1. Establishing the Need for Major Research Instrumentation Overcoming Challenges Learning How to Write Good Proposals Establishing the Need for Major Research Instrumentation : Overcoming Challenges Learning How to Write Good Proposals Eugene Billiot Associate Professor of Environmental/Analytical Chemistry Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) email address: ebilliot@falcon.tamucc.edu

2. A Little Bit About TAMUCC Hispanic Serving InstitutionHispanic Serving Institution ~ 8,000 students~ 8,000 students Undergraduate InstitutionUndergraduate Institution –Masters degree in Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Science Computer ScienceComputer Science BiologyBiology Mariculture (Marine Aquaculture)Mariculture (Marine Aquaculture) MathematicsMathematics –PhD in Coastal and Marine System Science started this year Prior to 1994 TAMUCC was not a four year collegePrior to 1994 TAMUCC was not a four year college –Only juniors and seniors and a few graduate programs

3. A Little Bit About Chemistry Program In 1998, when I started at TAMUCC, there were 3 chemistry faculty with very little instrumentation and no adjuncts or instructorsIn 1998, when I started at TAMUCC, there were 3 chemistry faculty with very little instrumentation and no adjuncts or instructors –Mostly donated antiquated instruments Now there are 7 chemistry faculty, 2 instructors, 5 adjuncts and numerous teaching assistantsNow there are 7 chemistry faculty, 2 instructors, 5 adjuncts and numerous teaching assistants

4. Challenges Faced Conduct research with limited resources and timeConduct research with limited resources and time Build infrastructure, especially in terms of instrumentationBuild infrastructure, especially in terms of instrumentation Essentially no faculty with history of writing proposals to federal funding agenciesEssentially no faculty with history of writing proposals to federal funding agencies –So how do you learn to write “good” proposals? –How did you learn to ride a bike or anything else? – By trying and learning from failures

5. Success of TAMUCC with MRIs - 70% in last 5 years 2001 - Instrumentation for the Chemical and Biological Characterization of Factors Affecting the Distribution and Phytoremediation of Seagrasses in Coastal Bays and Estuaries2001 - Instrumentation for the Chemical and Biological Characterization of Factors Affecting the Distribution and Phytoremediation of Seagrasses in Coastal Bays and Estuaries 2002 - Acquisition of a Digital Imaging System to Support Research and Research Training in Applications of Molecular Biology2002 - Acquisition of a Digital Imaging System to Support Research and Research Training in Applications of Molecular Biology 2003 - Development of a Cluster System to Support Computational Science Research2003 - Development of a Cluster System to Support Computational Science Research 2003 - Acquisition of a GC/MS System for Enhancement of Research/Teaching at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi resubmission from previous year2003 - Acquisition of a GC/MS System for Enhancement of Research/Teaching at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi resubmission from previous year 2004 - Acquisition of a Powder X-ray Diffraction System for Earth Science Research and Education resubmission from previous year2004 - Acquisition of a Powder X-ray Diffraction System for Earth Science Research and Education resubmission from previous year 2004 - Acquisition of an AA Graphite Furnace and Microwave Digestor for the Enhancement of Research/Teaching at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi2004 - Acquisition of an AA Graphite Furnace and Microwave Digestor for the Enhancement of Research/Teaching at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi 2005 Acquisition of a 300 MHz NMR for the Enhancement of Research/Teaching at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi2005 Acquisition of a 300 MHz NMR for the Enhancement of Research/Teaching at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

6. Overcoming Challenges Learning How to Write Good Proposals Attend EVERY “free” grant writing workshop you hear aboutAttend EVERY “free” grant writing workshop you hear about –I attended ~ 10-12 workshops in four years Establish a close working relationship with the office of sponsored researchEstablish a close working relationship with the office of sponsored research Never allowed an opportunity to write a proposal to build infrastructure pass without writing a proposalNever allowed an opportunity to write a proposal to build infrastructure pass without writing a proposal –Practice makes perfect ALWAYS view the reviewer’s comments from rejected proposals as an opportunity to improve your proposal writing skillsALWAYS view the reviewer’s comments from rejected proposals as an opportunity to improve your proposal writing skills –Their comments are not personal

