Identifying Funding Sources: How to Search for Funding Opportunities for Postdoctoral Scholars

1. Identifying Funding Sources:How to Search for Funding Opportunities for Postdoctoral Scholars Elizabeth Allen GrantSource Library Office of Research Development Vice Chancellor for Research 307 Bynum Hall Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. allen@unc.edu // 962-3463

2. Topics for Today • Funding fundamentals • Tips for researching funding opportunities • GrantSource tools: • Funding databases • Setting up funding alert service/s • Funding guides and print resources • Awards made and expertise resources • Funding agencies • Proposal writing help

3. Funding Fundamentals • Start early • Plan ahead for your long-term funding needs • Be aware of lengthy turnaround times • Use a variety of resources, including print, electronic, and especially people • Become familiar with sponsors in your field • Check for funding offered by your department, professional organization, honor society, and other affiliation groups Handout: Funding Fundamentals

4. Tips for Researching Funding Opportunities • Look for funders with a good fit - identify their goals or needs • Widen your search - look at the larger field and approach your work from different perspectives • Brainstorm broad and specific keywords • Categories that apply to yourself • Types of awards sought • Who’s the applicant? • Individual – fellowships, career development, some research grants • Institution – most research grants, program grants or visiting personnel Handout: Tips for Researching Funding Opportunities

5. GrantSource Library http://grantsource.unc.edu

6. Funding Databases • COS Pivot Funding Opportunities Database • Large, multi-disciplinary funding database – search, create accounts, receive alerts • Carolina Internal Funding Database • Information on funding provided by or administered by UNC-Chapel Hill • InfoEd SPIN Funding Database • Another large, multi-disciplinary funding database – good for postdocs and junior faculty • Other specialized databases – subject, population, or funder-specific http://grantsource.unc.edu/databases

7. Funding Alerts, Guides, and Print Resources • Funding Alert Services • Sponsor-specific alerts • Subject-specific alerts • Funding Guides • General guides for postdoctoral scholars • Discipline- and population-specific funding lists • Print Resources at GrantSource Library • Discipline-specific directories • Guides to corporate and foundation giving • Proposal writing guides

8. Funders and Funded • Databases of Awards Made • Used to find out who and what was actually funded • Faculty Expertise • Information on research activities of faculty • Funding Agencies • Links to important sponsor information

9. Proposal Writing Resources • Successful Proposals Collection • Carolina graduate and postdoc successful proposals – only a few samples so far • Online proposal writing guides • Academic Scientists’ Toolkit • Grant Application Writer’s Handbook (ebook), Rief-Lehrer • NIH-specific online help resources • Print proposal writing guides • Grant Application Writer’s Workbook, Russell and Morrison http://grantsource.unc.edu/proposal-writing

10. Office of Postdoctoral Affairs http://postdocs.unc.edu

11. Thank You! • Start early • Think broadly • Work your resources • Gather information • Strategize Please take a moment to tell us how we did.