As I've discussed in past blogs, major federal funding agencies are demanding that applicants incorporate data management plans into their proposals. But there is much concern among researchers around the expectations for data sharing in these plans.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) have addressed and clarified applicant expectations to some extent. Even if you aren't interested in applying to the NIH or NSF, it's worth watching how they are developing requirements, as other federal and non-federal agencies will likely follow suit. The points below outline some of the general positions these agencies are adopting:
Program-Directed Policies
Not surprisingly, data and best practices for data sharing is really discipline-specific. Best practices around privacy, sharing, access, and preservation vary wildly by field. Therefore, when you go to look at the general FAQs at the NIH or NSF, many of the responses are, to paraphrase, "it depends." The NSF repeatedly answer these data questions saying that many of the practices will be dictated by one's "community of interest." For these agencies, this basically means that reviewers within a directorate or study section will assess whether a proposal's data management plan meet the standards of their research community.
Addressing sharing and preserving
After the recent reports describing how few research projects could be reproduced, based on the data and methods that remained, the NIH and NSF are demanding more rigorous data management practices. This is partly to resolve the reproduction dilemma, but it is also so that agencies can get more bang for their buck. If new researchers can access the data from past funded projects, they can use it to produce even more research and analysis. This can mean more research for less money. With that said, agencies are asking PI's to share as quickly as is reasonable. The NIH asks for PI's to share data as soon as their publications have been accepted. They also want the data that they funded to produce to be kept in good shape for others.
Talk to POs
I probably could make this a heading in almost every blog I write, but it fits here too! Data and data sharing are complex and the questions surrounding data are often very specific. So, who better to counsel you on how to address these complexities than your friendly neighborhood Program Officer! However, as with all PO conversations, make sure you do your homework and understand your agency's data policies and requirements before reaching out to your PO.
In ending, if you start to hyperventilate when considering all the new requirements being asked of you by funders around data, remember, they're still working it out too, so work things out together!
Resources
NSF Data Management FAQs
NIH Data Sharing FAQs
Monday, October 31, 2016
Monday, October 24, 2016
To Debate or Not Debate in Grant Development
In the spirit of our final presidential debate last week, I will spare you any political commentary, but will stay with the theme of debate to look at it within grant development.
Researchers are great at debate and why shouldn't you be, you've built a career on making an argument. You need to justify your hypothesis or angle, build a case for funding or other support, convince colleagues of the value of your contributions, etc.
But, even in a seemingly natural field of debate like research, there are still some areas where you should avoid it, as well as at least one place where you can let your debate skills shine. Below are some do's and don'ts when it comes to debate in grant development.
Don't debate with reviewers
Few things are as frustrating as having an anonymous reviewer not "get" your proposal or misinterpret some element of your research and to score you accordingly. Certainly, if your reviews were an opening statement in a debate, you'd be revving to go. However, they're not. They're feedback on your proposal, and the truth is when a reviewer misunderstands your proposal or an element therein, it's unfortunately on you to revise your proposal to better or more clearly address any misunderstandings. When you respond to reviewer comments in your resubmission, be gracious, and describe how you've responded to their comments. Resist the urge to debate the reviewers or be argumentative. It won't work to your advantage if you frustrate your reviewers.
Don't debate with Program Officers
The same "don't debate" rule holds for conversations and other correspondence with POs. This does not mean that you shouldn't make a case for your research with POs. Nor does it mean that you shouldn't ask questions. It does mean that you want to listen carefully to the feedback and information your PO shares with you. And, it does mean that because the PO is inside the sponsoring agency in which you're interested, you should accept what they tell you are funding priorities. Do not try to debate or change their minds about what sorts of research they should be supporting.
Do debate in your proposal
When writing your grant proposal, you should employ all of your best debate strategies. This means you need to build your case and successfully defend your path forward. Additionally, like any good debater, you need to anticipate what your opponent, or, ahem, reviewer will argue against you. What are the questions or concerns your reviewers might have? Once identified, include responses to those potential questions and concerns.
So, in ending, do bring your best debate skills into the grant development process, but keep them in your grant proposal and do not get into a debate with any representative at the sponsoring agency.
Resources:
Resubmissions: Seeking Feedback - ORDE Video
Can We Talk? Contacting Grant Program Officers - Robert Porter
Researchers are great at debate and why shouldn't you be, you've built a career on making an argument. You need to justify your hypothesis or angle, build a case for funding or other support, convince colleagues of the value of your contributions, etc.
But, even in a seemingly natural field of debate like research, there are still some areas where you should avoid it, as well as at least one place where you can let your debate skills shine. Below are some do's and don'ts when it comes to debate in grant development.
Don't debate with reviewers
Few things are as frustrating as having an anonymous reviewer not "get" your proposal or misinterpret some element of your research and to score you accordingly. Certainly, if your reviews were an opening statement in a debate, you'd be revving to go. However, they're not. They're feedback on your proposal, and the truth is when a reviewer misunderstands your proposal or an element therein, it's unfortunately on you to revise your proposal to better or more clearly address any misunderstandings. When you respond to reviewer comments in your resubmission, be gracious, and describe how you've responded to their comments. Resist the urge to debate the reviewers or be argumentative. It won't work to your advantage if you frustrate your reviewers.
