Video Transcript 60th Annual Report on Research 2015: The Program Manager as a Resource.
Hello, I am Nancy Jensen a program manager for the ACS Petroleum Research Fund. I am sure that you are well aware of a program officer’s role in processing and administering the grant application and award process. However, what I would like to discuss with you in the next few minutes is how a program officer can be a very helpful resource in preparing a grant application that is focused to the mission of the agency and avoid application errors that diminish the competitiveness of a terrific research idea.
Program officers may be reached by phone or email and welcome questions related to grant rules and guidelines; clarification of scope of funding; types of research funded; and questions related to resubmission and interpretation of reviewer comments, for example. You may have noted that a number of the examples I just gave are questions that would be asked either before preparing an application or during the process of preparing an application. We welcome and encourage these kinds of questions. We want to assist you in preparing your application to set forth your proposed research in a way so as to be as competitive as possible and avoid structural errors that detract from your proposal. I recently received an email from a successful applicant who indicated that his discussion with me as he prepared his application was “indispensable” to his success in receiving a grant.
My fellow program officers and I would much, much rather talk with a PI to avoid a misunderstanding or provide clarification than to speak with disappointed PI whose application was not competitive because of a misunderstanding of the rules or types of projects funded. Although, of course, we are also willing to discuss disappointment issues with you to avoid problems in the future.
I want to give you a couple of more specific examples of the kinds of pre-application questions a PI may ask. First, although a program officer cannot suggest a research topic, in discussion with the PI the program manager can provide guidance as to whether the PI’s proposed research is an appropriate topic for the agency and also in many cases how to best focus the research to coincide with the agency’s mission. Secondly, the program officer cannot make any specific promises about funding, but can provide information on funding rates and explain the review and decision processes. Of course, it is always much wiser to contact a program officer if you are uncertain as to how to interpret an application guideline or requirement than to make a wrong guess that may seriously damage competitiveness of even the very best idea.
So if questions are welcome then how does one go about asking them? As mentioned earlier, you may call or email the program officer. PRF has a website www.acsprf.org where you may find individual contact information for each our 5 PRF Program managers along with their respective areas of expertise. If you are not sure to whom you should direct your focused questions or have a more general question, you may send an email inquiry to prfinfo@acs.org or call our hot line number 202-872-4481 and your question will be referred to the proper individual.
As you communicate with the program officer please keep in mind that it should be an information gathering conversation for assisting in clarification and understanding. The extremes of a program officer suggesting a research topic or arguing with a program officer about a rule or decision are outside the scope of proper conversation.
Again, we want to answer your questions and help you avoid pitfalls, and we look forward to receiving your inquires.
