resources for developing competitive grant proposals jeannine rainbolt college of education 7 may...

Resources for Developing Resources for Developing Competitive Grant Competitive Grant

ProposalsProposals

Jeannine Rainbolt College of EducationJeannine Rainbolt College of Education7 May 20097 May 2009

Motivation for this DiscussionMotivation for this Discussion

Questions and Issues You Questions and Issues You RaisedRaised

Where do we obtain Where do we obtain internalinternal funding to support work that funding to support work that positions us for positions us for externalexternal funding? funding?

How do we identify How do we identify externalexternal funding sources? funding sources? Where do we find the Where do we find the timetime to write proposals? Why spend to write proposals? Why spend

the time if the likelihood of success is low?the time if the likelihood of success is low? We don’t have We don’t have experienceexperience writing proposals. writing proposals. Qualititative-based research takes a lot of Qualititative-based research takes a lot of timetime and can’t be and can’t be

an add-on to our existing activities.an add-on to our existing activities. We don’t have sufficient We don’t have sufficient spacespace.. We don’t have the time and resources needed to build We don’t have the time and resources needed to build

relationshipsrelationships with program officers. with program officers. We need assistance in We need assistance in networkingnetworking with collaborators. with collaborators. Some of the Federal programs offered Some of the Federal programs offered do not fit do not fit our work, our work,

e.g., children under the age of 3.e.g., children under the age of 3.

Recasting these Issues into Recasting these Issues into Dimensions of Support and Dimensions of Support and

EngagementEngagement Opportunity awareness, internal and externalOpportunity awareness, internal and external Internal funding for idea developmentInternal funding for idea development Information about processesInformation about processes Bridge building and networkingBridge building and networking Personalized mentoringPersonalized mentoring Cost sharing and facility developmentCost sharing and facility development Agency interactionAgency interaction Driving the national research agenda, not just Driving the national research agenda, not just

responding to itresponding to it

Broader Issues for Further Broader Issues for Further ExplorationExploration

Research as a component of University, Research as a component of University, College of Education and departmental College of Education and departmental expectationsexpectations– Linkages with education and graduate and Linkages with education and graduate and

undergraduate levelsundergraduate levels– SpaceSpace– TimeTime– ValueValue– Incentive/RewardIncentive/Reward

Research as a dimension of your own Research as a dimension of your own scholarshipscholarship– What type, how funded, how large, how broad?What type, how funded, how large, how broad?

Contextualizing Our Contextualizing Our Discussion: The OU Discussion: The OU

Scholarship EnterpriseScholarship Enterprise

A Key OU PhilosophyA Key OU Philosophy At OU, we speak not of research, but At OU, we speak not of research, but

of of scholarshipscholarship: the creation and : the creation and dissemination of new knowledge & dissemination of new knowledge & works of creative expressionworks of creative expression

Each discipline must aggressively Each discipline must aggressively pursue the most intellectually pursue the most intellectually challenging problemschallenging problems

Yet some of these problems lie at the Yet some of these problems lie at the boundaries among many disciplinesboundaries among many disciplines

Tackle Problems at the Boundaries Tackle Problems at the Boundaries While Maintaining Strength in While Maintaining Strength in

DisciplinesDisciplines

Economics Policy

Technologyand

Engineering

PhysicalScience

Social andBehavioralSciences

Individual Faculty and Researchers are the Individual Faculty and Researchers are the Core of the OU Scholarship EnterpriseCore of the OU Scholarship Enterprise

We Don’t Compete in Big NSF We Don’t Compete in Big NSF GrantsGrants

It’s Not All About Dollars but It’s Not All About Dollars but About ExcellenceAbout Excellence

Different disciplines within a comprehensive research Different disciplines within a comprehensive research university have different modes of conducting their university have different modes of conducting their scholarshipscholarship

