Last week we explored Spark within the Spark, Container, Extension, and Realization framework. This week we turn to Container.

Container is a critical phase in the process, and it is often overlooked, rushed, or prematurely merged into Extension. That is why it deserves careful attention. When Container is respected and given the time it requires, you are in a much stronger position when you move into Extension.

Container is where you ask: What exactly is this idea, and how does it live in my world?

This phase is inward facing. Your audience is still yourself.

Once the Spark has ignited and you are considering developing it into a line of research, the first step is defining the problem clearly. What is the technical question? What is the appropriate scope? What will you exclude? Is this truly one effort, or is it several disguised as one?

At this stage, you are not persuading reviewers or sponsors. You are applying intellectual discipline to clarify the problem.

Next, you determine technical feasibility. What methods would be employed to answer the question? What data would be required? What resources would be needed? Is this line of inquiry technically sound?

Here you are pressure testing the idea. You are not asking, “Will reviewers like this?” You are asking, “Does this actually make sense?”

From there, you move into hypothesis formation and conceptual architecture. Should there be hypotheses? What would they be? What would success look like? What would failure look like? What is the logical sequence of steps that would guide the investigation?

In Container, you are building a foundation for the work to come.

Another essential element is alignment with your own career vision. Does the line of inquiry align with the other research you are doing? Does it strengthen the professional identity you are developing? Would it conflict with existing commitments or support your teaching, outreach, or collaborations?

At this stage, alignment with your personal trajectory is crucial. Alignment with a sponsor comes later.

You also assess resources. Do you have the necessary expertise? Would collaborators be required? Is this the right stage of your career to undertake this effort?

This is still internal calibration.

Container also includes writing for yourself. You may begin drafting notes, outlining tasks, or journaling through ideas. At this stage, writing is exploratory. It is a tool for clarifying thought. Many researchers rely on writing to sharpen their thinking. Here, you are not persuading anyone. You are refining your own understanding.

Finally, Container allows the idea to stabilize. This is a period of maturation. You may let the idea sit for weeks or even months. Does it still feel compelling after some distance? Does it persist in your thinking? Does your conviction deepen or weaken over time?

Spark was ignition. Container is gestation.

Next week we will move to Extension. That is where the idea meets the world. The audience shifts outward. In Container, you ask whether the idea is internally coherent and aligned with your own vision and resources. In Extension, you ask whether it is externally compelling and aligned with organizational priorities.

The constraints in Container are technical and personal. The constraints in Extension are external, sponsor-driven, and competitive. That distinction is critical.

Too many PIs move directly from Spark into Extension. Sometimes this happens because they do not recognize the importance of Container. More often, it happens because of time pressure. The urgency to submit can crowd out the space required for disciplined exploration.

However, building a strong Container creates structure and safety. It protects the idea from premature external influence. It allows you to test intellectual rigor, define scope, and shape the work into a coherent form.

You are not yet polishing. You are shaping.

In Container, you are chipping away at the block, bringing it into usable form. In Extension, you will refine it further and shape it to meet the needs of specific sponsors and institutions.

Container is where the Spark gains the structure and stability it needs before meeting the world.

We are currently seeing increased responsiveness from funders across several agencies. This kind of momentum does not last indefinitely. I recorded the video below during a similar surge in activity this summer. If there is a program officer or contact you have been hesitating to reach out to, consider doing so now. Timing can make a difference.

Need to get your research funded, this year? Check out our 12-week program to get you there.

Check out our storefront where you can access our free Unlocking DOD Funding for University Researchers course and other resources, including for faculty applicants.

Ready to book a call to discuss how our program can support faculty at your institution? Let’s chat!