Your Research and Education Strengths

(from the 9/15/2010 issue of the Research Development and Grant Writing News)

No matter the type of institution at which you teach, your ability to win research and education grants will depend on the steps you take to develop a strong track record in research and teaching. Reviewers and program officers recognize that the number of publications will generally be lower for PUI faculty because of their teaching commitments, but they will still look for an active record of publication. It is also important to engage in education and outreach activities that reach beyond teaching courses, such as mentoring students in research experiences, arranging internships for students at national labs, engaging in recruiting activities aimed at underrepresented students, and participating in science and math programs for K -12 students. The results of these activities can then be discussed in the education and broader impacts sections of your proposals in the same way you would discuss prior research work. This will lend credibility to your education and outreach plans.

The particular type of education and outreach activities you select should depend on your interests, your institution’s goals and mission, and the needs of students at your institution. If possible, publish the results of innovative education activities in science education journals, and work with the students you mentor in research experiences to publish their work and present it at conferences. NSF particularly likes to see papers co-authored with undergraduates when considering proposals that include undergraduate research. Taking these steps to develop your research and education track record will help to convince reviewers that you are likely to be successful in your proposed research and education project and that your proposal should be funded.

For more information on assessing your strengths at PUIs, please check out the article on page 42 of the Research Development and Grant Writing News on the Grants Office website.

Self-Help Article

Need some advice on what not to do in grant writing? Check out this entertaining article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, entitled “How to Fail in Grant Writing”. It is a tongue-in-cheek article written by former grant reviewers and program officers in Dec. 2010.

http://chronicle.com/article/How-to-Fail-in-Grant-Writing/125620/