2013/09/06 1 How to play the game and win! Don Cowan, Genomics Research Institute, University of Pretoria August 2013 Funding options South African International What constitutes a good research grant application How to write an NRF research grant proposal The review process Final thoughts
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2013/09/06
1
How to play the game and win!
Don Cowan, Genomics Research Institute, University of Pretoria
August 2013
Funding options South African
International
What constitutes a good research grant application
How to write an NRF research grant proposal
The review process
Final thoughts
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2
Cowan, 1990
A successful research grant application may provide: Post‐Doc and Student bursaries
An operational budget to support free‐standing and grant‐holder bursaried students
Travel money (conferences, field trips, exchanges, lab visits)
Equipment money
Support for sabbatical leave
A successful research project generates: Graduates
Research outputs (conference presentations, papers, chapters, reviews etc)
Collaboration opportunities
The longer term benefits include: An NRF Rating
National and international academic recognition
Promotion
“Fame and Fortune”
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National funding bodies (e.g., the NRF) are mandated to promote research
For the generation of new knowledge
For the training of new post graduates
For the generation of exploitable IP
All Universities have strategies in which research is a major element
Research is one of the key elements of your employment contract
Research performance is the principal factor in NRF rating allocations
Research performance is the dominant element of academic promotion
NRF core programs
NRF themed and specific programs
NRF ad hoc programs
DST
Other national programs
International programs
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Competitive programme for rated researchers (CPRR) Open to all rated researchers, and to all fields of science, the social
sciences and humanities. Annual calls
Competitive programme for unrated researchers (CPUR) As above for unrated researchers (Annual calls: possibly limited
funds)
Blue Skies (BSGR) Open to all researchers for “Exploratory research in any field where
the primary requirement is the freedom to challenge scientific/scholarly understanding”. Intermittent calls
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Thutuka For research capacity development (age restrictions apply). Annual calls
SANAP (SA National Antarctic Program) Antarctic research only. Intermittent calls.
Integrated Biodiversity Program For studies of SA biodiversity. Intermittent calls.
National Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics Program (NBIG) For development and use of bioinformatics tools and training. Annual calls?
Incentive Funding Small fixed volume funding for rated researchers. 5 year cycle.
KIC and KFD (Knowledge Fields Development) Small purpose‐specific grants for meetings, visits, exchanges etc. Anytime.
Capacity Development (young and developing researchers)
Primarily aimed at staff and student exchange (travel) but recent calls have allowed consumables funding
Support travel between partner labs, student exchange, consumables, and workshops
Do not support student bursaries
Usually 2 year, small budget (e.g., R100,000 p.a.)
Use a simple MSWord based template (not on‐line)
Typically have a simple 5‐8 page application supported by a 10 page ‘project description’)
Identical version must be submitted simultaneously by both partners (via their respective research offices)
Good for linkages; Poor for research development
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Program Type Call Frequency
Universitycontribution
Funding duration
Typical max. award
p.a.
Successrate
ComPRR Core Annual No 3 years R400,000 H (50 – 70)
ComPUR Core Annual No 2 years? R100,000 L (20 – 30)
Blue Skies Core Occasional No 3 years R400,000 L (15 – 30)
Thutuka Restricted Annual Yes 2 years x 3 R200,000 H (60 – 80)
SANAP Themed Intermittent No 3 years R400,000 H (70 – 90)
Biodiversity Themed One‐off? No 3 years R300,000 Uncertain
Bilaterals Restricted Sporadic No 2 years R100,000 Variable
Incentive Restricted Annual No 2 years R80,000 Ratingdependent
KIC Focused Biannual No <1 year <R100,000 H (>90)
KFD Focused Biannual No < 1 year <R100,000 H (>90)
DST programs The TIA (Technology Innovation Agency) supports late‐stage applied research leading to new products and processes
Their priority is patents and commercialisation
The application process emphasises market and economic issues, rather than the science (i.e., you need to write a business plan).
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MRC (Medical Research Council) Programs (mrc.ac.za) Self‐initiated research funding
Funding for Groups, Units, Centres and Lead Programmes
THRIP (Terms and Conditions apply!) A DST/NRF‐supported program (http://thrip.nrf.ac.za)
Supplements industrial funding
▪ Both SA and international companies eligible: different ratios
▪ Higher rates for SMMEs and BEE companies
▪ Student training requirements
THRIP funding is retrospective (after submission of Proof of Payment)
THRIP funding is the ICING ON THE CAKE
Most national research funding programs in other countries (e.g., NSF (US), ARC (AU), BBSRC (UK) etc.) are not accessible to scientists of other nationalities, except as external collaborators (typically, little or no money provided)
The level of detail and depth of applications for these programs is typically MUCH greater than for the NRF!
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NSF International programs
EU Framework Programs
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
The WellcomeTrust
NUFU programs
USAID
The Royal Society DFID program
The Belmont Forum funding program
And many manymore…..
Many of these programs are discipline specific
ACGT circulates a regular bulletin of new research grant opportunities to UP academic staff
Take a moment to refresh your attention span
Ask any questions that you have accumulated?
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A call is announced on the NTF website (nrf.ac.za) The call provides application guidance and information
The online application website is given (http//nrfonline.nrf.ac.za or nrfinterim.nrf.ac.za)
A deadline for submission is specified
You go on‐line and write the proposal………..
