Volume 16, Number 5: November 4, 2009
FUNDING TIPS
Getting Started: Competing for Funding as an Early-Career Researcher
Lucy Deckard, associate director of the Office Proposal Development (OPD) at Texas A&M University, provides some sound advice for junior faculty members on how to compete successfully for research funding. Below is an excerpt from her article in OPD's E-Research Newsletter.
Competing for grants as an assistant professor just starting your research career can be daunting. Success rates for proposals to many federal agencies have been declining in recent years. Add to that the fact that you will be competing with established researchers with proven track records and a long list of publications, and it may be tempting to throw up your hands and start looking into other career options. However, many early career researchers have been successful in winning funding, and by learning what worked for them, you can greatly improve your chances of winning research funding early in your career.
Here are some things Deckard suggests you can do to improve your chances of winning research funding.
- Learn from others.
- Establish a research agenda that you plan to follow in the first few years of your research career, and publish in that area.
- Find out your department's expectations regarding external research funding.
- Learn how to look for funding opportunities in your research area, and carefully select which grants to pursue.
- Be strategic and realistic when selecting which grants to pursue.
- Consider collaborating.
- Consider applying to programs for early-career researchers.
- Network with other researchers in your field.
- Allow time to produce a well-written proposal.
- And, finally, persevere intelligently.
The key is not to give up or take rejections personally. Each proposal you submit is a step in the process of getting closer to getting funded.
Junior Faculty Funding Resources
Carolina's GrantSource Library is a good place to start your funding search. The library provides many services and resources, such as:
- Website with many funding databases, including COS, SPIN, and others
- Carolina Internal Funding Database of funding offered or administered by various offices of the university
- Consultation and instruction on conducting funding searches
- Assistance in setting up customized funding alerts
- Workshops and presentations for research teams and departments
Contact the GrantSource Library (962-3463) to schedule a consultation or a workshop with one of the librarians.
Sample COS Funding Search for Junior Faculty
Using the COS funding database, the GrantSource Library has created a sample search for funding opportunities for junior faculty in all disciplines. If you are interested, you can view the search or even edit and save it on your own COS Workbench. Follow these steps:
- Log in to your COS Workbench (if you have forgotten your password, request it here)
- To see the junior faculty funding search for UNC-Chapel Hill faculty, click here, or for faculty at other COS subscribing institutions, click here.
- Click on the "Refine Your Query" button
- In the "Keywords" field, uncheck those broad disciplines that are not relevant to you
- In the "Citizenship" field, if you are not a US citizen change the citizenship to your own
- Click on "Search"
- Then, click on "Save Search" to save the new search to your COS Workbench
For assistance in adding this search to your COS Workbench or setting up another funding search, contact the GrantSource Library (962-3463).
InfoEd's SPIN Funding Database and SMARTS Alert Service
Faculty and postdoctoral scholars can set up a customized funding alert service using InfoEd's Sponsored Program Information Network (SPIN) funding database. This service, named SMARTS, provides customized email notices of funding opportunities in all disciplines. For instructions on setting up a SMARTS alert, click here.
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. Contact the GrantSource Library (962-3463) for assistance in using SPIN or setting up a SMARTS funding alert.
Updates for NC Biotech Center Event Sponsorships and Meeting Grants
If you are considering applying for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center's Biotechnology Event Sponsorships or Biotechnology Meeting Grants, please note that the deadlines and process have changed. New instructions are on the program web pages. If you have questions, contact Ginny DeLuca.