Dollars brought in are but one of many measures of activityDollars brought in are but one of many measures of activity Virtually all disciplines have an opportunity to obtain Virtually all disciplines have an opportunity to obtain

external funding, and to do so usually meansexternal funding, and to do so usually means– Competing against peers, thus increasing quality or creativity as Competing against peers, thus increasing quality or creativity as

well as visibilitywell as visibility– Providing independence Providing independence – Pathways to future, perhaps increased funding and thus ideas that Pathways to future, perhaps increased funding and thus ideas that

can be pursued – boldness! can be pursued – boldness! At OU, we value all dimensions of scholarshipAt OU, we value all dimensions of scholarship Yet hiring good people and turning them loose isn’t Yet hiring good people and turning them loose isn’t

enough! We need to support and nurture.enough! We need to support and nurture.

Valuable Web SitesValuable Web Sites OU Research (OU Research (

www.ou.edu/research))

http://research.ou.eduhttp://research.ou.edu

Valuable Web SitesValuable Web Sites Writing Center (Writing Center (

www.ou.edu/writingcenter)) Federal Grants (grants.gov)Federal Grants (grants.gov) National Science Foundation (nsf.gov)National Science Foundation (nsf.gov) National Institutes for Health (nih.gov)National Institutes for Health (nih.gov) Department of Education Department of Education

(education.gov)(education.gov)

Opportunity AwarenessOpportunity Awareness Research Information ServicesResearch Information Services

– Provides funding and other announcements via Provides funding and other announcements via emailemail

– All of you should be receiving these automaticallyAll of you should be receiving these automatically

Opportunity AwarenessOpportunity Awareness Research Information ServicesResearch Information Services

– Will do customized opportunity searches too!Will do customized opportunity searches too! Contact Amanda Hale at Contact Amanda Hale at [email protected]

– Especially important for foundation fundingEspecially important for foundation funding– Can subscribe to a number of services at OU and Can subscribe to a number of services at OU and

elsewhere (e.g., grants.gov) or DoEdelsewhere (e.g., grants.gov) or DoEd

Opportunity AwarenessOpportunity Awareness By the time a solicitation hits the street, you’re already behind By the time a solicitation hits the street, you’re already behind

unless you anticipated it!unless you anticipated it!– We’re working harder to mine “intelligence” from agencies to anticipate We’re working harder to mine “intelligence” from agencies to anticipate

solicitationssolicitations Must have awareness by engaging with funding agencies, Must have awareness by engaging with funding agencies,

monitoring activities in your disciplinemonitoring activities in your discipline Volunteer for review panels (no cost to you or OU) to better Volunteer for review panels (no cost to you or OU) to better

understand the decision processunderstand the decision process Visit agencies (costs can be split among college, department, VPR Visit agencies (costs can be split among college, department, VPR

office)office) Participate in advisory committees (no cost to you or OU) and Participate in advisory committees (no cost to you or OU) and

professional societiesprofessional societies Consider temporary assignment as an agency program officerConsider temporary assignment as an agency program officer

Opportunity AwarenessOpportunity Awareness

We should be We should be drivingdriving the national agenda, not just waiting for the national agenda, not just waiting for opportunities to arriveopportunities to arrive

By the time a solicitation hits the street, you’re By the time a solicitation hits the street, you’re already behind unless you anticipated it!already behind unless you anticipated it!– We’re working harder to mine “intelligence” from agencies We’re working harder to mine “intelligence” from agencies

to anticipate solicitationsto anticipate solicitations Must have awareness by engaging with funding Must have awareness by engaging with funding

agencies, monitoring activities in your disciplineagencies, monitoring activities in your discipline Volunteer for review panels (no cost to you or OU) to Volunteer for review panels (no cost to you or OU) to

better understand the decision processbetter understand the decision process Visit agencies (costs can be split among college, Visit agencies (costs can be split among college,

department, VPR office)department, VPR office) Participate in advisory committees (no cost to you or Participate in advisory committees (no cost to you or

OU) and professional societiesOU) and professional societies Consider temporary assignment as an agency Consider temporary assignment as an agency

program officerprogram officer

Internal Funding for Internal Funding for Opportunity DevelopmentOpportunity Development

