Congratulations on successfully navigating that tricky step from postdoc to PI, competitively securing funding to pursue your own research idea, and building your own team. Exciting times!! Establishing your independent research career also depends on equipping yourself with the right tools and knowledge. This is where getting to know your funder is a must.
Your funder is your ally
The professional relationship with your funder can be more than transactional: they want to maximise their investment in you and in your research. A genuine highlight of my job has been to see awardees, especially those starting out, progress their scientific and career goals and go on to succeed. I have always found it inspiring to witness the energy, ideas, and ambition of new PIs.
Read (and keep!) the small print
Keep the information pack from your funder at the start of your award, including details of your contact person or team. You’d be surprised at how often the crucial information needed to help manage a grant award is lost or not used. Essential nuggets include: the terms and conditions of your award (you are responsible for following these now), guidance on the degree of flex within your research budget, and potential resources or opportunities open to you as an awardee. I recommend taking advantage of any welcome or induction events hosted by your funders. They’re not only a great way to meet peers but also to become acquainted with key contacts at your funder. These meetings normally cover information for managing your award and are a golden opportunity to ask questions in a more informal setting and put a face to a name.
Get in touch
I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard “If only I/they had spoken to you/us sooner”. Research is dynamic, and there can be new scientific opportunities that arise and/or challenges causing delays in your research. I’ve seen everything from recruitment delays, key reagents or equipment parts no longer being manufactured, samples lost in accidents, and interpersonal issues with colleagues. We know that life events happen, whether it’s becoming a parent, caring responsibilities or ill health, and most, if not all, funders have processes to accommodate changes in working pattern, and/or extend the duration of awards (bear in mind that the latter will not always come with additional funding). Whatever the issue may be, it is far better to contact the funder early with your concern or query. I know that sometimes there can be reluctance to contact the funder either because the researcher thinks it is not relevant or is concerned about being viewed adversely for not ‘getting on with it’. Funders want to know how their researchers are doing, and cannot help you optimally unless you talk to them.
Be intentional…
If you can, do try to get some experience as a reviewer on funding panels — it’s an opportunity to ‘give back’ to funders and, by gaining insight into how panels assess applications against scheme criteria, to strengthen your grant-writing skills. All of this will help you to succeed in your next grant application and raise your profile as a leader in your area — essential for any new PI.
Your new award makes you part of the funder’s research community and wider network. This is where funder-initiated networking opportunities, such as award-holder conferences or events can be immensely valuable, from meeting peers and senior researchers, hearing new science, sharing learnings, and getting advice on navigating the next stages in your career path. Funder-hosted events also provide a forum for raising ideas or issues (eg visa, research culture) directly with them and accessing the latest developments such as new funding calls, or opportunities to influence strategy or new policy.
In recognition of the steep learning curve, funders may offer and/or cover the costs for awardees to attend leadership courses, or participate in mentorship or coaching programmes designed for individuals in their first research leadership role. I would recommend everyone do at least one leadership course and find one or more mentors. Some funders offer a range of other bespoke courses, from effective public engagement (which is far more than just disseminating your knowledge), patient involvement, and media communication, to entrepreneurship and translating your research into policy, practice or commercialisation.
… but selective
To make the most of these opportunities and resources, be selective on what will help you meet the goals of your award and support your next career steps, and be deliberate on timings. When former Royal Society and other fellowship holders were asked what had been most useful to them as a new PI (outside of the funding), high on the list was mentorship and/or coaching1. This support can be useful in securing grant funding, negotiating promotions, and successfully navigating ‘politics’. Not everyone will have access to what they might need and some researchers have found it beneficial to create their own version eg peer support network. Helpful open resources exist2 and you might be able to nudge your host organisation or funder to help.
Plan, plan, plan
I can’t stress enough the importance of planning ‘what next’ and how you will sustain your research team. The definition of success will vary according to the cultural norms for your respective field, but be clear on your funder’s expectations, and on what will help you take the next step, whether that is securing an academic post and/or further grant funding. This is again where funders and mentors can offer advice. Also talk to your mentors about which funders you should consider applying to as part of your longer-term plan. Your institution’s research management team may also have information of upcoming calls and potential funders.
My take home message –- get to know your funders and capitalise on the opportunities, connections and resources available to you in this formative stage of your research career. Embed yourself in the ecosystem: the person you meet on the conference committee might also end up chairing the assessment panel for your next grant. Wishing you every success in this phase!
1 Career pathway tracker (PDF) and
2
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