New NIH podcast: Responsible conduct of research

Listen to the details while on the treadmill at the gym!

Grants.gov Contact Center closed Dec. 25 & Jan. 1

Plan accordingly.

At NIH, early stage investigators succeeding

NIH hopes to fund new investigators as the same rate it funds experienced investigators. The latest statistics indicate it's having some success.

Grants.gov takes weekend off

Grants.gov will be unavailable during a database upgrade. Check its official blog for details.

Tales of the NSF OIG

The investigations discussed in the most recent NSF OIG report indicate that the agency takes plagiarism very seriously.

Grants.gov password changes

Grants.gov has new password requirements. All passwords will expire every 90 days, in compliance with the security recommendations of NIST. Click the headline for details.

Details on NSF data management plan requirement

Plan requirements vary by directorate and sometimes by division. Check it out.

Resubmitting an NIH grant? Now hear this

NIH has a podcast ( and its transcript) providing advice on resubmitting a grant. There's some useful advice, particularly now that only one resubmission is permitted.

FYI: Simpler FOAs at NIH

NIH is transitioning to a new format for its funding announcements. The new will be "shorter, easier to read and more scientifically focused," according to the agency.

NIH self-help for grant applicants

NIH is teaching grantees to fish with its new web page of "Self-Help Resources." The latest news and FAQs are all here.

NSF has new GPG

NSF has updated its Grants Proposal Guide. One link summarizes the significant changes, which include a ban on voluntary cost-sharing. The new GPG is effective for proposals submitted on or after Jan. 18, 2011.

Citations in eRA Commons? Read this

If you have manually entered any citations into eRA Commons, you must transfer this information to a different account to retain it. Click the link for details. Act now; Oct. 22 is the deadline.

The NIH forms, they are a-changin'

Updated electronic application forms will be required for proposals submitted after May 7, 2011.

Proposed federal R&D funding for FY11 down from current year

A table of statistics is available at the link above.

A place in the sun: NIH regional seminars

NIH regional seminars on program funding and grants administration are scheduled for April in Phoenix, AZ, and June in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Space is limited. Click the link for registration details.

Don't blow off the title and abstract for your NIH grant

The title, abstract and project narrative are often viewed by Congress and members of the public who are not scientists. Make them understandable if you want the federal funds to keep flowing. Check out the NIH podcast on this topic.

Holy Toledo! It's NSF Day in Ohio

The University of Toledo will host the National Science Foundation's presentation of a one-day workshop on applying to the federal funding agency. It's scheduled for Sept. 21 at the Data Conference Center, Toledo University Health Sciences Campus. Click for details.

NSF: Report on merit review process

The National Science Board's report contains lots of interesting information, such as funding rate trends and investigator submission and funding rates. Go to the NSF publications link above and search for NSB-10-27. It's a pdf.

NSF grants conference Oct. 25-26, Salt Lake City

This will be NSF's first Regional Grants Conference of FY 11. Registration is now open; click on the headline.

NIH podcasts are here!

Multitask on that stationary bike! Download some of NIH's career development podcasts. Titles include "Grant writing for new investigators" and "Postdocs thinking about independence." There is no charge to download these episodes.

FYI: NIH FOA, etc.

What's the difference between a PAS and an FOA at NIH? Check this link, and all will be revealed.

Inside look at NIH peer review

Check out these new videos that give you the inside scoop on NIH peer review.

NIH creates grant how-to website

Check out this site for answers to basic questions as how to fill out a personal profile, how to view an award notice and how to close out a grant.

More tales of the NSF OIG

Click on "Semiannual Report March 2010." The agency is taking plagiarism very seriously.

Got an NSF grant? Prepare your data management plan

Beginning this fall, NSF will require proposals to include a two-page data management plan as a supplementary document. Click the link for details.

Got an NIH grant? Expect to be a reviewer

NIH needs qualified reviewers. If you have received a grant from the agency, it urges you to provide this service.

NIH help for writing vertebrate animal section

A new optional worksheet is available to help you prepare this portion of your proposal.

NSF RCR FAQ

In English, this is the National Science Foundation's list of frequently asked questions about its new responsible conduct of research policy. The link takes you to the NSF publications page; click on the pdf titled "Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Frequently Asked Questions."

NIH & the blizzard

NIH realizes some proposals may be submitted late due to the mid-Atlantic blizzard. Click for details.

Federal government closed due to snow

Click the headline for the latest details from the Washington Post.

NIH: Overall impact vs. significance

These are two distinct topics in NIH's new evaluation criteria. Click the headline for details.

Grants.gov unavailable Feb. 6-9

The system will undergo a major upgrade. Instead, you can watch the Boston Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks (at least that what the hopefuls want to see). The puck drops at 1 p.m. EST.

NSF grant conference in March in Cleveland

The National Science Foundation will offer its regional grants conference March 22-23 in Cleveland, OH. The event is hosted by Case Western Reserve University. Click the headline for details.

NIH salary limit raised

Effective Jan. 1, 2010, the "Executive Level I" annual salary rate was increased to $199,700. This is the limit on the direct salary a person can receive on an NIH grant. Click the headline for details.