Search Strategies, Frequent Questions and Compliance Issues
Research funding for New and Young Faculty
Sponsored Projects Office, University of California Berkeley
Lists organizations and programs by field of study and deadlines.
Toolkit Programs for Junior Faculty
Office of Proposal Development,
Texas A&M University
Lists resources for junior faculty including frequently asked questions.
Extramural Fund Management
Office of Research Administration, University of California Los Angeles
Links to policies and procedures, forms and templates, and frequently asked questions for managing funds on campus.
Common Compliance Pitfalls and Strategies for Success
Office of Policy for Extramural Research, National Institutes of Health, DHHS
Outlines common pitfalls, links to federal regulations governing compliance, and case studies.
Grants.gov
Health and Human Services
This federal grants search site is the managing partner for the Department of Health and Human Services.
Office of Extramural Research
National Institutes of Health
This site offers basics about the grant application process, lists types of grants available, describes an overview of the peer review process, and many other helpful details.
Grants and Contracts Website
Office of Science, US Department of Energy
This site offers funding to colleges and universities, non-profit organizations, for-profit commercial organizations, state and local governments, and unaffiliated individuals.
Locating, Procuring and Managing Funding
Building a record of success
One key to successful research proposals is establishing a reputation as a reliable researcher. Accomplished faculty members do this by conducting ethical research in areas of importance to the discipline, and following through to write reports and articles or make presentations about the findings. A gradual development of a reputation through engaging in increasingly complex studies is expected of accomplished researchers. By thinking through studies completely, carefully and creatively, starting small and building to larger projects in scope and depth, and seeking appropriate resources to support research, faculty members lay down the foundation for a pattern of inquiry. It may help to collaborate with established researchers early on and gradually write individual research proposals. Successful researchers often begin with local funding sources, and expand to regional, national and perhaps international resources as their body of research grows and is well received. The rate at which scope develops is somewhat dependent upon the field of study. New faculty members need to determine what the expectations are in their context at their campus.
Locating resources
Many resources are available to support good research projects. The key is to find an organization with goals that match those of the proposed study. The projects can then be mutually beneficial. There are many well-known programs, funding agencies, and foundations that seek good researchers to support. Prior to looking for that funding from these high profile organizations, new faculty researchers may begin by tapping into local campus, community organization, and professional organization resources. Once larger funders see an established pattern of good work they are more likely to fund a proposal. Check on expectations in your discipline, department, college and campus.
Grant writing
Writing grant proposals begins with a request for proposal (RFP). Agencies who offer monies and other resources to support research send out this offer to submit proposals with very specific guidelines about format, content, and causes or issues they are interested in funding. It is critical for new faculty members to read the RFP carefully and follow it very closely in order to be considered for funding. Deadlines are absolute, and the process requires some coordination and signatures of administrators, so it is most effective to work backwards to outline a timeline for completion to be certain proposals are not sidelined due to technicalities. There are many resources available to advise new faculty members about writing grant proposals, and a number of them will be discussed in this section.
Managing a grant
Congratulations, you were awarded a grant! Now the real work begins. All of the activities proposed must be carried out professionally and in a timely manner. There are specific procedures for how to handle the monies once granted, dictated by campus or foundation policy. New faculty members are responsible for determining what these steps are in order to manage the award effectively. Some campuses take a specified percetage for overhead, for others the overhead is flexible based on the grant type and source. If salaries are to be paid, new faculty members need to learn about hiring procedures and how monies can and cannot be used. The managing of a grant is a time consuming endeavor, and time for faculty to do it well should be requested in the proposal. Be careful to factor in the actual time needed when applying for a grant, and be certain you are able to complete the necessary tasks or plan to hire someone to complete them for you. Management of a grant can be challenging, and the more collaborators you have, the more coordination is necessary. It is the responsibility of the primary investigator to be certain all aspects of the implementation of the grant and the research it funds are handled professionally.
Possible questions to ask about Locating, Procuring and Managing Funding:
- Building a successful record
Where do new faculty members begin to locate funding, and what do they need to do in order to develop a record of success? - Locating and choosing a funding source
How do new faculty members locate and decide on appropriate funding sources for their scholarly research? - Writing grant proposals
What tips enhance the chances of success obtaining grant support for new faculty members who are developing a foundation for their research agenda? - Managing a grant
What are the various responsibilities of faculty members who serve as primary investigators or collaborators on an awarded grant? - Challenges of implementation
What are some of the common challenges faculty members face with locating, procuring and managing funding?
