Contacting a Program Officer
The job of a Program Officer (PO) is to ensure the funds they are in charge of distributing go to research that accomplishes the objectives of their program and that the funded 研究人员成功. They want to know the researchers in their funding space, support 并向他们学习. Check the agency’s program pages for the listing of relevant POs and contact information.
研究开发 strongly advises that all PIs talk with the relevant Program Officer (PO) before committing to an identified funding opportunity to establish a good relationship and confirm that your research area and project fit with the sponsor’s 以及项目的目标. If it doesn’t, you can discuss potential changes that might make your project a good fit. You can also obtain guidance about a project’s design, methodology, collaborations, budget, and timeline from the Program Officer and ask any questions you may have.
It is important to reach out to the PO as early as possible to ensure enough time to write a competitive proposal. We also recommend that you use the conversation to start a relationship with the PO that will hopefully be long lasting and could transcend their current position at the given agency. If you need help in any stage of the process, including meeting with the PO, please reach out to the 研究开发 Team 寻求帮助.
Below are links to several resources that talk about various strategies for planning for and successfully contacting a PO:
- NSF 101: 5 Tips on How to Work with a Program Officer
- 国家卫生研究院: Tips for Communicating with Program Officers [pdf]
- 国家卫生研究院: Program Officials Are Here to Help
- 国家卫生研究院/National Institute on Aging: We Don't Bite! Communicating with your Program Officer
- NDSU: Communicating with Funders and Program Officers [pdf]
- 我们能谈谈吗?? Contacting a Grant Program Officer by Robert Parker, University of Tennessee [pdf]
- NSF Proposal Preparation: The View of an Ex-Program Officer by Joseph Brennan [pdf]
- What to Say - and Not Say - to Program Officers by Michael J. 尖塔，纪事报 高等教育
