A white paper from NCFDD, with key insights from our inaugural Rethinking Your Research Funding Course Many faculty care deeply about their research and want to pursue ambitious, meaningful work. Yet the process of securing funding often feels fragmented, rushed, and discouraging. Ideas move forward in short bursts. Feedback arrives late or not at all. … Read more
Author: NCFDD For many institutions, faculty funding success is treated as an individual achievement. A strong proposal is a reflection of the scholar’s creativity, discipline, and persistence. While these qualities matter, they do not operate in isolation. Even the most skilled researchers thrive when they work within a system that provides clarity, structure, and opportunities … Read more
Author: NCFDD Faculty rarely overhaul their grant strategy because of a single failed submission. More often, it is a steady pattern. You work hard but your proposals feel rushed. You generate strong ideas but struggle to shape them into a compelling narrative. You know funding is essential, but the process feels fragmented, unpredictable, and more … Read more
Author: NCFDD Securing research funding has always required persistence, but for many faculty, the process now feels increasingly solitary and increasingly uncertain. Traditional sources of support, like federal grants, are harder to access. Research offices are overextended. And the work of identifying funders, tailoring proposals, and navigating institutional requirements often falls squarely on individual shoulders. The result? … Read more
Author: NCFDD Ahead of the start of our new Rethinking Your Research Funding course, we’re spotlighting the experts who helped shape the curriculum. Franco Montalto, PhD, is one such contributor, bringing extensive experience working across federal, state, local, and industry-funded projects. Franco is a Professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering at … Read more
Author: NCFDD Ahead of the start of our new Rethinking Your Research Funding course, we’re spotlighting the experts who helped shape the curriculum. Sabrina Noel, PhD, RD is one such brilliant mind, who brings years of research and faculty expertise to the course. Sabrina is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health at … Read more
Author: NCFDD Federal funding has long been the gold standard for research support, but today’s realities tell a different story. Award rates are shrinking, political climates are shifting, and many scholars are left scrambling to keep their work afloat. Faculty who once relied on NIH or NSF grants alone are now asking: what other options … Read more
Author: NCFDD Ahead of the launch of our new Rethinking Your Research Funding course, we are spotlighting the experts who helped shape the curriculum. Jolie Sheffer, PhD is one of those experts, bringing deep experience as both a faculty member and an academic leader to the conversation. As Associate Dean in the College of Arts … Read more
Author: NCFDD Securing research funding is a high-stakes process for faculty. Whether you are applying for your first major grant or working to sustain a long-term project, the time and energy you invest is significant, and competition continues to rise. Before starting your next proposal, asking the right questions can help you focus your efforts, … Read more
Author: NCFDD Faculty are navigating one of the most complex grant funding environments in recent memory. Federal priorities are shifting. Budgets are tightening. And competition for research dollars continues to rise. At the same time, institutions continue to depend on external funding, but often without updating the systems and structures that help faculty pursue it … Read more