Research CouncilResearch Council– Provides funding ($130K/year) in a number of categories Provides funding ($130K/year) in a number of categories

via competitive internal competitionvia competitive internal competition PI Research Investment ProgramPI Research Investment Program Arts & Humanities and Creative Activity ProgramArts & Humanities and Creative Activity Program Over $1200 RequestsOver $1200 Requests Small Grant ProgramSmall Grant Program Junior Faculty Research ProgramJunior Faculty Research Program

– Several avenues, most importantly the Research CouncilSeveral avenues, most importantly the Research Council VPR Office DirectVPR Office Direct

– Matching support for grant proposals (if required)Matching support for grant proposals (if required)– Reprint/Purchases and Page ChargesReprint/Purchases and Page Charges– Faculty Travel Assistance Grants ProgramFaculty Travel Assistance Grants Program– Sponsored Research IncentiveSponsored Research Incentive– Informal mechanisms (making the case)Informal mechanisms (making the case)

Internal Funding for Internal Funding for Opportunity DevelopmentOpportunity Development

Competitive College Investment Fund (CCIF)Competitive College Investment Fund (CCIF)– Yearly competition to seed new ideas Yearly competition to seed new ideas – $50K/year for 1-year, renewable once$50K/year for 1-year, renewable once– Cross-college activities preferredCross-college activities preferred– Stimulates interaction across disciplinesStimulates interaction across disciplines– Awarded $250K last yearAwarded $250K last year

University Strategic Organization (USO) ProgramUniversity Strategic Organization (USO) Program– Base funding (up to $75K/year) to underpin activities Base funding (up to $75K/year) to underpin activities

that are foundational to the University’s strategic that are foundational to the University’s strategic directiondirection

– Usually for organizations that are mature and receive Usually for organizations that are mature and receive substantial external fundingsubstantial external funding

– Awarded $400K last yearAwarded $400K last year

Process Education and Process Education and SupportSupport

Considerable guidance about proposal process on Considerable guidance about proposal process on the Office of Research Services (ORS) web sitethe Office of Research Services (ORS) web site

Workshops offered by ORSWorkshops offered by ORS– FundamentalsFundamentals– Cost sharingCost sharing– Indirect costsIndirect costs– Managing a budgetManaging a budget– Managing a projectManaging a project

OU has a wonderfully complete support OU has a wonderfully complete support environment from proposal development through environment from proposal development through award administration (see award administration (see http://research.ou.edu))

Other local and regional workshops (e.g., EPSCoR)Other local and regional workshops (e.g., EPSCoR)

http://research.ou.eduhttp://research.ou.edu

As we’ll soon discuss, workshops are extremely important but don’t provide a complete solution to effective proposal development and project management.

Bridge Building and Bridge Building and NetworkingNetworking

Must do this within and beyond OUMust do this within and beyond OU– Beyond: Professional societies, conferences, Beyond: Professional societies, conferences,

meetings, panels, committeesmeetings, panels, committees Within OU: Alpha TimeWithin OU: Alpha Time

– Sharing of an idea to a broad audience to help Sharing of an idea to a broad audience to help develop it and build collaborationsdevelop it and build collaborations

– Facilitated by the Research CabinetFacilitated by the Research Cabinet– Usually 2 hours in duration, led by a faculty Usually 2 hours in duration, led by a faculty

membermember

Alpha Time DiscussionsAlpha Time Discussions

EnergyEnergy

InformaticsInformatics

Aerospace/EngineeringAerospace/Engineering

Community EngagementCommunity Engagement

Biodiversity Center at OU Biodiversity Center at OU

Federal Legislative WorkshopFederal Legislative Workshop

Structural Biology Institute at OU Structural Biology Institute at OU

NEON Center for Data AssimilationNEON Center for Data Assimilation

Downstream Oil and Gas ProcessingDownstream Oil and Gas Processing

OU Center for Risk and Crisis ManagementOU Center for Risk and Crisis Management

Water Technologies for Emerging CountriesWater Technologies for Emerging Countries

Re-Entry Assistance for Oklahoma PrisonersRe-Entry Assistance for Oklahoma Prisoners

Geospatial Information and Sustainability Geospatial Information and Sustainability ScienceScience


Faculty Capabilities and Interests System (Faculty Capabilities and Interests System (http://research.ou.edu/ci) – also useful for ) – also useful for students!students!


