1. $$ Money $$ (for research) Bob McMurray
Dept. of Psychological and Brain Sciences
Dept. of Linguistics
Dept. of Communication Sciences & Disorders
Dept. of Otolaryngology

3. Neuroscience
Psychology
Computer
Science
Linguistics
Philosophy

4. I do ba’s and pa’s

5. 12 years later….

6. How do you build a diverse research program?
$$$$$

7. Funding environment is diverse.
What’s the best strategy?

8. Be interdisciplinary
Do things in new ways.
Tell a story
Talk to Program Officers
Consider the application of your work
Think small (at first)
Collaborate
Seek [lots of] Advice
Be strategic
Persistence pays off
Build your scholarly profile.

9. Be interdisciplinary
Do things in new ways.
Tell a story
Talk to Program Officers
Consider the application of your work
Think small (at first)
Collaborate
Seek [lots of] Advice
Be strategic
Persistence pays off
Build your whole scholarly profile.

10. Solutions to big problems require multiple fields.
Psychology
Linguistics
Philosophy
Computer
Science
Neuroscience
Be interdisciplinary
Solutions to big problems
require multiple fields.
Collaborators and co-investigators
Innovation is a key review criterion: applying solutions from one field to a problem in another is innovative

11. But… 2) Do things in new ways. Innovation is key at NIH and NSF.
New cutting edge methods matter.
But…

12. 3) Tell a story
Cool methods are NOT enough.
Grants live or die on the how compelling the questions are.
Develop your
narrative.

13. 4) Talk to Program Officers
Tell your story  enthusiasm
They know the review panels.
Find out about institutional priorities
Programs / processes for new investigators.
Other funding opportunities.
Generate goodwill.

14. 4) Talk to Program Officers
POs make the funding decisions.
Reviews are advisory.
Review Panels and Council makes funding decisions…
.. But POs do have influence.

15. 4) Talk to Program Officers
What kind of influence?
Communicate institutional priorities to reviewers.
Route you to other institutes / programs.
Create opportunity for grants on bubble.

16. 5) Consider application of your work
NIH now takes translation seriously.
NSF under political pressure to show real-world relevance.
A little can go a long way…
Collaboration with medical research.
Public engagement.
Collaboration with industry.

17. 6) Think small (at first).
Grants are a risky investment.
Panelists and POs evaluate your track record to complete the worl.
Often more willing to take a risk for a small investment (while you build your record).
Small grants can lead to big.
R03s, R21s, small NSF grants etc.

18. 7) Collaborate Use collaborations to extend your reach.
Collaborators can shore up weaknesses
Technical Expertise - Administrative
Interdisciplinary - Application
You might shore up someone else’s weaknesses!
Collaborate genuinely.
But: Independence?

19. 8) Seek [lots of] advice Politics, strategies, funding programs.
Content of your grant.
Reviewers likely do not come from your area of expertise.
Good writing is good writing.
Negative reviews
Don’t be afraid to ask senior colleagues: they want you to succeed.

20. Waiting can be beneficial
9) Be strategic.
Grant writing takes a ton of time.
Writing papers.
Collecting pilot data.
Building an infrastructure.
Thinking and developing ideas!
Waiting can be beneficial

21. 10) Persistence pays off. Paylines are low (<15%)!
Diversify funding sources.
Take negative reviews seriously.
- But not personally!

22. 11) Build your whole scholarly profile.
Grants are evaluated on applicant quality.
New applicants: independent, functioning research program.

23. 11) Build your whole scholarly profile.
Grants are evaluated on applicant quality.
New applicants: independent, functioning research program.
Junior faculty: evaluated on research, teaching and service.
- For promotion, your reputation, publications and discoveries may be as (or more) important as funding.

24. Be interdisciplinary
Do things in new ways.
Tell a story
Talk to Program Officers
Consider the application of your work
Think small (at first)
Collaborate
Seek [lots of] Advice
Be strategic
Persistence pays off
Build your whole scholarly profile.

25. Scholarship is interesting. Curiosity and discovery are the reward.
Remember:
This is fun!
Scholarship is interesting.
Curiosity and discovery are the reward.
Do it because you love it.