Program Officers: Face-to-Face Meetings

This week, one of our faculty members received a fundable score on a grant resubmission. She sent us a note to let us know that key to her success was a meeting with her Program Officer (PO). She had attended our Grant Resubmissions seminar this Spring, and after our discussion around working with PO's she decided to fly out to meet with her's at a conference. She reported that she ended up sitting down with a Program Officer for an hour and that he gave her feedback on her grant and invaluable career advice. Although she had been on the fence as to whether she should spend her own money to fly to the conference at the last minute just to see her PO after he had suggested their meeting, ultimately she decided that the investment was well worth it

In fact, more and more, researchers are prioritizing face-to-face meetings with their PO's. Some make a trip out to DC as they're starting to think about submitting, going to their first meeting with just a concept paper to introduce themselves and their research idea. And, some request meetings with their PO at large national conferences or in an annual trip to DC.

Dr. John Swallow, at an ORDE seminar on Grant Resubmissions this Spring stressed the importance of developing an ongoing relationship saying, "By the time I got my grant funded, [my PO] knew who I was and was excited for me." He goes on to describe how he makes a point at his national conference to sit down with his NSF PO to not only discuss his current application, but to get her advice on new ideas, see if they're a fit, ask what panel they should go to, etc. This not only gives Dr. Swallow important feedback, but also does the work of building a relationship and a familiarity for him and his work with his Program Officer.

Of course, this does not mean that if you can't see your PO face to face, you should give up on reaching out. Phone, email, and even Skype can be great starting off points to get you and your work in front of your program officer.

Resources:
Resubmissions: Seeking Feedback - ORDE Video
Can We Talk? Contacting Grant Program Officers - Robert Porter