How to Obtain National Science Foundation Fellowships and Awards: The Basics Facilitator: Jeff Ryan Ph.D. A workshop providing information on the process of applying for external research awards. Sponsored by USF Office of Research and Innovation

Why is Research Funding Necessary?  Provides you and the university with ability to conduct research (it pays the bills!)  Fulfills mission of knowledge generation and student training (i.e., scholarship)  Increases university, department, and program visibility  Improves ability to attract high quality students

How Does Research Funding Benefit You?  Increases research productivity  Improves research quality  Ensures thorough program planning  Enhances tenure/promotion package  Encourages involvement and visibility in professional societies  Solidifies your status as a top-notch scholar.

Benchmarks for Scholarly Success (individually, and institutionally)  Quality of Publication Outlets (Impact factor, Citation rates, etc.)  Productivity Indices from Departments (pubs, impact, $$)  Quality of Graduate Students (Ph.D.’s!)  Respected and Prestigious Awards (there’s a list…)Prestigious Awards  Indices of Visibility and Respect (i.e., professional leadership activities…)  Maintaining a successful Research Program (sorta all of the above…)

Who Might Fund Your Research?  National Science Foundation  (searchable programs database…)  Grants.gov 

What Kinds of Projects Will Be Funded?  It depends, but to get a picture of what’s been funded:  NSF Award Information – see Program Solicitation links to Recent AwardsInformation  NSF Awards Database: (searchable data for awards made in all NSF programs)  For a particular program – Talk to the Program Officer! (talking to PI’s is the best part of their jobs!)  Office of Research - Research Activity ReportsResearch Activity Reports  Talk to your colleagues - but only if they’re “wired in” (i.e., funded, serving on review panels, etc. (there’s a lot of misinformation circulated about NSF funding…)

Improving My Funding Chances  TALK TO YOUR PROGRAM OFFICER! Find out what fields are current, what kinds of projects they’re looking for – it’s not a secret!  Work on something you are excited about.  Be explicit in project design, and carefully consider project outcomes and significance.  Possibly add a senior collaborator as co-PI or consultant in a larger project (not required in smaller $$ efforts).  READ your reviews objectively, to use them to revise submissions.

Making Research Attractive  Funding Programs have stated objectives – know these and how your research fits them!  Speak directly to the issue of fit.  You can describe fit without substantively changing design.  Making your research attractive to a funding program is not selling out!  Being a good communicator is critical.  Be honest, but make the connections.

The Proposal Cycle

Award Startup

USF Research Office   Division of Sponsored Research Division of Sponsored Research  Research Resources Research Resources  Get to know your Sponsored Research AdministratorSponsored Research Administrator  Policies, Rates, & Forms for Grants  Pre-award and grant budget assistance  Internal opportunity announcements  Institutional Data

READY TO GET STARTED?