You submit the proposal electronically
The proposal is signed off electronically by DRIS
You wait (i.e., get on with teaching, writing the next applications, finishing the papers etc)!
Your grant application is peer‐reviewed, reviews are adjudicated by an NRF panel, and decisions are made.
6‐9 months later, results are announced.
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What do good reviewers expect to see in a good research project?
What is the question? All research starts with a question
Why is it important (justification)
How can I address the question (hypothesis)
How can I answer the question (technical approach)
What will I find (outcomes)
Do I (or my collaborators) have the appropriate skills and experience?
Do I (or my collaborators) have the appropriate technical resources?
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Collaborators are vital Different perspectives
Additional skills and techniques
Add STRENGTH to your application, and to your research
Collaborators provide synergy!
Rules for collaborations “Always collaborate with those who are better than you are”
The best collaborations are with people you like and respect
Choose collaborators who bring complementary (not duplicatory) skills
It is wise to establish some general rules with collaborations Division of labour (who does what)
Co‐publication
Relevant and justifiable Does the proposed study have relevance to basic or applied science? Can you demonstrate this relevance?
Scientifically sound Are the question, the hypothesis and your experimental approach all grounded in good science, with a strong basis of good published literature?
Practically achievable (within the technical, budgetary, and timescale constraints) i.e. – “don’t bite off more than you can chew!”
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Title
Abstract
Introduction/Justification
Aims
Research Activities (Work‐packages)
Research methods (Technical approaches)
Outcomes
References
Observation: Many people complain of having contracted a cold within 48 hours of travelling by airplane
On your pad, please list the following: A research question
An Hypothesis
Your experimental approach
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Question: Is the atmosphere in a commercial aircraft cabin a potential means of rhinovirus infection?
Hypothesis: Rhinovirus particles are present at higher concentrations in aircraft cabin atmosphere than in less restricted environments
Aims: To demonstrate and quantitate the presence of rhinoviruses in commercial aircraft cabin air
Experimental objectives: Use air filtration equipment to monitor the presence of viable viral particle in cabin air
Question: Is the common perception that air travel poses a risk of cold infections valid?
Hypothesis: Air travel is associated with a significant risk of rhinovirus infection
Aims: To demonstrate that the risk of rhinovirus infection during air travel is statistically significant
Experimental objectives: Undertake a statistically valid epidemiological study
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Problem IdentificationState research question or problem statement
Rationale and MotivationProvide background with a review of the literature (and relevant references). State how the research is relevant to
the NRF program.
Research AimsProvide details on the research‐related aims of the project.
Workplan – Research ActivitiesThis section focuses on research activities and milestones. Include information on timeframes and responsibilities,
student involvement, availability of specialized equipment, infrastructure etc.
Workplan – Research Methods
Methodology and techniques, including data collection and analysis etc.
Continued......
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Potential Impact on HR DevelopmentExtent and appropriateness of research training
Nature and significance of co‐investigator inputs
Nature and significance of inter‐institutional collaboration
Appropriateness of Human Resource Capacity Development
Potential Impact on Redress and EquityImpact of this project on redress and equity (in terms of race and gender) in terms of the issues listed above.
Potential OutcomesIndicate the relevance of the project in terms of: Expected national and international acclaim, exploitability of products, effects of research on user sectors
Appropriateness of knowledge dissemination strategy
Progress to date: Summary
Progress to date: Research Outputs
Progress to Date: Students
Co‐investigator outputs Please enter the best peer‐reviewed research outputs of Co‐investigators (no more
than 10 in total)
Consideration of Ethics and Legislative Compliance (where relevant) A brief indication should be provided on any ethical implications and/or legislative
compliance of this proposed research and how these would be addressed.
Relevant sectors include▪ Animal experimentation
▪ Human ‘experimentation’ and interventions
▪ Import/Export of biological samples
Disability Do you require additional funding to cater for a disability (either the research team
and/or students) in terms of the proposed research? If yes, please request such support under the budgetary item “Research Materials and Supplies”.
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Click the submit button At this point, the application is locked – but can be unlocked if
you find that there is something important to correct or add
The proposal will be signed off by DRIS
The peer review process starts….
and continues…
and continues…
One day, you will receive an email (with or without attachments)
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The peer review process has strengths and weaknesses A good review from a highly respected colleague is very helpful!
Reviewer feedback can be very educational, or extremely irritating
Reviewers may be:
▪ Extremely busy
▪ Uninterested
▪ Lazy
▪ Incompetent
Reviewer response rates are <50%, of which >66% are useless
Rule 1. Reviewers are generally looking for a reason to reject your application, rather than accept it
Lesson 1. Do not give the reviewer any justification for rejection
Rule 2. Most reviewers are very busy
Lesson 2. Your application should be clear, concise and well structured
Rule 3. Most reviewers will not be experts in your specific field
Lesson 3. Make your initial message (Aims and Objectives) clear and obvious as possible.
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Deadlines for submission are fair but not generous
The reviewing process is slow
Announcements are frequently late in the year (after prospective applicants have already made decisions)
Feedback is minimal, and may be of little value to you
NRF budgets are under pressure, and expected calls do not always arise
No money, no research (so it is worth trying)!
It’s not ‘money for jam’, but the NRF is actively trying to give its money away....
The success rates in the SA system are typically much greater than any other national grant agency (UK, USA – around 12‐15%)