A modest proposal for getting funded in the atmospheric and...
Transcript of A modest proposal for getting funded in the atmospheric and...
- ANKURDESAI,AOS,DEPTSEMINAR
A modest proposal for getting funded in the
atmospheric and oceanic sciences for graduate school and beyond
Wikimedia
https://thefablesoup.wordpress.com/2016/03/03/jonathan-swifts-use-of-irony-in-a-modest-proposal/
Sciencecostsmoney
MyModestProposal
• Ifyouwanttosucceedasascientistinourfield,youneedtobewritingproposalsfrequently– Fundable,goodideasarebuiltonthebacksoflotsofbadideas
Proposalwritingisimprovedprimarilybyfrequentpractice
Current:
Inprep:
Pending:
Past:
Andgettingusedtorejectionandfailure!
Every$$helps
• A.Independentfundingsource• B.Practiceinproposalwriting• C.Prestige
Fellowshipsandawardsthatprovidestipend,travel,supplies,orotherincidentalsareworthgoingafter!
Let’splayNameThatJargon!
PI
• PrincipalInvestigator
• Co-PI,Co-I,Seniorpersonnel• PDRA:Post-doctoralresearchassociate
PM/PO/PD
• Programmanager,officer,director
RFP
• RequestForProposals
• FOA:FundingOpportunityAnnouncement• Solicitation• CallforProposals• GPG:GrantProposalGuide
GPG
• GrantProposalGuide
• HandbookforProposers• NSFPAPPG:https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg
NOI
• NoticeofIntent
• LOI:LetterofIntent• Preproposal• Stage1/Step1proposal
ROSES
• ResearchOpportunitiesinSpaceandEarthSciences(NASA)
IDC
• InDirect Costs
• F&A:FacilitiesandAdministrativeCosts• Overhead
COI
• ConflictofInterest
• Collaborators• IdentifiedonCV(curriculumvitae)orseparateCOIdocumentand/orlistofcurrentandpendingproposals
NSPIRES
• NASASolicitationandProposalIntegratedReviewandEvaluationSystem
• Fastlane• Grants.gov /Research.gov• NOAAGrantsonline
• Submission,reviewing,panels,awardannouncements,reporting
WISPER
• WISconsin ProposalElectronicRouting
• RSP:ResearchandSponsoredPrograms• OfficeofSponsoredPrograms• https://www.rsp.wisc.edu/index.html
EPSCoR
• EstablishedProgramtoStimulateCompetitiveResearch(EPSCoR)
A.IndependentFundingSources• NSFGFRP• NIHPre-doctoraltraininggrants• NOAA• EPASTAR• DOESCGFandSCGSR• NASANESSF• DODSMART• AMS• AAAS• SCAR(Antarctica),3rd worldtravel• UNESCO• NationalAcademyofSciencesNRC• Privatefoundations:Hetrz,Ford,MacArthur,McNair,HHMI• Fulbright• Universityfellowships:AOF• Smallerawards:GradschoolandAOStravelawards,WISELIspeakerawards
Post-docs,too• NSFAGS• NSFIRFP(International)• NOAAClimateandGlobalChange• NCARAdvancedStudyProgram• NationalAcademypost-docs• DOEORISE• HarvardEnvironmentalFellowsProgram• MarieCurie(EU)• Mostnationallabs,manyprivateuniversities,andafewfoundations
Whatmighttheycover?
• Stipend,partialorfull,9or12month• Benefits• MaterialsandSupplies• Equipment• Travel• Tuition,partialorwaiver(rulesvary)
Let’slookatseveral• https://www.nsfgrfp.org/• https://www2.ametsoc.org/ams/index.cfm/information-for/students/ams-scholarships-and-fellowships/ams-graduate-fellowships/
• https://science.nasa.gov/researchers/sara/grant-stats/nasa-earth-and-space-science-fellowship-nessf-selections
• http://science.energy.gov/wdts/scgsr/• https://spacegrant.carthage.edu/funding-programs/research/wsgc-fellowship/
Campusresources
• https://grad.wisc.edu/studentfunding/workshops/• GradSchoolProfessionalDevelopment• AOSstaff:SonjaJohnsonandChelseaDahmen• Graduatechair• Successfulstudents
Thingstowatchoutfor• Strictdeadlinesandfineprint(readtheRFP!)• Pagelimits,margins,fonts(readtheGPG!)• Submissionmethod(email,NSPIRES/Fastlane,paper,WISPER)• Eligibilityrules(citizenshipstatus,careerstage,minorityorgender
focus,researchtopics)• Specificexpectations(summerinternships,post-graduation
position,annualreports)• Whogetspaidandwhopaystaxes(directtoyouorpayrollthrough
University)• Tuitionremissionandhealthinsurancedetails
– UWallowsfellowstocountasin-state.Sometimesbettertowaitfordissertatorstatus
• Fundingrates(typically10-15%,sometimesalothigher,rarelyalotlower)
• Mostfellowshipsprovidelessthantypicallengthofdegree.Haveaplanforhowtofundbefore/during/after.Haveabackupplan.
