You need resources to do your research.
Really. That’s it.
Your university provides some of those resources but they get the resources from other places. Among those sources are agencies and foundations that fund individual and collaborative research projects based on peer review of a proposal.
You don’t need to worry about the place of research grant funding in the economic ecology of the university. You do, however, need to apply for funds for which you are eligible at appropriate points in your career.
You want to do research, right?
If you are even thinking about research grants you’ve been doing research already. You have directions you want to take that in. Questions you want to investigate. Debates you want to contribute to.
Whether that’s traditional academic research destined to be published by respectable university presses or disciplinary journals, or research that will inform policy, practice or public opinion, there is something you wish you had more time, help, or other resources to get done.
Do you have a research plan?
You have multiple responsibilities. You probably find it difficult to get enough time to do all the research you want to do. A plan helps you make more effective use of the time you have.
Research is important to your career prospects. Having some sense of where you want your career to go and how you are going to get there is probably a good idea.
A solid research plan makes choosing an appropriate funder and funding program, and writing a grant proposal that much easier. It becomes just part of your overall research activity.
I can help
Whether you are applying for a grant or need a bit of help thinking about your research (and/or career) in a more structured way, I can help.
A 1-hour conversation can make things much clearer and only costs $150 (plus GST/HST if you are Canadian). We do things by phone or Skype (your preference).
If you decide to apply for that grant, I can also provide detailed written comments on a draft proposal to ensure that you are submitting the best possible proposal.
The services I provide are described in more detail here.
Or e-mail me your questions.
