Category Archives: Funding

The NIAID/NIH Funding Massacre in Two Figures

Posted on May 3, 2013 by

So NIAID–the institute of NIH that funds things like research into MRSA and carbapenem resistant bacteria, not to mention a lot of that groovy microbiome stuff–released its funding paylines. The good news is that the funding rate is higher than … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, NIH

Sequestration: Help For Airports, But Not Scientists

Posted on April 29, 2013 by

A while ago, I described what sequestration would mean to me as a scientist (boldface added): The other way I’ll be hit is that I’m basically on a grant with a junior, soft-money researcher. We received the scores and broke … Continue reading →

Posted in Fucking Morons, Funding, NIH | 4 Comments

Overheads, the Good and the Bad

Posted on April 15, 2013 by

It seems arguments about overheads–the additional fees that grant recipients add to the direct costs of a grant–have flared up again, with the usual dichotomy between ‘overheads are mostly profit’ and ‘overheads are absolutely reasonable.’ Proflikesubstance writes (boldface mine): But. … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, NIH | 1 Comment

How the Dominant Funding Structure Leads to the Decline Effect (and Othe Stats Problems)

Posted on April 11, 2013 by

Ed Yong has an excellent post about how many neuroscience studies are underpowered (not enough study subjects). These studies are unable to detect real effects, especially if the effects are moderate or weak. As bad, for a result to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, Statistics | 2 Comments

The Economics of NIH Research

Posted on April 10, 2013 by

While the austerians will never be convinced that God doesn’t shed a tear every time a federal tax dollar is spent, among the Coalition of the Sane, it’s acknowledged that government spending can stimulate economic growth beyond the amount initially … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Funding, NIH | 3 Comments

One More Damn Thing That Needs Fixing: The Storm Tracking Edition

Posted on March 23, 2013 by

Well, this little story about the ongoing decay of U.S. infrastructure is discouraging (boldface mine): Computing power gives Europeans a commanding advantage when it comes to weather forecasting and storm tracking, but the new head of the National Weather Service … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, I For One Welcome Our Austerity Overlords | 1 Comment

A Very Important Grantsmanship Tip

Posted on March 19, 2013 by

I’m reviewing an NIH grant, and here’s how a paragraph in the middle of the page ends: And finally, the That’s it. While this is very suspenseful, it’s not especially informative. If you’re going to do this, at least make … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, NIH | 3 Comments

Indirects, Overhead, and Fringe, Oh My: The False Morality of Low Indirect Rates

Posted on March 19, 2013 by

So the Boston Globe had an article about overheads in science which has worked people into high dudgeon (never sure what low dudgeon would look like. But I digress). One issue is to what extent research agencies should be paying … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, NIH | 2 Comments

It Is Now As Hard to Get a NIH R01 Grant As It Is to Get Into Harvard

Posted on March 2, 2013 by

And you only have to get into Harvard once, not every three to five years. This is incredibly depressing: And the NHLBI: The NHLBI has established an interim payline at the 6th percentile (inclusive) for investigator initiated R01/R21 research grant … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, I For One Welcome Our Austerity Overlords, NIH | 1 Comment

When’s the Last Time You’ve Heard a Bailed-Out Investment Banker or a Defense Contractor Say This?

Posted on February 28, 2013 by

Money I have in existing grant for my summer salary will go to pay my students in absence of NSF funding. #studentsfirst #sequester— skullsinthestars (@drskyskull) February 27, 2013 I’m guessing never. Just saying. Anger is the appropriate emotion.

Posted in Basic Human Decency, Funding, I For One Welcome Our Austerity Overlords | 2 Comments