2.  Where should the idea come from? ◦ The researcher !

3.  What questions should you answer when approaching the development of a research or sponsored topic?

4.  1) Is there a need to answer your question? Is it your passion to find the answer?  2) What is its intellectual merit? Does it advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across fields?  3) What research already exists in the literature? How does your research differ or how is it innovative?

5.  4) What goals and objectives will you set?  5) What are the activities or strategies that will help you achieve them?  6) What are the anticipated outcomes?  7) Who will benefit from these outcomes and what will it contribute on a broader scale?

6.  8) Are you qualified to do the work proposed or should you seek collaborators?  9) Is your topic well conceived and organized?  10) Do you/the institution have the necessary resources to complete the research?  11) How will you evaluate or measure the success of your research?  12) Who will benefit from the outcomes of your research?

7.  In friendlier economic times, research for the sake of research and the development of knowledge was enough  Today research and sponsored programming needs to do more than grow knowledge as a goal or objective  Systemic, Transformational, Potential for Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer (i.e. Economic Development) are all areas of focus for both the federal and private sponsor.

8.  Evaluating Your Idea Exercises: ◦ What, Why, Who, Where? ◦ Themes of your concept-keep marketing in the back of your mind. The truth is you are selling something and someone will decide to buy or not. ◦ Measureable Goals and Objectives are what you are selling along with your ability to get there. Keeping this in the forefront of your mind while developing your agenda is elemental. ◦ Specific Aims are testable hypothesis with long-term goals.

9.  What this means is that sponsors are looking for collaborative, multi or inter-disciplinary proposals.  More perspectives and a variety of “eyes” on content, direction and methods.  External Evaluators are critical! They provide an objective, systematic method of evaluating your project, its progress and outcomes. Your OSP has a listing of evaluators for your reference.

10.  Next Steps: ◦ Seek advice from peers and mentors ◦ Consider sponsors- current areas funding trends may guide the development of your concept ◦ Reflect on potential collaborators ◦ Work with your Dean and Chair ◦ Come to OSP early and often!!!