1. Strategies, Tips (and More) For Securing Funding Eduardo Salas, Ph.D. Department of Psychology, Institute of Simulation & Training University of Central Florida esalas@ist.ucf.edu

2. Overview I. Assumptions & Philosophy about funding research II. Tips for securing & maintaining funding III. Myths & misconceptions about grants & contracts IV. Strategies for securing grants & contracts V. Questions & Discussion

3. SECTION I Assumptions & Philosophy about Funding Research

4. Assumptions  There are no prescriptions  Tips apply to research (basic or applied)  Tips apply to securing funding (any agencies)  Tips apply to consulting (research or services)  They cover continua from entry to long term relationships  They are some insights, lessons learned and experience Help you think, reflect and create your own

5. Starting Point… Philosophy  Believe in… The Scientist-Practitioner model Solving/understanding organizational problems or human performance issues Wanting to make a difference  Impact! Secure and finalize benefits (and headaches) Getting your hands dirty Curiosity; need to understand issues Passion for doing!

6. SECTION II Tips for Securing and Maintaining Funding

7. Tips Organization  The Basics… Understand & Get these!  The Requirements… Learn these!  The Must Have/Do… Maintain these!

8. The Basics…  Develop a Philosophy…  Develop a strategy, a plan… Prioritize Don’t forget the tenure process Long term goals; Go slow…but steady  Seek a Mentor Create a Partnership  Seek support from … Your Department Chair Your Dean Your Graduate Students

9. The Basics…  Develop a Set of Principles … Allow for growth? Gives me variety? Is it lucrative? Is it fun? Ethical? Can I educate?  Know the agencies DoD, NIH, NSF, AHRQ, NIOSH, ONR… Foundations Some Corporate

10. The Basics…  Know the Business! Research granting “lingo” BAA’s, RFQ, RFI, RFP, SBIR, STTR 6.1, 6.2, 6.3…  “Buy the Ticket” Get idea of probabilities Competitive, credible? RFP requirements  Know Where the Opportunities Are Listservers

11. The Basics…  Know the Agency/Organization! Their goals, objectives and desires Their topics of interest Track record in funding  Know your Office of Research! What they require How they work Barriers  Publish! Marketing tool Develop a strategy for outlets

12. The Basics…  Nothing like Networking! Volunteer Local meetings Participate in Panels  Build a Reputation! Monitor all activities Goes away very easy

13. The Requirements…  Understand the “Politics” of Funding Research … Importance of networking  Know the Customer/Agency/Organization … Read about them Magazines Learn how to “read environments”  Have Good, Practical and Current Ideas … Stay current Popular books Write them down; save them

14. The Requirements…  Create Partnerships… Across disciplines Compliment your skills  Learn to Be a Good Translator of What We Know…  Know Methods; Know the Threats to Validity… Quasi-experimental design

15. The Requirements…  Build a Credible Reputation Can’t be credible at everything Customers are smart Labeled as “BSer”--dead!  Build & Maintain Trust!

16. The Must Do/Have…  Protect the Agency/Organization You Work For! It’s a Small world  Persevere!  Be Flexible…  Your “Word” Matters…Reputation!  Deliver! Just Deliver! You MUST!!

17. SECTION III Myths & Misconceptions…and Realities

18. Myths & Misconceptions…and Realities  If I apply, I’ll get funded, they have to … Grants are not entitlements  If I pick a “hot topic”, I’ll get it … Risky, “winds change”  The more I propose, the better the odds Be careful, too complex or ambitious  I’m the world’s expert, they’ll fund me Who cares, not a guarantee; it’s about what you propose—the science Your peers judge

19. Myths & Misconceptions…and Realities  I’m not asking for much $, they’ll fund me Sponsors make judgments about balance of $ and products  I know the sponsors, it’s a sure bet Networking is good, buy many reviews at different lives  No point in competing, it’s an old-boy network Peers judge Once in, you are IN

20. SECTION IV Strategies for Securing Grants & Contracts

21. Agencies…  Different models of funding  Different requirements and processes  DoD Army Research Institute Office of Naval Research Air Force Human Resources Lab Air Force OSR ARO  National Science Foundation Directorates  NIH/NIOSH  Foundations

22. Strategies…  Build Expertise; Technical Competence Publish, Present, Participate  Know one or two agencies; their interest DoD (ARI, ONR) NSF  Seek Partnerships Outside I/O or HF  Have a pool of ideas Write them up; file them

23. Strategies…  Start Small “50K is not bad”  Create a Discipline in your Team Looking for Opportunities Having ideas; brainstorming Writing  Think and package your ideas around Introduction; Background Technical Objectives Approaches Payoffs Timeline and Cost

24. Steps…  Read the Solicitation Requirements, dates, goals Deliverables, dollar limits Exclusions  Make an Assessment I’m I interested? Can I put a credible story? Can I be competitive?  Assemble the Team Multidisciplinary?

25. Steps…  Advise the Office of Research Administrative Support Department?  Outline Ideas and Objectives Brainstorm  Talk to Sponsor (if allowed)  Write Proposal Seek feedback Put yourself as a “reviewer”

26. Questions  “Hot Topics” Shared Cognition (ONR) Leadership and Team Development (ARI) Decision-making (NSF)  It’s all about framing your ideas  No formula, but an approval  “If you don’t buy the ticket, you won’t win the lottery”

27. Conclusions  No prescriptions…  Takes effort…  Very rewarding…  Have Fun!