Today, the offices of Research Advancement and Scholarship and Innovation hosted a hackathon to discuss submitting National Science Foundation proposals and, specifically, the Discovery Research PreK-12 call for proposals. Edith Gummer, director of data strategy for Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, offered her perspective and suggestions for success as a former NSF program officer. Some of Edith’s top recommendations for faculty to best position themselves for success included:
- Be extremely familiar with the call — know the ins and outs
- Know what has been funded in your area of research
- Read reviewer feedback for proposals that did not get funded
- For junior faculty specifically, volunteer to serve as a reviewer to get in front of, and exposure with, a panel
- Contact a program officer after you send them a two-page summary of your proposal
- Provide enough details so your mother could understand what you are trying to do
- Overwrite the methods section so you include all components, and then edit heavily
- Ensure your proposal includes an evaluation plan to assess impact — you do not need to have an external evaluator
- Consider an advisory board if additional expertise is needed to conduct proposed activities