’t burn bridges
A side note about mentors… We don’t all find good formal mentors mentors can be informal (family, friends, colleagues, program staff) Good mentors your best interests successful honest communicators Good mentors point you toward opportunities: e.g. Apply for this award. A large part of getting an award is applying. Ask around – who believes mentoring is important?
Be careful about former mentors Collaborators Be clear about the relationship maximize your network chose people you respect put it in writing authorship agreement clear boundaries Don’t put people on for their name, make sure they have a necessary and well defined role Be careful about former mentors
Staff: Choose Your People Who do you need? Technician – Do you know exactly what science you want to do? Student – Do you have time to dedicate to mentorship? Postdoc – Do you have enough projects to share ownership of ideas? Consider active recruiting
Physical Resources Do you need equipment, resources, subjects, or techniques to get where you want to go? Equipment/Resources – can you share or buy second hand or are there public resources? Subjects – animal models may be available if they were funded by NIH. Secondary analysis? Techniques – is there a class or another group to learn from? Online second hand sources Does the NIH provide them (e.g. drugs ) Animal developed with NIH funding Cold spring harbor courses or going to another lab
Reaching out to program staff Idea Submission IC and SRG assignment Council Concurrence Score and Summary Statement Peer Review Prepare Funding Recommendations Revision Funds Allocated - Notice of award Progress Report
Secret to success Final points Learn the rules Cultivate relationships with program staff If a PO isn’t helpful, find one who is Take progress reports seriously Secret to success NIH
Are You at risk? Risky Drinking
Thank you! Questions? For more information, please contact us: Anita Bechtholt anita.bechtholt@nih.gov 301-433-9334