B.PracticeinProposalWriting
• Acareerthatinvolvesscientificresearchwillinsomeformoranotherinvolveforming,writing,managing,and/orreportingonfunding
Proposalwritingisthesinglemostcreativeendeavorwedoasscientists
Typicalelementsofafellowshipproposal
• Researchplanorstatementofwork(2-5pages)– Workscitedmaybeincorporatedorseparate
• Personal/careerstatement(1-2pages)• Lettersofrecommendationorreference(1-3)– Letterfromadvisorordepartmentchairorhostinstitute.Focusonacademicswhoknowyouinresearchcapacity
• Transcript(earlycareeronesinparticular)orCV(post-docinparticular)
• Budget(rareorpro-forma)andjustification• Forms(always)• “BroaderImpacts”(ifagencyrequiresit)(1-2pages)
Gettingstarted
• Findoutwhat’sbeenfunded,askforcopiesofsuccessfulonesfromyourprogram
• Talktoprogrammanagersifunsureaboutfitofanidea
• Competitiveproposalsarenotwrittenovernight
• Thinkofthereviewer!Youmightevengettoreadthereviews
Agoodresearchplan• Anearly-hook(firstparagraph!):Strongmotivation– Whyisthisinteresting?Andwhat’sbeentriedbefore?Therefore,whatareyou
goingtodo?
• Anovelidea:Interestingquestion,hypothesisorobjective– ConnecttospecificgoalsoftheRFP,accessibletoanyscientist
• Adoableapproach– What’syourbestideasofar?Specific,excitingbutnotoverlyambitioussetof
tasks,clearconnectionofeachactivitytoobjectivesandhypotheses,recognitionofwhattodoifproposedapproachfails.Avoidjargonandacronyms.
• Cleardeliverables– Papers,conferences,websites,data,professionaldevelopment
• Logicalmanagementplan– Qualified,expertpersonnel,wellarticulatedtimeline,sustainabledata
managementandsafetyplansifneeded
• Integratedbroaderimpacts– Howdoestheproposalhelpyouasadevelopingscholar,advancethefieldat
large,theagencyanditsmission,includeparticipationbyfuturestudents,enhanceyourcommunity, andthegeneralpublic/society?Istherearoleformentoringorbroadeningaccessofscience?
Exercise
• Writea3sentenceintroductoryabstracttoafellowshipproposalin3minutes
• Sharewithpartner• Partnertaketurnsreadingoutloudtoeachother
• Provideyourgutfeeling/feedback• Rate:E/VG/G/F/P
C.Prestige• Allawardsandfellowshipscountas“funding”inyourCV• NSFGFRPfellowsinparticulararehighlysoughtafterby
everygraduateprograminthecountry• Independentawardsgiveyoumorecontroloverdirection
ofyourthesisorpost-docresearch (thoughpotentiallywithlessaccesstootherresources)
• Managingmoneyforresearchisnon-trivialandhardtolearnexceptbydoingit
• Learningtotalktoprogrammanagersisagoodskill.Gototownhallsatconferences.
• Ininterviewsyouwillbeasked,“Howwillyoufundyourresearch?Howwillyoumanagealab?”Easiertoanswerifyou’vealreadydoneit,oreventriedtodoit!
BigPoints
• Fellowshipsarecompetitive,buthavealottooffer.Everythingcounts.Applyearlyandoften
• ReadRFPandpayattentiontoallrulesanddeadlines!Startearly.Talktotheprogram.UsecampusandAOSresources.
• Justgoingthroughtheprocess,evenifunsuccessful,iscriticaltoyourprofessionaldevelopmentasascholar
Thanks!
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