NIH plans regional seminar for May 11-13 in Baltimore

The National Institutes of Health are planning two regional grants seminars for 2016. The first is scheduled for May 11-13 in Baltimore. That's soft-shell crab season, and the Orioles will be in town. Registration details are available here.

Leap into NSF grant success Feb. 29-March 1 in Portland, OR

Put that extra day to good use at the National Science Foundation's regional conference. Registration details are available here.

NIH is changing application forms

Proposals submitted in 2016 must use new application forms. Read all about it at NIH's website.

NSF grants conference Nov. 2-3 in Arlington, VA

Learn about new program initiatives, the merit review process, policies and more at the National Science Foundation's grants conference scheduled for Nov. 2-3 in Arlington, VA. Details are available here.

NIH with sea lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

The National Institutes of Health will offer a regional seminar Oct. 14-16 in San Diego, home of Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. Details are available here.

Education grant webinar for new investigators

The U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Educational Sciences will offer webinars June 8 and 15 on how to write proposals for its education research and special education research grant programs. Details on registering are available here. These programs support work on literacy outcomes for students, including English language learners, students with disabilities and students at risk for academic failure.

NSF Day at Texas Tech May 20

Texas Tech in Lubbock will host an NSF Day May 20. It's an opportunity to learn what the agency wants to fund, how to write a competitive proposal and learn budgeting basics. Registration information is available here.

NIH Grant Seminar May 6-8 in Baltimore

NIH's next Seminar on Program Funding and Grants Administration will take place May 6-8 in Baltimore. The Orioles' schedule indicates that, alas, they will be out of town, playing the dreaded Yankees. However, faculty who have attended the seminar say it is quite helpful, with or without baseball.

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.

NSF plans June grants conference in Mile High City

Colorado State University will host the NSF Grants Conference scheduled for June 23-24. Visit the site to sign up to receive email when registration opens.

NIH regional seminar possible in spring 2014

The National Institutes of Health says it will have just one regional seminar on grants next year. It is scheduled for spring 2014 in a location to be announced -- possibly Baltimore. Stay tuned.

More tales of the NSF OIG

 The latest Semiannual Report to Congress from the Office of the Inspector General at the National Science Foundation contains discussion of a variety of research misconduct investigations. They include falsification of data and instances of plagiarism. In two instances, investigators allowed their collaborators to prepare the bulk of the proposal and didn't review it before submission. Moral of the story: Be sure to carefully review anything that's got your name on it.

Feds reopen; what's next

The National Institutes of Health has posted guidance for grantees and grant seekers now that the federal government has reopened. New deadlines have been established.

The National Science Foundation also has posted some brief information on what to expect now that it is once again open for business.

Stay tuned for details.

Shutdown central

The Office of Management and Budget has posted federal agency contingency plans for the shutdown in a single list.

Specific information for grantees of the National Institutes of Health.  It states, "The safest course is to wait to submit any application to NIH until after operations resume and a Notice in the NIH Guide concerning adjusted submission dates is posted."

The National Science Foundation says FastLane will be unavailable, and proposals submitted through Grants.gov will not be downloaded. "Awardees may continue performance under their NSF awards during the shutdown, to the extent funds are available, and the term of the grant or cooperative agreement has not expired," the agency states on this website.

New forms this fall at NIH

 Proposals submitted to the National Institutes of Health on or after Sept. 25, 2013, will need to use new forms, called FORMS-C. Read the full announcement for details. Or check out  FORMS-C for a summary.

NSF's success rates

 The National Science Foundation's 2012 report on its  Merit Review Process, which includes proposal  success rates, has been released. Award rates vary by directorate. Plenty of other interesting details, too.

More tales from the NSF OIG

Office of the Inspector General of the National Science Foundation has released its Semiannual Report to Congress, and include several cases of data falsification. One faculty member was accused of falsifying data for more than a decade. Two other cases involved graduate students.

Good morning Baltimore: NIH grant seminar

An NIH regional grants seminar  take place June 26-28 in Baltimore, and it has the potential to open doors for you. It's the only one this year, so sign up soon!

NIH award rates for 2012

The overall award rate for NIH proposals in 2012 was 18 percent, the same as last year. NIH also has posted statistics about the number of applications it received, the number of grants made, and other matters on its website.

NSF application changes

The National Science Foundation has made changes to its Proposal Policy & Award Procedures Guide (PPAG) that will become effective Jan. 14. See a presentation on the changes at NSF's website. There are changes in the project summary, biosketch and facilities and equipment forms. There's also more guidance on the broader impacts criterion.

NSF OIG probes more than a dozen plagiarism cases

Read all about it in the September 2012 issue of the NSF/OIG Semiannual Report to Congress.

Provide your papers to PubMed or no cash

NIH is getting serious about compliance with its public access policy. If you don't provide your journal manuscripts as required, your non-competing continuation funds will be withheld until you do.

