Navigating Research Funding Cynthia Sagers Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Economic Development UA

Finding funding Develop your idea Identify a funding source Prepare a proposal Submit to granting agency Manage your opportunity

Finding funding Identify a funding source Develop your idea Prepare a proposal Submit to granting agency Manage your opportunity

Finding funding Identify a funding source Develop your idea Prepare a proposal Submit to granting agency Manage your opportunity

All funding agencies have rules governing how money is awarded and spent. The rules must be transparent. The rules must be followed. Sometimes the rules change.

nsf.gov Rules for each competition are published in a solicitation (aka RFA, RFP, program announcement).

nsf.gov Solicitation

nsf.gov Solicitation

nsf.gov Solicitation

nsf.gov Solicitation Includes description of proposal elements project summary table of contents project description budget budget justification biographical sketch(es) current and pending support facilities and other resources conflicts of interest (COIs)

nsf.gov Solicitation Additional proposal elements data management plan post-doc mentoring plan supplementary documents letters of commitment relevant permits permission to use research facilities/sites

nsf.gov Solicitation Merit review criteria 1) intellectual merit 2) broader impacts Additional review criteria program-specific elements

nsf.gov Solicitation may reference additional rules: Proposal and Awards Policy Procedure Guide – PAPPG

Updates to solicitation may be posted in a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL)

When should you contact your program officer: When you are thoroughly familiar with the solicitation(s) When you are prepared to discuss details of your project When you have adequate time to respond to the POs comments Why should you contact a program officer: If you are uncertain that your project is a good fit with the program, or the agency If you have concerns that your project is too large or too small If your project is multi-, or inter-disciplinary If your project has an international component If you are from an EPSCoR state

Funding trends in NSF DEB Year Projects Success (%) proposals success rate awards Number of proposals submitted to DEB has nearly doubled while the number of funded awards has remained relatively unchanged. Proposal success rates are approaching single digits

Thanks! Cynthia Sagers ADMN 205