Tips for an Effective Funding Agency Visit Tisha Gilreath Mullen Office of Research February 8, 2012

Agenda Before the visit: –White paper –Biographical sketch –Confirmation of meeting At the visit: –Tear sheet Resources and contact information Travel information Pre-trip authorization and reimbursement After the visit

Before the Visit: White Paper Develop a brief two-page description of your proposed research project. This is a text-based document designed to introduce agency staff to you and your work. Key section headers: –Overall goal –Problem to be addressed –Gaps in the current research –Questions the proposed research will address –Potential impacts/outcomes –Contact information

White Paper Components Overall goal – What do you wish to accomplish? Problem to be addressed – What pressing scientific issue are you trying to address with this research? Gaps in the current research – What is missing from the current literature that this research will address? What is innovative and novel?

White Paper Components Questions the proposed project will address – What questions will this research attempt to answer? Detailed discussion of methods is not necessary at this stage. Potential impacts/outcomes – What specific outcomes do you expect your work to produce? What are some additional expected impacts of the proposed work to the funding agency or the state of current practice? Contact information – Specific contact information for you and the names of your primary collaborators, if appropriate.

White Paper Tips Use a style (e.g., font size/style, margins, etc.) and terminology (e.g., objectives or specific aims) consistent with the agency you are approaching. Include your phone number and address as part of your contact information. Utilize graphics to help tell your story.

Before the Visit: Biographical Sketch Develop a biographical sketch in the agency’s requested format. When appropriate, add a list of federally funded research projects to your biographical sketch – not part of the required sections. Include your best and most relevant peer-reviewed publications.

Before the Visit: Confirmation of Meeting Send a pre-meeting to the program officer confirming date and time of meeting. Include a copy of your white paper and your agency- specific biographical sketch with your . Mention that you may be accompanied by a senior colleague and ask for visitor badges.

At the Meeting: Tear Sheet Bring a “marketing piece” to provide the program officer a memorable, scannable snapshot of your project. This should be a one-page, stand-alone document that describes your project through short, bulleted chunks of text and graphics. Use the tear sheet as a guide for your conversation with the program officer. Leave it with the program officer to use to either remember your project or to “sell” your project in an easily digestible form to colleagues.

Tear Sheet Tips Tips relevant to your white paper apply for your tear sheet (e.g., format, style, terminology). In addition, consider including appropriate UNL “branding” somewhere on your tear sheet (see UNL Toolbox at for details). Examples of tear sheets follow.

Resources and Contact Information Ask your mentor to provide input on your white paper and tear sheet. A number of proposal development resources are available on the Proposal Development website: For help developing your white paper and marketing materials, contact the Office of Proposal Development staff: –Ashton Waite or ) –Carrie Wiese or ) –Tisha Gilreath Mullen or ) –Nathan Meier or )

Travel Information: Flights Call Travel and Transport ( ) to arrange for travel. Plan to leave Lincoln or Omaha, arriving at the Reagan airport (DCA) in the early evening. There is a direct flight to Reagan leaving out of Omaha on Frontier. Purchase the most cost-effective tickets using cost object Forward itinerary to Noah Clayton

Travel Information: Hotel You will need to make your hotel reservations. Suggested hotels: –Hilton Arlington Towers, 950 North Stratford St., Arlington, VA –Hilton Garden Inn Arlington Courthouse Plaza, 1333 North Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA Pay for the hotel with your personal credit card and submit for reimbursement using cost object Standard business attire is appropriate for your meeting.

Pre-trip Authorization and Reimbursement Fill out prior to trip and have Deb Hamernik sign for approval. Save original receipts, food purchases must be itemized. No alcohol is allowed. Further information on UNL travel policies

After the Visit Send a thank you note to the program officers you met with. Prepare a 1-2 page summary of your visit to discuss with your mentor and Office of Research staff. We will meet with you and your mentor to discuss your summary and how the visit will impact your plans. Be prepared to share your experience with other junior faculty.

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