Page 28 - Dare to Make an Impact

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9. Engage in Peer Review
Just as you need to network within your research community, you also need to get to know and understand your funding community. It is critically important that you study the mission, culture and procedures of agencies and foundations likely to fund your research. The common term used to describe how grant agencies review and select research proposals for funding is “peer review.” Once you’ve mastered the peer review process, you unlock the door to your funding future.
Call or Visit a Program Officer (PO)
Review processes vary by agency. Some are highly transparent while some are closely guarded with decisions made by program officials. Some program officials are gatekeepers with very little influence on the funding decision. Others are actively involved in the decision process. What does this mean for you?
Get to know your PO before you submit a grant proposal. Whenever you are in doubt about your eligibility as an investigator or your