Office of Research: Secrets of Early Career Funding Success: A Faculty Panel

Young investigator awards provide critical support to early career faculty, often serving as a funding bridge between postdoctoral years and fully independent investigator status. These awards, however, are usually very competitive. To give BU’s young investigators valuable insights about competing for them, we are convening a panel of faculty who have received numerous such awards, from both federal and foundation sources. The goal of this panel, then, is to provide young investigators at BU with insights about how to be competitive for early career funding—for example: • The right time to apply (e.g., publications in top journals, consulting with program officers). • Types of projects funders are looking for. • Importance of reference letters and statements of support. • Ways to set yourself apart from a large group of applicants.