Strategies and Resources for Strategies and Resources for Funding in the Natural Sciences Funding in the Natural Sciences

Mark A. ArnoldMark A. ArnoldDepartment of Chemistry &Department of Chemistry &

Center for Biocatalysis and BioprocessingCenter for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing(mark-arnold@uiowa.edu)(mark-arnold@uiowa.edu)

CLAS New Faculty Orientation, 8/19/15

Issues to ConsiderIssues to Consider

Current funding climateCurrent funding climate Strategies and resourcesStrategies and resources

Internal proposalsInternal proposals External proposalsExternal proposals

Developing a strategic planDeveloping a strategic plan

Current Funding ClimateCurrent Funding Climate

6.4%

-35.5%0.9%

2.2%

5.0%

8.1%

12.6%

17.8%

20.5%

23.3%

44.8%

-40% -20% 0% 20% 40% 60%

TOTAL

Justice (DHS)

Space

Health (includes NIH)

General Science (NSF, DOE SC)

Defense Activities

Environment Agencies

Transportation

Agriculture

Applied Energy Programs

Commerce (includes NIST)

FY16 R&D in the Base Budget by Functionpercent change from FY 2015, nominal dollars

Source: OMB R&D data, agency budget justifications, and agency budget documents. © 2015 AAAS

http://www.aaas.org/sites/default/files/20150624 – ASME.pptx

Current Funding Climate — NIHCurrent Funding Climate — NIH

http://www.aaas.org/sites/default/files/20150624 – ASME.pptx

Current Funding ClimateCurrent Funding Climate

Source: http://report.nih.gov/success_ratesSource: http://report.nih.gov/success_rates

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Succ

ess

Rat

e (%

)

Fiscal Year

Success Rates for NIH Type R01 Grants

NIGMS-new NIGMS-cont NCI-new

NCI-cont NIDDK-new NIDDK-cont

Strategies and ResourcesStrategies and Resources(Internal Proposals)(Internal Proposals)

Submit as soon as proposal is viableSubmit as soon as proposal is viable http://dsp.research.uiowa.edu/ui-internal-funding http://research.uiowa.edu/researchers/find-funding/internal-http://research.uiowa.edu/researchers/find-funding/internal-

funding-initiatives-ififunding-initiatives-ifi

Provides funding for preliminary resultsProvides funding for preliminary results Provides informative feedback Provides informative feedback Provides mechanism to crystallize ideasProvides mechanism to crystallize ideas

Clear explanation of significanceClear explanation of significance Clear description of experimental designClear description of experimental design Challenge of explaining to an audience of non-Challenge of explaining to an audience of non-

specialists (avoiding jargon)specialists (avoiding jargon)

Strategies and ResourcesStrategies and Resources(External Proposals)(External Proposals)

Submit as soon as proposal is viableSubmit as soon as proposal is viable Until funding is established, don’t let a deadline pass Until funding is established, don’t let a deadline pass

without submittingwithout submitting Learn what has been funded recentlyLearn what has been funded recently

http://projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfmhttp://projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfm http://nsf.gov/awardsearch/index.jsphttp://nsf.gov/awardsearch/index.jsp

Note special Requests for Applications (RFA’s)Note special Requests for Applications (RFA’s) http://www07.grants.gov/applicants/find_grant_opportunities.jsphttp://www07.grants.gov/applicants/find_grant_opportunities.jsp

Look for special opportunities for young investigatorsLook for special opportunities for young investigators http://www.spo.berkeley.edu/Fund/newfaculty.htmlhttp://www.spo.berkeley.edu/Fund/newfaculty.html http://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/index.htmhttp://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/index.htm

Developing a Strategic PlanDeveloping a Strategic Plan Preliminary results and manuscriptsPreliminary results and manuscripts Work on building your visibilityWork on building your visibility

Meet program officers at agenciesMeet program officers at agencies Conference participationConference participation Meet your competitorsMeet your competitors Discover your supporters Discover your supporters andand detractors detractors Invite key players in your field to Iowa for a seminarInvite key players in your field to Iowa for a seminar

Develop your research nicheDevelop your research niche At tenure time, need to have an identifiable research At tenure time, need to have an identifiable research

programprogram Don’t ignore the mission-oriented agencies such as Don’t ignore the mission-oriented agencies such as

DOE, DOD, NASADOE, DOD, NASA Important to develop contacts at Government labsImportant to develop contacts at Government labs

Consider a mix of collaborative and individual Consider a mix of collaborative and individual workwork Collaborative projects can be an important component Collaborative projects can be an important component

of a research programof a research program Allows bigger problems to be tackledAllows bigger problems to be tackled Important to be able to demonstrate your own Important to be able to demonstrate your own

contributioncontribution

Developing a Strategic PlanDeveloping a Strategic Plan