Research Projects and Research Proposals: A Guide for Scientists Seeking Funding

by Paul G. Chapin , Foreword by Alan I. Leshner

• ISBN13: 9780521830157
• ISBN10: 052183015X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-07-19
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book is a guide to writing scientific research proposals for submission to funding agencies. It approaches the topic by placing it in the larger context of planning and carrying out a research project, offering guidance on selecting a suitable research topic, organizing and planning the project, identifying a funding agency, writing the proposal, and managing the funded project. The book also discusses the ethical responsibilities of the researcher, the proposal review process, and how to deal with declination of a proposal. The author's 25 years of experience as an NSF program officer lend the book a unique insider's perspective on the proposal writing and research funding process. Because of that experience, the author is able to anticipate and answer the questions that researchers most frequently ask when preparing to write a proposal, and also to explain how program officers think about proposals when they are making funding decisions.

Table of Contents

Foreword	xi
Acknowledgments	xv
Introduction	1	(3)
1. Selecting a Research Topic	4	(9)
The Dimensions of Topic Selection	4	(5)
The Goldilocks Principle	9	(1)
Project Scale and Duration	10	(2)
The Most Important Thing	12	(1)
2. Project Planning	13	(11)
Planning for Life or for a Proposal	13	(1)
Who You Are = How You Plan	14	(1)
A Strategy for Planning	15	(3)
Timetables	18	(1)
Money	19	(1)
Larger Projects	20	(2)
Final Thoughts on Planning	22	(2)
3. Identifying Funding Sources	24	(19)
U.S. Government Agencies - Missions and Methods	24	(2)
The National Science Foundation (NSF)	26	(3)
The National Institutes of Health (NIH)	29	(4)
Department of Defense (DOD)	33	(5)
Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)	35	(1)
Army Research Office (ARO)	35	(1)
Army Research Institute (ARI)	36	(1)
Office of Naval Research (ONR)	36	(1)
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)	37	(1)
Other Government Agencies	38	(2)
Private Foundations	40	(2)
Strategies for Identifying Funding Sources	42	(1)
4. Special Funding Mechanisms	43	(18)
Programs for Particular Groups of Researchers	44	(3)
CAREER	44	(1)
ADVANCE	45	(1)
Minority Research Planning Grants and Career Advancement Awards	46	(1)
Alternative Models of Managing Research and Education	47	(3)
Science and Technology Centers (STC)	47	(2)
Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT)	49	(1)
Major Research Instrumentation (MRI)	49	(1)
Initiatives in Special Topic Areas	50	(2)
Optional Mechanisms that Program Officers Can Use	52	(5)
Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SG FR)	53	(1)
Conference Grants	53	(3)
Doctoral Dissertation Research Grants	56	(1)
Special Funding Mechanisms at the NIH	57	(2)
A Parting Thought about Special Funding Mechanisms	59	(2)
5. Writing a Proposal	61	(37)
The Audience	61	(2)
The Project Description	63	(1)
What the Audience Wants	64	(11)
Ad Hoc Reviewers	64	(3)
The Advisory Panel	67	(2)
Special Panels	69	(1)
The Program Officer	69	(6)
Writing to the Audience	75	(2)
Brave New Cyberworld	77	(1)
The Other Components of the Proposal	78	(2)
Cover Sheet	80	(7)
Selecting the Program Announcement or the GPG	80	(1)
Selecting the NSF Organizational Unit	81	(1)
Joint Review	81	(2)
Remainder of the Cover Sheet	83	(4)
References Cited	87	(1)
Biographical Sketches	87	(1)
Budget	88	(4)
Current and Pending Support	92	(1)
Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources	93	(1)
Supplementary Documents	93	(1)
Project Summary	94	(1)
List of Suggested Reviewers	95	(2)
Craftsmanship	97	(1)
6. Research Ethics and Responsibilities	98	(11)
Human Subjects	99	(3)
Animal Welfare	102	(1)
Conduct and Misconduct in Research	103	(2)
Keeping the Funding Agency Informed	105	(1)
Managing Grant Funds Responsibly	106	(1)
Obeying the Law	106	(1)
The Inspector General	106	(3)
7. The Natural History of a Proposal	109	(14)
I've Written My Proposal - Now What?	109	(1)
The Sponsored Projects Office	109	(2)
Into the NSF	111	(1)
The Review Process	112	(9)
Ad Hoc Review	112	(2)
The Panel	114	(2)
The Program Officer	116	(5)
Working with Your Program Officer	121	(2)
8. "We Are Happy/Sorry to Inform You..."	123	(12)
"...You're Going to Get a Grant!"	123	(3)
"...Your Proposal Has Been Declined"	126	(6)
"...We Have to Hold on to Your Proposal for a While"	132	(3)
9. Managing Your Grant	135	(12)
Managing a Research Project	135	(6)
You, PI - in Charge	141	(1)
Care and Feeding of Your SPO, Your Program Officer, and Others	142	(1)
Renewal Proposals	143	(1)
Reporting Requirements	144	(2)
Finis	146	(1)
Appendix A: Glossary of Acronyms	147	(2)
Appendix B: Useful URLs	149	(2)
Index	151