Many faculty are hesitant to reach out to funding organization program officers.
They worry they might waste the PO’s time. They worry about sounding unprepared by asking a dumb question. They worry they will reveal that their idea is not yet fully developed. And sometimes they worry that a single awkward interaction may damage their future chances of funding.
When they do summon the courage to reach out and get no response, they may actually feel a sense of relief. Understandable, but this is not the way to approach such conversations. Something Wise Investigator wants you to remember is:
If you are faculty, you already have standing as an expert.
Yes, program officers often know far more than you about a particular opportunity, the organization’s mission, inner workings or direction of a specific program. But you are the expert in your domain – with valuable intellectual ownership of key ideas and methods.
Think of program officer interactions as peer-to-peer — not student-to-teacher.
You are not wasting anyone’s time by asking for guidance on fit. Your brief initial conversations can actually save time across the entire system.
Some will meet after you have sent a brief email. Some will ask for a white paper or one-page summary before a discussion. Some may keep a conversation entirely over email, while others will quickly redirect you to another person or program.
So, what does it mean to be ready? You do not need a fully formed project idea before reaching out. That standard is too high. Instead, you need:
Enough of a research direction to initiate a conversation
Some understanding of the opportunity, program, agency, and/or organization
Specific questions about fit. For example:
“Is my direction too applied or too fundamental for this program?”
“Are you looking for projects with this type of application?”
“Would a collaborator or partner strengthen an application?”
A sense that your work could fit their plan, and the ability to describe your research direction in a brief paragraph
This meeting is not a job interview, exam, dissertation defense, or test to see whether you deserve a chance to apply. It is a conversation about fit. You can arrive prepared without being over-rehearsed. It is fine to say, “I am still shaping this idea but wanted to ask whether our direction seems aligned with your program.”
A “no” here could save you months of work. A redirect may point you toward a better opportunity. And even if a program is not a good fit today, that does not mean you need to write it off forever. Programs change; priorities shift. New people step into program officer positions. Something that is not a fit today may be worth revisiting in 12 to 18 months.
You do not need to become less nervous before contacting program officers. Stop interpreting uncertainty or anxiety as signs that you are not ready.
Send the emails. Follow up when needed. Be persistent. Most likely you will not send three messages and have three meetings booked immediately. That is not how this usually works.
But if you continue reaching out, you will put meetings on the calendar. And once you have enough of these conversations, you will find them far less stressful than you once imagined.
Onward. You are “ready enough” to begin today.
When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.
Related Video: Afraid to Email a Program Officer? Watch This First
I elaborated on this topic in a short video because this is one of the most common barriers I see for faculty preparing to pursue funding. If you have been waiting until you feel completely ready before contacting a program officer, this is your reminder that you can begin sooner than you think.
When you are ready, here’s how we can help
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.
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