Federal award database

It's getting easier to find information on federal grant awards. The Star Metrics website contains information on awards by NIH, NSF, USDA and EPA.

Weird Al on grammar

Weird Al has released a music video on grammar. Just a reminder that basics like good grammar are important when writing proposals.

NSF grants conference Oct. 6-7 in VA

The National Science Foundation will present a grants conference Oct. 6-7 in Arlington, VA, sponsored by George Washington University. Watch the website for registration details.

Cartoon on NIH public access policy

 Grants Maven goes animated. Watch this Wideo about NIH's public access policy.

More tales of the NSF OIG

A former professor in Indiana was sentenced to probation and home confinement after pleading guilty to criminal conversion, according to NSF's latest  Semiannual Report to Congress. According to the report, he had used NSF funds to purchase items for personal use. The report also discusses nine allegations of plagiarism and two of data fabrication.

NIH wants to know who you really are

Enough with the standard bioskecth. NIH is preparing a new biosketch format that will allow you to discuss your accomplishments, not just list your publication. NIH will conduct pilot test and expects to roll out the new biosketch in 2016.

NSF award rates for 2013

The success rate for research proposals to the National Science Foundation in 2013 was 19 percent, according to a newly released report from the National Science Board. Check out the full report for details.

NSF Day June 4 on Long Island, NY

The National Science Foundation will present a one-day proposal workshop for researchers June 4 at
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island, NY. Registration is required.

This year's one and only NIH grant seminar

The National Institutes of Health will present a grant seminar June 25-27 in Baltimore. The session will cover the application and review process as well as federal policies. It's the only seminar NIH will give all year.

COFAR: It will affect you

The Council on Financial Assistance Reform (COFAR) is a federal task force that has combined more than a dozen sets of grant rules into a single document called Uniform Guidance. Some provisions will make the life of grant writers easier. For example, funding announcement will have to be released 60 days before the deadline in most cases. The grant administration community is less pleased with some other provisions, though.

No surprises: NIH award rates down

The National Institutes of Health has released  award data for 2013. It won't come as a surprise to investigators that the success rate for proposals inched down from 17.6 percent in 2012 to 16.8 percent in 2013. The size of awards also decreased.