Research RoundtablesResearch Roundtables– Started fall 2005Started fall 2005– 1-hour lunch of about a dozen faculty across all areas of 1-hour lunch of about a dozen faculty across all areas of

scholarshipscholarship– Four major goalsFour major goals

Help me learn about the broad enterpriseHelp me learn about the broad enterprise Connect faculty to meConnect faculty to me Connect faculty to one anotherConnect faculty to one another Explain resources, expose problems and find solutionsExplain resources, expose problems and find solutions

– Year-1 focused on clusters (e.g., bridges/roads, radar, Year-1 focused on clusters (e.g., bridges/roads, radar, nanoscience/engineering)nanoscience/engineering)

– Now focus on new hires and early career facultyNow focus on new hires and early career faculty

President’s Monthly R&D President’s Monthly R&D HighlightsHighlights

Started fall 2006Started fall 2006 Issued monthlyIssued monthly Goal: Keep President Goal: Keep President

Boren, alumni Boren, alumni apprised of scholarship apprised of scholarship enterpriseenterprise

Provides talking points Provides talking points for everyonefor everyone

Annual ProfilesAnnual Profiles

Personalized Mentoring: Personalized Mentoring: Excellence in Proposals (EIP) Excellence in Proposals (EIP)

InitiativeInitiative Pilot project started in spring 2008Pilot project started in spring 2008 Personalized peer mentoring to faculty who are working Personalized peer mentoring to faculty who are working

toward the submission of a grant proposaltoward the submission of a grant proposal Emphasis onEmphasis on

– Early career facultyEarly career faculty– Senior faculty who seek to broaden the scope of their activities via Senior faculty who seek to broaden the scope of their activities via

interdisciplinary collaboration and/or develop new linkages with interdisciplinary collaboration and/or develop new linkages with industryindustry

First 2 years: 8 mentors and 35 protégésFirst 2 years: 8 mentors and 35 protégés Mentors receive $5K in discretionary funding if they Mentors receive $5K in discretionary funding if they

mentor 3 people to proposal submission within a year mentor 3 people to proposal submission within a year More than mentoring More than mentoring culture change culture change Writing Center is a key componentWriting Center is a key component Could extend to students as appropriateCould extend to students as appropriate

Protégé CommentsProtégé Comments I was working with George Richter-Addo on my NEH I was working with George Richter-Addo on my NEH

Fellowship grant. I am very glad I signed up: I learned a Fellowship grant. I am very glad I signed up: I learned a lot about the grant writing process itself and he worked lot about the grant writing process itself and he worked with me at every step of the application process. with me at every step of the application process. Even Even though I am in the Humanities and George is in the though I am in the Humanities and George is in the Sciences, I got a lot out of the meetings we had. George Sciences, I got a lot out of the meetings we had. George studied the NEH site and mastered the language and the studied the NEH site and mastered the language and the angle they use or look for. angle they use or look for. Thus, his feedback to me was Thus, his feedback to me was tailored to the actual grant I was working on. tailored to the actual grant I was working on. He read He read every draft I wrote and gave me plentiful feedback.every draft I wrote and gave me plentiful feedback. He He also encouraged me to network with others in my own also encouraged me to network with others in my own field to get the last insights I could gain. George is very field to get the last insights I could gain. George is very organized and he is generous with his time and organized and he is generous with his time and comments. It was a rich and rewarding process in itself. comments. It was a rich and rewarding process in itself.

