Funding Tips

In our experience, there are three things you should know if you want to increase your chances of winning funding:

1. Find a fit: Align your proposal with the requirements of the program.
   
2. Ask questions: Get in touch with the people in charge of your program (see list below)
   
3. Learn from experience: Speak to other professors who have won funding in the past to understand what worked!

There are over 1,000 great programs for teaching and research initiatives in the U.S. and Canada. Here's a short list to steer you in the right direction.

Share your tips with us!

Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEI)
http://www.ed.gov/programs/iduesmsi/index.html


This program assists predominantly minority institutions in effecting long-range improvement in science and engineering education programs and increasing the flow of underrepresented ethnic minorities, particularly minority women, into science and engineering careers. New initiatives focus on outreach and hands-on experimental-based learning projects.

Contact:
Bernadette Hence
Phone: (202) 219-7038
E-mail: bernadette.hence@ed.gov

NSF’s Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) - full proposal deadline: January 12, 2009
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5741

The Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) program seeks to improve the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for all undergraduate students.

Program Directors:
Engineering: Russell L. Pimmel rpimmel@nsf.gov (703) 292-4618, Sheryl A. Sorby ssorby@nsf.gov (703) 292-4647
Research/Assessment: Myles G. Boylan mboylan@nsf.gov (703) 292-4617, Russell L. Pimmel rpimmel@nsf.gov (703) 292-4618
Interdisciplinary: Herbert H. Richtol hrichtol@nsf.gov (703) 292-4648
Computer Science: Stephen C. Cooper scooper@nsf.gov (703) 292-4645
Geological Sciences: Jill K. Singer jksinger@nsf.gov (703) 292-5323
Biological Sciences: Terry S. Woodin twoodin@nsf.gov (703) 292-4657
Chemistry: Susan H. Hixson shixon@nsf.gov (703) 292-4623
Mathematics: Daniel P. Maki dmaki@nsf.gov (703) 292-4620
Physics/Astronomy: Warren W. Hein whein@nsf.gov (703) 292-4644

Check also publication from The American Association for the Advancement of Science: Invention and Impact: Building Excellence in Undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education. CCLI meeting participant and those have completed the CCLI survey are entitled to a free complimentary copy
http://www.aaas.org/publications/books_reports/CCLI/

NSF’s Control Systems Program
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13575

The CS program supports innovative research on control theory and control technology driven by real life applications.

Program Director:

Jayasuriya Suhada sjayasur@nsf.gov (703) 292-7014

Grants.gov
http://www07.grants.gov/search/basic.do

Grants.gov is your source to find and apply for many more federal government grants. With information on over 1,000 grant programs, it provides access to approximately $400 billion in annual awards.

You can apply for NSF grants and DoD (U.S. Department of Defense) grants through this website.

Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)
http://www.innovation.ca/index.cfm

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada in 1997 to fund research infrastructure.

Search the online database of all projects that received CFI funding at: http://www.innovation.ca/projects/index.cfm/

Ontario Centres of Excellence - Collaborative Research
http://www.oce-ontario.org/Pages/rcolla.aspx/


The Collaborative Research Initiative is designed to promote and harness innovative research partnerships between industry and Ontario universities, colleges and research hospitals.

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

http://www.nserc.gc.ca/professors_e.asp?nav=profnav&lbi=toc_a

Check the Grant Programs Overview to learn about various collaborative research grant options.