It's not your imagination: NIH has more applicants

If getting an NIH grant seems more competitive than ever to you, perhaps it's because the agency has more applicants than ever. Read the details at the NIH website. (Click the headline.)

NIH FCOI central

NIH has created a treasure trove of materials related to financial conflict of interest, more commonly known as FCOI. Here you'll find training modules, checklists, FAQs and more.

NSF releases state R&D expenditures

NSF has released its report on research and development spending by states. See where yours ranks.

NIH podcast on fellowship applications

NIH has created a podcast on how to write a fellowship application. Download it and make your time on the treadmill more productive!

More tales of the NSF OIG

The latest NSF OIG semiannual report lists more than a half dozen cases involving plagiarism in proposals.Click here to view the report.

Samples of funded NIH grants posted

 NIH has posted samples of funded proposals for prospective applicants to read. They include an R01 and and R21.

NIH regional seminar in DC

NIH is giving a regional seminar June 21-22 in DC. Learn the ropes for preparing a grant application. Details available here.

NIH success rates for 2011

Overall success rates for research grants were down. Read all about it at the NIH website.

NIH Regional Seminar April 16-18 in Indianapolis

Click the headline for details.

NSF Day Feb. 28 at NC State

The Wolfpack will host NSF Day in Raleigh, NC. Preregistration is required. Click the headline for details.

GRANT Act of 2011

A bill introduced in the U.S. House (H.R. 3433) calls for the posting of all funded proposals to the Web, as well as the publication of name of peer reviewers for grant programs, among other provisions. The bill is sponsored by Darrell Issa (R-CA) and James Lankford (R-OK). Some university associations have voiced concerns about the legislation. Click the headline to see the legislation. Visit the website of the Council on Government Relations to read the joint letter is has submitted with AAU and APLU outlining these concerns.

More tales of the NSF OIG

The OIG investigated several cases of plagiarized text in NSF proposals. Read about it in the OIG's annual report.

NIH FCOI webinar

Lots of changes. Hear all about it.

NIH FAQ COI

Frequently asked questions about the National Institutes of Health's conflict of interest policy.

Reviewers contradict each other?

It's frustrating: Two grant reviewers contradict each other. What to do? NIH offers some advice.

NSF Day @ Indiana U. of Pennsylvania

It's scheduled for Sept. 21. Registration deadline is Sept. 13.

NIH proposes new human subjects rules

HHS says the proposed changes are "the most extensive since the Department of Health, Education and Welfare proposed publishing rules for the protection of human subjects involved in research on August 14, 1979." Public comments are welcomed through Sept. 26.

NSF regional grants conference in Longhorn country

NSF's next regional grants conference is scheduled for Oct. 17 and 18 at the University of Texas-Austin, home of the Longhorns.

NIH: Peer review revealed!

New videos show what really goes on at those review meetings.

NIH goes family-friendly

Taking time off for family needs? See how NIH may accommodate you.

NSF award rates

The overall award rate for proposals at NSF in FY 2010 was 23 percent. However, rates vary by directorate, from 18 percent in Engineering to 38 percent in the Office of International Science & Engineering. See the full report, National Science Foundation's Merit Review 2010, NSB 11-41, for details.

Faculty blame students for their plagiarism

In the latest installment of Tales of the NSF OIG, formally known as its Semiannual Report to Congress, the agency reports that PIs accused of plagiarism often blame their students. Read all about it on p. 25 of the full report.

Multitask: Podcast on NIH budget development

Download this podcast on developing an NIH budget and make the most of your time on the treadmill!

How many NIH grants does a PI have?

Usually just one or two. See NIH's "myth-busting" post on the topic.

NIH's shorter review cycle for newbies

NIH has posted a new timetable for its resubmission program for new investigators. The program allows these investigators to get quicker peer review feedback.

How to read an NIH funding announcement

Funding announcements contain lots of important information but can be difficult to navigate. NIH has a new podcast that walks you through the process.

Understanding NIH impact scores

Proposal reviews now include a paragraph discussing the factors that led to the overall impact score assigned to the grant. Also available is a report on the first round of surveys about the peer review process.

Reduced productivity? Discuss in NIH biosketch

PIs can now discuss issues such as family care responsibilities, illness, disability and active duty military service that may have affected their productivity.

NIH proposal just miss the payline? There's hope

A new program, Health Research Funding, attempts to connect worthwhile but unfunded projects with patient advocacy organizations and other possible sources of support.

FFATA, DUNS & FAIN revealed by NIH

Check out these FAQs for answers to your acronym questions.

NIH regional grants seminar in Arizona

April 27-29 in Scottsdale, to be precise. Click for info.

New NIH blog

The blog will provide information of interest to the extramural grant community. You can subscribe to the RSS feed or follow it on Twitter.

NIH policy on late grant submissions

The policy discusses examples of reasons that might and might not be accepted. Being very busy is not a valid reason for making a late submission.

Application tips from NIH

Yes, you really should read the 250-page application guide, and other sage advice.

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.