Funding search tools
While the postdoc office does notify postdocs of a number of funding opportunities, we in no way cover all the possibilities that may exist for your particular area of research and for your career goals. If you are serious about securing funding for your research, take the time to search for appropriate grants. Remember not to assume that you already know the short list of sponsors who might fund you now or in the future. When you do find promising opportunities, always review the most recent application instructions and eligibility requirements to verify that the grants are indeed appropriate for you. Limitations on citizenship and on the amount of time that candidates can have spent in postdoctoral training are examples of restrictions you may find. If you discover a funding opportunity for which you would like to apply, check out the tips section of this site.
Automated funding alerts:
An easy and efficient way to look for funding opportunities is to configure one or a few Community of Science (COS) funding alerts. These alerts are weekly email notifications of new and updated grant opportunities specific to your research interests and other criteria that you set. The alerts pull relevant entries from the COS Funding Opportunities database (http://fundingopps.cos.com/), a regularly-updated database of more than 22,000 records of funding opportunities from sponsors around the world. Ohio State subscribes to COS, so you have free access to the site and its tools once you register for your own COS Workbench. The postdoc office periodically hosts workshops in which you learn how to set up your own funding alerts. If you are unable to attend a workshop or if you need information right away, the OSU Research Foundation describes the process in the Funding and Research Development Services Information PDF available at http://rf.osu.edu/fundops/pdf/FRDFolder.pdf (see page 4 for instructions on registering with COS, the first step in the process). COS help documentation for the alerts is available at http://fundingopps2.cos.com/docs/help_toc.shtml. You can also contact Sarah Starr, Director of the Office of Funding and Research Development, at 688-5546 or starr.1@osu.edu for assistance in configuring a funding alert.
Search engines:
- Community of Science (COS) Funding Opportunities database
Take advantage of Ohio State’s subscription to COS to search for funding opportunities from national and local governments, private foundations, professional associations, corporations, and more from around the world. Not limited to science. Contains over 22,000 records. Other services from COS include the funding alert service described above, the opportunity to publicize your research through an expertise profile, and the ability to search profiles of other researchers to locate potential collaborators and experts. Access COS services from off campus by registering at http://registration.cos.com/cos/basic.html (select Ohio State University as your institution).
- GrantsNet
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute provide all users with free access to the service at http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/funding. Search for biomedical research and science education funding opportunities. Many listings are for early-career scientists (graduate students, medical students, postdocs, and junior faculty). Specify your level of training, area(s) of research, citizenship, and deadlines of interest through the advanced search. Tools are provided for saving searches and grants if you register for free with the site.
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