7. Overcoming Challenges Learning How to Write Good Proposals Ask several people from different disciplines to read your proposal and critique itAsk several people from different disciplines to read your proposal and critique it –Nice people are of no use to you. TALK to the program officerTALK to the program officer –They want to help READ the RFP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!READ the RFP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Make it VERY easy for the reviewer to read your proposalMake it VERY easy for the reviewer to read your proposal Pay close attention to the criteria used by the reviewers to critique your proposalPay close attention to the criteria used by the reviewers to critique your proposal –Think like a reviewer

8. Overcoming Challenges Learning How to Write Good Proposals Use charts and/or tables to simplify things for the reviewer and to allow the reviewer to follow more easily see the organization of your proposal in terms of timeline, activities, etc.Use charts and/or tables to simplify things for the reviewer and to allow the reviewer to follow more easily see the organization of your proposal in terms of timeline, activities, etc. Know that if you are at a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) then you have a real advantageKnow that if you are at a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) then you have a real advantage –NSF really wants to help build the infrastructure of MSIs –HOWEVER, you can not send in a sloppy proposal –The primary charge of the NSF is to fund good research, not to build infrastructure –Make sure your research description is sound!!!!!! Get copies of successful MRIs that requested the same instrumentationGet copies of successful MRIs that requested the same instrumentation –Go to fastlane and email other MRI awardees and ask them to send you copies of their successful proposals

9. Overcoming Challenges Learning How to Write Good Proposals Get copies of successful MRIs that requested the same instrumentationGet copies of successful MRIs that requested the same instrumentation –Go to fastlane and email other MRI awardees and ask them to send you copies of their successful proposals Award Search and Funding TrendsAward Search and Funding TrendsAward Search and Funding TrendsAward Search and Funding Trends Award Search Search All FieldsSearch All Fields under Search Award For: type name of instrumentSearch Award For Scroll down to Program and type Major Research InstrumentationProgram Near the bottom select Active Awards Only: Active Awards Only Then click on Search button

10. Overcoming Challenges Learning How to Write Good Proposals Award Number Title NSF Organization Program(s)Start Date Principal Investigator Stat e Organization Awarded Amount to Date 0526161 Examining Marine Phosphate Sources and Sinks using Advanced Spectromicroscopy and NMR Techniques OCE CHEMICAL OCEANOGRAPHY 09/01/2005Brandes, JayTX University of Texas at Austin $202,539.00 0521468 Acquisition of a 300 MHz NMR for the Enhancement of Research/Teaching at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi CHE MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION 09/01/2005Billiot, EugeneTX Texas A&M University Corpus Christi $223,418.00 Click on info in first or second column and get more information about the award

11. Overcoming Challenges Learning How to Write Good Proposals Click on info in first or second column and get more information about the awardClick on info in first or second column and get more information about the award Awarded Amount to Date$223,418 Investigator(s) ebilliot@falcon.tamucc.edu Eugene Billiot ebilliot@falcon.tamucc.edu (Principal Investigator) Suzzette Chopin (Co-Principal Investigator) Marion Nipper (Co-Principal Investigator) Fereshteh Billiot (Co-Principal Investigator) Timothy Causgrove (Co-Principal Investigator SponsorTexas A&M University Corpus Christi 6300 Ocean Drive Corpus Christi, TX 78412 361/825-2177 NSF Program(s)MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION

12. Overcoming Challenges Learning How to Write Good Proposals Volunteer to be a reviewer for the NSF and other federal agenciesVolunteer to be a reviewer for the NSF and other federal agencies FAILURE IS NOT TRYING!!!!!!!FAILURE IS NOT TRYING!!!!!!!