- - Prof Rita Keresztesi, Department of EnglishProf Rita Keresztesi, Department of English

Protégé CommentsProtégé Comments I managed to get some pretty good I managed to get some pretty good

information on interpreting the comments information on interpreting the comments from a less-than-successful proposal that I from a less-than-successful proposal that I was able to integrate into a recent CAREER was able to integrate into a recent CAREER submission; I don't think I would have had submission; I don't think I would have had the the confidenceconfidence to get this turned around to get this turned around without the direct insight.without the direct insight.

- Prof Matthew Kane, Electrical and Computer - Prof Matthew Kane, Electrical and Computer EngineeringEngineering

Protégé CommentsProtégé Comments

Musharraf Zaman and I have been working Musharraf Zaman and I have been working together this semester on my proposal and his together this semester on my proposal and his input and help have been INVALUABLE to me. input and help have been INVALUABLE to me. His critiques of my grant drafts have been on His critiques of my grant drafts have been on point. He has taken the time to engage with point. He has taken the time to engage with my proposal which is in a field far afield from my proposal which is in a field far afield from his own expertise. [A colleague of mine], an his own expertise. [A colleague of mine], an associate professor in the History Department associate professor in the History Department who read my proposal and offered insightful who read my proposal and offered insightful comments for revision, said she wants to comments for revision, said she wants to participate in the program next year.participate in the program next year.

Protégé CommentsProtégé Comments

I am touched and honored that people I am touched and honored that people with his professional responsibilities have with his professional responsibilities have taken the time to mentor folks like me. taken the time to mentor folks like me. The humanities is not a very lucrative The humanities is not a very lucrative university area, and it is comforting that university area, and it is comforting that scientists and engineers like Musharraf scientists and engineers like Musharraf support them through this project when he support them through this project when he has much more important things he could has much more important things he could be spending time on.be spending time on.

- Prof Julia Erhardt, Honors College- Prof Julia Erhardt, Honors College

Personalized Mentoring: Personalized Mentoring: Large ActivitiesLarge Activities

Center-type proposals and similar large activities Center-type proposals and similar large activities require substantial effort to developrequire substantial effort to develop

OU provides personalized mentoringOU provides personalized mentoring– Content developmentContent development– Mock reviews/panelsMock reviews/panels– Dealing with reviewer commentsDealing with reviewer comments

ExamplesExamples– EDGE EDGE – NSF STC, ERCNSF STC, ERC– ARRA initiativesARRA initiatives

Research Cabinet EngagementResearch Cabinet Engagement– EDGEEDGE– University Strategic Organizations (USO)University Strategic Organizations (USO)

Cost Sharing and Facility Cost Sharing and Facility DevelopmentDevelopment

Cost sharing is provided if required by programsCost sharing is provided if required by programs– US Department of Education usually limits indirect costs to 8%, US Department of Education usually limits indirect costs to 8%,

which means OU shares a substantial amount of real cost to the which means OU shares a substantial amount of real cost to the projectproject

– VPR Office may begin requesting submission of formal cost sharing VPR Office may begin requesting submission of formal cost sharing request even in such casesrequest even in such cases

New NSF policy prohibits voluntary commitment of cost New NSF policy prohibits voluntary commitment of cost sharing and requires it only for a small number of programssharing and requires it only for a small number of programs

The VPR Office has developed creative ways to provide new The VPR Office has developed creative ways to provide new space for scholarship (e.g., Research Campus)space for scholarship (e.g., Research Campus)– Debt service or rent is provided from IDC, so programs that generate Debt service or rent is provided from IDC, so programs that generate

little IDC represent a challenge; Now looking at this issuelittle IDC represent a challenge; Now looking at this issue Facilities can be developed by linking with other disciplines, Facilities can be developed by linking with other disciplines,

e.g., engineering education, psychology, weathere.g., engineering education, psychology, weather– Education College linkages with other disciplines are important to Education College linkages with other disciplines are important to

both Education and other disciplinesboth Education and other disciplines

Agency InteractionAgency Interaction This is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!This is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!! Writing a good proposal isn’t the only ingredient Writing a good proposal isn’t the only ingredient

to achieving success in external fundingto achieving success in external funding Developing relationships with agencies is vital Developing relationships with agencies is vital