Don't debate with Program Officers
The same "don't debate" rule holds for conversations and other correspondence with POs. This does not mean that you shouldn't make a case for your research with POs. Nor does it mean that you shouldn't ask questions. It does mean that you want to listen carefully to the feedback and information your PO shares with you. And, it does mean that because the PO is inside the sponsoring agency in which you're interested, you should accept what they tell you are funding priorities. Do not try to debate or change their minds about what sorts of research they should be supporting.
Do debate in your proposal
When writing your grant proposal, you should employ all of your best debate strategies. This means you need to build your case and successfully defend your path forward. Additionally, like any good debater, you need to anticipate what your opponent, or, ahem, reviewer will argue against you. What are the questions or concerns your reviewers might have? Once identified, include responses to those potential questions and concerns.
So, in ending, do bring your best debate skills into the grant development process, but keep them in your grant proposal and do not get into a debate with any representative at the sponsoring agency.
Resources:
Resubmissions: Seeking Feedback - ORDE Video
Can We Talk? Contacting Grant Program Officers - Robert Porter
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Building a Routine
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle
We all have routines. With two preschoolers at home, my routine is as much chaos as anything else, but it's still routine. Yet, when I look at certain parts of my routine that I have control over (child chaos is not one), I can notice several parts that I have not intentionally put in place, that if I were to change, might allow me to be more productive. So, today, I offer a couple of tips on building a routine. Most of these come from the book, Manage Your Day-to-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus, & Sharpen Your Creative Mind, edited by Jocelyn Glei.
Recognize and revise your current routine
As mentioned, we all have some semblance of a routine, but if we're not intentional about setting our routines, we likely have bad habits embedded within them. So, to begin building a more effective routine, begin by assessing your current routine, and plan for one that will allow for you to be more productive.
Do brain-work first
Most folks when they get to work, the first thing they do is check their email. Yet, most people are freshest and can focus best in the morning, and usually our email does not call for focus and concentration, nor is it the most important work we have to do. Therefore, if, like me, the first thing you do in the morning is go through email, consider delaying that task and doing the most important brain-work you have to do first, and then go check email when you're ready for a break from your most focused work.
Make time for renewal
One mistake that busy people make is that in planning their routine or their day, they fill each minute with a task. For most, this is a recipe for burnout or space-out. If I don't incorporate time in my day for a short break, my brain takes one anyway, and I often find I'm less productive than if I'd just planned for a little renewal or break in my day in the first place.
Build frequency
Once you've identified a routine that is balanced and will allow you to be most effective, you need practice; you need to make it...routine. So incorporate it and stick with it. If you get off track or it's not working, tweak your routine plan or just keep at it until it is a habit.
Returning to the Aristotelian quote, if we begin to practice what makes us excellent in our work, we will notice that our habits and routine help us to be excellent!
Resources:
The Daily Routine of 7 Famous Entrepreneurs - Belle Beth Cooper
5 Steps to Create a Daily Routine That Works for You - Elizabeth Larkin
We all have routines. With two preschoolers at home, my routine is as much chaos as anything else, but it's still routine. Yet, when I look at certain parts of my routine that I have control over (child chaos is not one), I can notice several parts that I have not intentionally put in place, that if I were to change, might allow me to be more productive. So, today, I offer a couple of tips on building a routine. Most of these come from the book, Manage Your Day-to-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus, & Sharpen Your Creative Mind, edited by Jocelyn Glei.
Recognize and revise your current routine
As mentioned, we all have some semblance of a routine, but if we're not intentional about setting our routines, we likely have bad habits embedded within them. So, to begin building a more effective routine, begin by assessing your current routine, and plan for one that will allow for you to be more productive.
Do brain-work first
Most folks when they get to work, the first thing they do is check their email. Yet, most people are freshest and can focus best in the morning, and usually our email does not call for focus and concentration, nor is it the most important work we have to do. Therefore, if, like me, the first thing you do in the morning is go through email, consider delaying that task and doing the most important brain-work you have to do first, and then go check email when you're ready for a break from your most focused work.
Make time for renewal
One mistake that busy people make is that in planning their routine or their day, they fill each minute with a task. For most, this is a recipe for burnout or space-out. If I don't incorporate time in my day for a short break, my brain takes one anyway, and I often find I'm less productive than if I'd just planned for a little renewal or break in my day in the first place.
Build frequency
Once you've identified a routine that is balanced and will allow you to be most effective, you need practice; you need to make it...routine. So incorporate it and stick with it. If you get off track or it's not working, tweak your routine plan or just keep at it until it is a habit.
Returning to the Aristotelian quote, if we begin to practice what makes us excellent in our work, we will notice that our habits and routine help us to be excellent!
Resources:
The Daily Routine of 7 Famous Entrepreneurs - Belle Beth Cooper
5 Steps to Create a Daily Routine That Works for You - Elizabeth Larkin
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