RA RA Grant Writing and Research Funding 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What type of grant provides initial funding to test the feasibility of a new research idea?
- R01 grant
- Pilot or exploratory grant (Correct answer)
- Training grant
- Center grant
Correct answer: Pilot or exploratory grant
Pilot or exploratory grants provide small, short-term funding to generate preliminary data and test the feasibility of a novel research concept before applying for larger awards.
Question 2: The National Science Foundation (NSF) primarily funds research in which area?
- Medical research only
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Correct answer)
- Social welfare programs
- Arts and humanities exclusively
Correct answer: Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
NSF is the primary federal agency supporting fundamental research and education across all non-medical fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Question 3: What is a 'request for proposals' (RFP) in the context of research funding?
- A researcher's application for funding
- A funder's announcement inviting research proposals on specific topics (Correct answer)
- A budget revision request
- A final project summary
Correct answer: A funder's announcement inviting research proposals on specific topics
An RFP is a formal announcement issued by a funding agency describing a specific research need and inviting qualified researchers to submit proposals addressing it.
Question 4: Which federal portal serves as the centralized source for finding and applying to federal grant opportunities?
- NIH Commons
- Grants.gov (Correct answer)
- FastLane
- eRA Commons
Correct answer: Grants.gov
Grants.gov is the single, centralized online portal where federal agencies post grant opportunities and accept electronic applications from researchers.
Question 5: Foundation grants from private organizations typically have what advantage over federal grants?
- Larger funding amounts
- Less competition and more flexible requirements (Correct answer)
- Longer project timelines
- Guaranteed renewal
Correct answer: Less competition and more flexible requirements
Private foundation grants often have fewer applicants, less rigid reporting requirements, and more flexibility in allowable costs compared to federal grants.
Question 6: What is the typical role of a sponsored programs or research office at a university?
- Conducting research directly
- Managing grant compliance and administration (Correct answer)
- Peer-reviewing grant applications
- Determining research priorities
Correct answer: Managing grant compliance and administration
A sponsored programs office manages the administrative, financial, and regulatory compliance aspects of grants on behalf of the institution and its researchers.
RA RA Grant Writing and Research Funding 2
What type of grant provides initial funding to test the feasibility of a new research idea?