(more about this in the next presentation)(more about this in the next presentation)– OU supports travel for doing so (should also get to OU supports travel for doing so (should also get to

know the agency by serving on review panels, etc)know the agency by serving on review panels, etc)– Develop a relationship with program officers – they Develop a relationship with program officers – they

are there to help you succeed!are there to help you succeed!– Get to know their programs, help them get to know Get to know their programs, help them get to know

your work and where it fitsyour work and where it fits– Case study from the EIP Program…Case study from the EIP Program…

Driving the Research AgendaDriving the Research Agenda How does the US set its research agenda?How does the US set its research agenda?

– Office of Science and Technology Policy (in the Office of the White Office of Science and Technology Policy (in the Office of the White House – President’s Science Advisor) (OSTP)House – President’s Science Advisor) (OSTP)

– Cabinet SecretariesCabinet Secretaries– President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST)President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST)– National Academies (via the National Research Council, the NAS National Academies (via the National Research Council, the NAS

operating arm)operating arm)– National Science Foundation (NSF) via hearing from the communityNational Science Foundation (NSF) via hearing from the community– National Science and Technology Council (NSTC)National Science and Technology Council (NSTC)– Professionals (via formal Congressional hearings)Professionals (via formal Congressional hearings)– Others (e.g., Council on Environmental Quality, lobbyists, private Others (e.g., Council on Environmental Quality, lobbyists, private

companies, litigation)companies, litigation)

FY09 Interagency FY09 Interagency Presidential R&D PrioritiesPresidential R&D Priorities

Homeland Security and National DefenseHomeland Security and National Defense Energy and Climate Change TechnologyEnergy and Climate Change Technology Advanced Networking and Information Advanced Networking and Information

TechnologyTechnology National Nanotechnology InitiativeNational Nanotechnology Initiative Understanding Complex Biological Understanding Complex Biological

SystemsSystems EnvironmentEnvironment Next Generation Air Transportation SystemNext Generation Air Transportation System Science of Science PolicyScience of Science Policy

Driving the Research AgendaDriving the Research Agenda With all that bureaucracy, do you really have a role?With all that bureaucracy, do you really have a role? Yes!!!Yes!!!

– ServeServe on NSF advisory committees, which plan priorities for on NSF advisory committees, which plan priorities for the directorates, and similar committees in other the directorates, and similar committees in other organizationsorganizations The US Department of Education alone has a dozen and a half such The US Department of Education alone has a dozen and a half such

FACA committees at http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/com.htmlFACA committees at http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/com.html– ServeServe in national organizations, such as professional in national organizations, such as professional

societies, which have a strong voice, especially in educationsocieties, which have a strong voice, especially in education– Lead Lead workshops on key topics to help define priorities for workshops on key topics to help define priorities for

research congruent with your interestsresearch congruent with your interests– Serve Serve in agency program manager rotator positionsin agency program manager rotator positions– VisitVisit the Hill (in coordination with OU leadership, e.g., Danny the Hill (in coordination with OU leadership, e.g., Danny

Hilliard, and with adequate preparation)Hilliard, and with adequate preparation)

Where Do We Go From Here?Where Do We Go From Here? We have lots of very good pieces at OU but We have lots of very good pieces at OU but

not a coordinated effortnot a coordinated effort Faculty don’t arrive at OU withFaculty don’t arrive at OU with

– Complete knowledge of the grant processComplete knowledge of the grant process– The ability to write competitive proposals The ability to write competitive proposals – Everything they need to be leaders (of their Everything they need to be leaders (of their

research group, of large centers, of departments research group, of large centers, of departments and colleges)and colleges)

Considering a proposal development centerConsidering a proposal development center

Further DiscussionFurther Discussion

resources for developing competitive grant proposals jeannine rainbolt college of education 7 may...

Documents

externalinternal funding

increased funding

external funding sources

dimensions of support

big nsf grantswe dont

itbroader issues

lot of time

qualititativebased research