Starting New Research Projects and Building Collaborations Richard Yuretich Andrew Goodliffe

I’ve finished my Ph.D. Now what? Now what? Continue developing your Ph.D. research Continue developing your Ph.D. research RY: 2 subsequent funded projects; publications spanned 26 years RY: 2 subsequent funded projects; publications spanned 26 years AG: 1 subsequent funded project; numerous collaboration opportunities AG: 1 subsequent funded project; numerous collaboration opportunities

Explore your local environment Adapt methods and topics to local issues and opportunities Adapt methods and topics to local issues and opportunities RY: African lakes → New York lakes RY: African lakes → New York lakes RY: Watersheds, groundwater issues, NJ → Mass. RY: Watersheds, groundwater issues, NJ → Mass. AG: Pacific rifted basins → Gulf of Mexico AG: Pacific rifted basins → Gulf of Mexico AG: Apply geophysical methods to carbon sequestration rather than rifting AG: Apply geophysical methods to carbon sequestration rather than rifting

Explore your local environment Capitalize on student interest where practicable Capitalize on student interest where practicable RY: Acid rain and Environmental concerns RY: Acid rain and Environmental concerns AG: Coastal processes in S. Alabama AG: Coastal processes in S. Alabama

Develop New Collaborations Identify helpful colleagues in department Identify helpful colleagues in department Those with complementary interests Those with complementary interests More senior-level More senior-level Connections to funding agencies and sources Connections to funding agencies and sources Experience with funding panels and the review process Experience with funding panels and the review process

Develop New Collaborations Current Graduate Students Current Graduate Students Connections to research areas Connections to research areas Interdisciplinary connections Interdisciplinary connections AG: Students with corporate connections AG: Students with corporate connections

Develop New Collaborations Talk to campus people outside department Talk to campus people outside department RY: Water Resources Research Center: State support for Boston water research RY: Water Resources Research Center: State support for Boston water research RY: Physics, Astronomy, Science Education: major funding for research on science teaching and learning RY: Physics, Astronomy, Science Education: major funding for research on science teaching and learning RY: Environmental Engineering, Microbiology: large grant for remediation of acid-mine drainage RY: Environmental Engineering, Microbiology: large grant for remediation of acid-mine drainage

Develop New Collaborations Talk to campus people outside department Talk to campus people outside department AG: Alabama Geological Survey – multiple projects (many with $$) and student opportunities AG: Alabama Geological Survey – multiple projects (many with $$) and student opportunities AG: Chemical Engineering – hydrocarbon exploration and CO2 sequestration opportunities AG: Chemical Engineering – hydrocarbon exploration and CO2 sequestration opportunities AG: Combination of the above two – two multi-million $$ projects AG: Combination of the above two – two multi-million $$ projects AG: Civil Engineering and Applied Statistics AG: Civil Engineering and Applied Statistics

Expand Your Reach Take every opportunity to let people on your campus know what you are doing Take every opportunity to let people on your campus know what you are doing Unexpected opportunities for collaboration Unexpected opportunities for collaboration Make time for reading Make time for reading Keep tabs on people doing related research Keep tabs on people doing related research Develop ideas for possible collaboration Develop ideas for possible collaboration Approach them with a proposal Approach them with a proposal

Expand Your Reach Identify “researchable moments” Identify “researchable moments” From your teaching From your teaching From your field experiences From your field experiences From Departmental “Archives” From Departmental “Archives”

Expand Your Reach Build upon professional meetings Build upon professional meetings RY: Baikal Drilling Project RY: Baikal Drilling Project AG: IODP proposal AG: IODP proposal Don’t forget the “cold calls” Don’t forget the “cold calls” RY: Rogers & Rosamond Lakes RY: Rogers & Rosamond Lakes Opportunities outside of your comfort area Opportunities outside of your comfort area AG: Multidisciplinary research - ADVANCE AG: Multidisciplinary research - ADVANCE

Requests for Proposals (RFPs) Pros Pros An RFP indicates that money has been earmarked by a funding agency for research in this area An RFP indicates that money has been earmarked by a funding agency for research in this area Don’t need to rely on enthusiasm of program officer Don’t need to rely on enthusiasm of program officer Excellent opportunity if you are already have some research in the area of interest, Excellent opportunity if you are already have some research in the area of interest, Cons Cons They are often (usually?) over-competitive, attracting many proposals They are often (usually?) over-competitive, attracting many proposals Odds of funding can therefore be smaller. Odds of funding can therefore be smaller. May ask for things that you don’t really want to do May ask for things that you don’t really want to do

Special Solicitations Geared Toward Early Career Scientists NSF Faculty Early Career Development Grants (“CAREER” Award) NSF Faculty Early Career Development Grants (“CAREER” Award) “Prestigious” “Prestigious” Not competing against established senior scientists Not competing against established senior scientists 5-year duration (the “treadmill slows down”) 5-year duration (the “treadmill slows down”) BUT odds of success may actually be much worse than unsolicited proposal route BUT odds of success may actually be much worse than unsolicited proposal route funding per year actually tends to be a bit less, on average, than standard 3-yr NSF awards; funding per year actually tends to be a bit less, on average, than standard 3-yr NSF awards; strong education/outreach component required strong education/outreach component required NASA NIP (New Investigator Program) NASA NIP (New Investigator Program) must have strong NASA connections developed before you’ll be considered seriously must have strong NASA connections developed before you’ll be considered seriously

Foundation/Corporate Money Typically requires very good connections Typically requires very good connections Use those senior colleagues Use those senior colleagues Use students with connections Use students with connections Some foundations have RFPs Some foundations have RFPs May take a while to get on their mail lists May take a while to get on their mail lists