How to Obtain How to Obtain National Science Foundation National Science Foundation

Fellowships and Awards:Fellowships and Awards:

The BasicsThe BasicsFacilitator: Jeff Ryan Ph.D.Facilitator: Jeff Ryan Ph.D.

A workshop providing information on the process of applying for A workshop providing information on the process of applying for external research awards.external research awards.

Sponsored by Sponsored by USF Office of Research and InnovationUSF Office of Research and Innovation

Why is Research Funding Necessary?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 How Does Research Funding Benefit You?Benefit You?

Increases research productivityImproves research qualityEnsures thorough program planningEnhances tenure/promotion packageEncourages involvement and visibility

in professional societiesSolidifies your status as a top-notch

scholar.

Benchmarks for Scholarly Success Benchmarks for Scholarly Success (individually, and institutionally) (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…) Indices of Visibility and Respect (i.e., professional

leadership activities…) Maintaining a successful Research Program (sorta

all of the above…)

Who Might Fund Your Who Might Fund Your Research?Research?

National Science Foundation www.nsf.gov (searchable

programs database…)

Grants.govwww.grants.gov

What Kinds of Projects Will Be What Kinds of Projects Will Be Funded?Funded?

It depends, but to get a picture of what’s been funded:NSF Award Information – see Program Solicitation

links to Recent AwardsNSF Awards Database: www.nsf.gov/awardsearch

(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 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 Improving My Funding ChancesChances

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 AttractiveMaking Research AttractiveFunding 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 CycleThe Proposal Cycle

PI and Department prepare proposal,

budget and Internal Form, and submit with

guidelines to the Division of Sponsored

Research (DSR)

DSR reviews proposal, enters proposal into

FAST, provides institutional signature and sends to sponsor

Sponsor reviews proposal and if

awarded sends award notice to USF

DSR renegotiates and accepts award on

behalf of USF

Principal Investigator (PI) develops project idea and researches

funding sources

PI collects internal paperwork and mails

to DSR

DSR enters award information into FAST

(assigns Project ID) and forwards award package to PI, Chair, Dean, and Research

Financial Management (RFM)

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Begin Financial Administration Cycle

Award StartupAward Startup

Certifies IRB, IACUC, and other regulatory

approvals

Forwards grant package to PI, Chair,

Dean, and RFM

Completes Signature Authorization Form

Loads new award into FAST

Accepts award on behalf of USF

Reviews award package

Receives award package

PI begins work on project

Assigns personnel to new project

Division of Sponsored Research (DSR)

Research Financial Management (RFM)

Department / PI

USF Research OfficeUSF Research Office

www.research.usf.edu Division of Sponsored Research

Research ResourcesGet to know your Sponsored Research

AdministratorPolicies, Rates, & Forms for Grants Pre-award and grant budget assistanceInternal opportunity announcementsInstitutional Data

READY TO GET STARTED? READY TO GET STARTED?