Volume 12, number 3: September 1, 2005
FUNDING TIPS
Starting a Funding Search
Faculty, staff and postdoctoral scholars looking for funding should start with Carolina 's GrantSource Library, part of the Office of Information and Communications. Electronic funding search tools such as Community of Science (COS), Sponsored Programs Information Network (SPIN), and other funding opportunities databases are linked from the library's web page. CD-ROMs, print directories, and guides to proposal writing are available at the library in 307 Bynum Hall. The library staff are available for consultations and instruction in the best use of these tools.
Faculty members and research staff interested in learning more about the library's services and resources can schedule individual demonstrations in their offices or group demonstrations for their departments, centers, or institutes. To schedule an appointment, contact the GrantSource Library.
Find More Grant Opportunities in COS by Using Broader Keywords
If you are using the Community of Science (COS) database to find funding for a specific research topic, try searching for grants in the broader fields that are relevant to your project. Many sponsors, especially foundations, are not specific about the kinds of research they will fund. Rather, they state the broad disciplines within which they will consider applications. For example, a project to study zebra mussels may be eligible for a grant that funds projects in the fields of biological science, marine biology or environmental biology. Click here for more tips on searching COS.
InfoEd's SPIN Funding Database and SMARTS Alert Service
Faculty can set up a customized funding alert using InfoEd's Sponsored Program Information Network (SPIN) funding opportunities database. This service, named SMARTS, provides customized e-mail notices of funding opportunities in all disciplines.
The SPIN funding database provides a good supplement to a COS funding search. While there is some duplication of content, SPIN includes funding opportunities that are not available in COS and uses a different set of keywords. SPIN also offers the capability of searching for funding specifically for junior faculty members or new investigators, a function that is not offered in COS . Contact the GrantSource Library for assistance in using SPIN or setting up a SMARTS funding alert.
Transferring COS Faculty Expertise Profiles for New Faculty
New faculty members or researchers who come from another university that subscribes to Community of Science (COS) can quickly transfer their existing expertise profiles to the UNC-Chapel Hill's COS faculty expertise database. Log on to the COS Workbench, go to “Manage Your Profile,” and edit the “Current Position” field.
If you need assistance in updating your faculty expertise profile, please contact the GrantSource Library for an individual consultation or plan to attend one of our workshops for faculty.