Lurkers: Come out and join the conversation

Grants Maven wants to become more interactive. What topics do you want Grants Maven to track? What information would be most helpful to you? Can you add any insight about any of the Maven's postings? Become a follower and voice your views.

New year, new rules at NSF

The National Science Foundation's new Grant Proposal Guide goes into effect Jan. 5. This link gives a summary of key changes. Topics include letters of intent, mentoring, and proper attribution in proposals.

Research funding: Continuing resolution blues

Fiscal 2009 began several months ago, but the federal government has yet to approve a final budget. Most agencies are operating at last year's funding level on a continuing resolution that extends until March 2009. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) keeps track of the latest developments on the federal research funding scene. Check this link for the current status of 2009 appropriations.

CSREES announces AFRI (Translation: funding program)

What does this mean in English? That the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extensions Service (CSREES) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture expects to release a request for applications to a major funding initiative in early 2009. The program, the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) replaces the National Research Initiative (NRI) and the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems. The agency anticipates funding of $190 million for this program.

More tales of the NSF inspector general

One university returned more than $283,000 in misused grant funds to the National Science Foundation following the agency's investigation of alleged misuse of funds. A man impersonated an NSF official and lured young women to a hotel room for "research." Another university returned thousands of dollars after spending NSF funds on unallowable expenses such as alcohol for workshop participants. All this and more in the inspector general's latest report to Congress. Click the headline, then select the link for the "investigations" section of the report.

NIH: New proposal scoring policy ahead

Investigators submitting proposals after Jan. 1 should be aware of several changes in the process: shorter applications, new policy for early-stage investigators, new policy on resubmission and new review criteria. Click the headline for details.

NIH grant seminar June in Las Vegas

The National Institutes of Health will present a regional seminar on program funding and grants administration June 25 and 26. NIH officials will explain the proposal and review process. They also will discuss federal regulations and policies affecting NIH-funded researchers. It is hoped that what you learn about NIH in Vegas does not stay in Vegas, but goes back to your home institution with you.

NSF regional seminar at Kent State

The National Science Foundation will present a day-long workshop Feb. 10 at Kent State in Ohio. Program officers will discuss the proposal submission and review processes as well as current funding opportunities.

Grants.gov RSS replaces email

Grants.gov's new RSS feed will replace its current email alert service. Email alerts will end on Jan. 31, 2009. Click the link to learn how to sign up.

NIH K award applications go electronic

The switch to electronic submission brings several changes in the application, including the budget and biosketch. Letters of recommendation are submitted directly to eRA Commons by the referee. All of this goes into effect for the Feb. 12, 2009, round of applications and those thereafter. Read details by clicking the link.

Find grant links fast

The links on this page will take you directly to the grant information at each federal agency. They will save you time by eliminating the need to hunt around each website for grant information.

Timeline for adopting new NIH peer review process

The National Institutes of Health will begin phasing in the new peer review process in January. Click the headline for details.

Chemists: Get some publicity!

You work long hours in your lab. Perhaps you get recognition from colleagues at professional conferences, but what about from the general public? Send the National Science Foundation a short writeup on work you have performed with its funding. When taxpayers know the value of your research, they're more likely to support it.

NIH paper application email glitch

The National Institutes of Health is reposting grant opportunities that require paper applications. As a result, some investigators may receive automated email from NIH, leading them to believe there has been a change in the content of the Funding Opportunity Announcement. Fear not. The announcements are still active.