Research

Proposal Development Resources

Research & Faculty Development provides resources and information to assist faculty with developing quality, competitive proposals. Specifically, we are providing agency-specific document templates, proposal development checklists, agency guidelines, and other materials support the proposal development process.

Resources

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

RFD Proposal Development Checklists

For up-to-date R01, R02 and R21 proposal checklists, contact RFD’s Service Request portal to request proposal development services.

Biosketch Form, Instructions and Samples

Tools/Samples

Review Criteria

Searchable Databases

Find Funding Opportunities
Find Funded Proposals and Relevant Institutes for Your Proposal Idea (RePORTER)
RePORTER Instructions in “Developing Your First R01 Proposal” presentation (slide 15-16)

Video Resources

Policy and Application Guides

NIH Application Guide (Forms Version H, Effective Jan. 27, 2023)
Annotated Forms for Forms-H Series - For due dates on/after Jan. 25, 2023
NIH Grants Policy & Compliance

Grant Program Guides

National Science Foundation (NSF)

NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program (NSF CAREER)

Visit the NSF CAREER Resources Center for access to informative videos and procedural checklist, along with event and activity announcements.

Video Resources

NSF Proposal Development Resources

For up-to-date NSF proposal checklists, contact RFD’s Service Request portal to request proposal development services.
National Science Foundation Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) – Effective January 30, 2023
FAQs on NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)
NSF Biosketch Guidance and Instructions
NSF Current & Pending Form Guidance and Instructions
FAQs on using SciENcv for Biosketch and Current & Pending Support forms

NSF Broader Impacts (BI)

As part of its proposal review process, the National Science Foundation requires that all proposals substantially address the broader impact (BI) of the proposed research. The Broader Impacts Resource Center can help you address this important merit review criterion.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

Proposal Development Resources

For up-to-date AFRI-NIFA proposal checklists, contact RFD’s Service Request portal to request proposal development services.
NIFA Programs Overview
NIFA Grants.gov Application Guide (Released October 2022)
AFRI Request for Applications Resources
Application Attachment Forms Templates
USDA Biographical Sketch Template

United States Department of Energy (DOE)

Proposal Development Resources

For up-to-date DOE proposal checklists, contact RFD’s Service Request portal to request proposal development services.
DOE Programs Overview
Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Research (PIER) Plans - DOE Office of Science (SC)
PIER Plans Frequently Asked Questions - DOE SC

Grant Program Peer Review Opportunities: Learn to write more competitive proposals by becoming a peer reviewer

One of the best ways to learn how to write competitive grant proposals is to become a peer reviewer for a federal grant making agency¹. Procedures for applying to become a reviewer differ among the agencies. In general, each grant-making agency requires the reviewer to have specialized subject area expertise relevant to the specific grant program to be reviewed and other qualifications such as citizenship, geography, gender, race/ethnicity, and similar demographic factors, as well as access to eRA (electronic research administration) systems, willingness to travel (if required), and availability throughout the review process.

Review Opportunities

American Council of Learned Societies – ACLS Reviewer Volunteer Form

American Statistical Association – Serving Effectively on Funding Review Panels

Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) – National Service Agency Seeks Peer Reviewers, Become a Peer Reviewer

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) – IMLS Peer Review, Apply to Become a Library Reviewer

Knight Foundation – Public Spaces Fellowship FAQ

National Aeronautics and Space Administration – Volunteer for Review Panels, Roles Open to Postdocs and Upper-Level Graduate Students

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) – Volunteer to be a NEA Panelist

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) – Serve as a NEH Reviewer, NEH Application Review Process

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Early Career Reviewer (ECR) Program, Become a Reviewer
Center for Scientific Review – Becoming a Peer Reviewer
About Grants - Information for Reviewers

National Science Foundation (NSF) – How to Become a Reviewer, NSF Merit Review

Russel Sage Foundation – How are proposals reviewed?

Spencer Foundation – Proposal Review Process, Resources and Tools for Applicants

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) – Panelist Information, NIFA Peer Review System Portal, Panelist Recruitment Form
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) – How to Become an Application Reviewer

US Department of Education (ED) – How to be considered as a peer reviewer for programs administered by ED

Institute for Education Sciences (IES) – Peer Review of Grant Applications, Serving as an IES Peer Reviewer
Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) – Register as a Field Reader, Peer Review Opportunities, OPE Peer Reviewers FAQs
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) – Peer Review Opportunities, 2024 Call for Peer Reviewers
Office of Indian Education (OIE) Native Youth Community Program (NYCP) – Seeking Peer Reviewers for 2022 Demonstration Grants for Indian Children Discretionary Grant Competition (announced 3/29/2022)
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) – Peer Review Opportunities
Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) – Instructions to Apply to Become a Peer Reviewer: To be considered, send a copy of your resume (5 pp. max) to the OCTAE program team in your interest area.

US Department of Energy (DOE)

Office of Science – Within the Office of Science, the Department’s basic research arm, the Director of the Office of Grants and Contracts Support encourages interested parties to speak with the topical program manager in their field of expertise.
Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) – Interested in Becoming a BETO Project Reviewer?
Nuclear Energy University Program – Information for Reviewers
Office of Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) – Register to be a reviewer, Contact information for the EERE technology areas and offices (Please email DOE.goethermal@ee.doe.gov with questions)

US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Early Career Reviewer (ECR) Program, Become a Reviewer
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Scientific Review – Becoming a Peer Reviewer
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) – Serving on a Peer Review Committee
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) – FAQs on the ACF Review Process
Administration for Community Living (ACL) – Become a Peer Reviewer
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) – How to Become a Grant Reviewer
Office of Community Services (OCS) – Become a OCS Grants Reviewer
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – Grant Review Opportunities, Grant Review Process, Application for Peer Grant Reviewers

US Department of Justice (DOJ) – Application Review Process (scroll to the bottom of the page)

National Institute of Justice (NIJ) – Becoming a Peer Reviewer for NIJ
Office of Victims of Crimes (OVC) – Apply to be a OVC Peer Reviewer
Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) - Funding & Awards, see section “BJA is Seeking Application Peer Reviewers”
Office of Justice Program (OJP) – How to Become an OJP Peer Reviewer

US Department of Labor (DOL) – Become a Grant Panelist

US Department of State (DOS)

Fulbright Scholar Program – Peer Review, Peer Review Application

US Department of Transportation – Volunteer to Serve as an Expert Panel Member

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – EPA Grants, Research Grants

¹Grant Results – Writing Competitive Grants. Federal Peer Review Opportunities in 2021. Word Press blog post published December 30, 2020, at https://grantresults.wordpress.com/tag/peer-review/ (accessed 06/21/2022).