The path to obtaining successful research funding is not the same for all individuals and depends on numerous factors, including: the level of your career, your location, your previous experience, whether you have a pre-existing project with preliminary data, whether you have a pre-existing research mentor, and whether you have geographic limitations or are free to move to the hotbed of innovation in your particular field of interest. Regardless of the surrounding circumstances, individuals in any of these categories have in common the need to secure funding to support their research endeavors. This roadmap is designed to guide fellows and young investigators with an interest in undertaking research as they work to obtain financing to support their investigations.

Steps to Success

Click on any step for more details:

1. Identify an area of interest.
2. Identify a scientific mentor (or mentors) in your area of interest.
3. Identify and design the research project.
4. Obtain required permits and training to conduct the research project that you have designed.
5. Identify the grant for which you wish to apply (first grants are typically “mentored grants”).
6. Carefully read and understand the instructions of your particular grant application.
7. Understand the deadlines of your particular grant application, acquaint yourself with the grant review process at your institution, and get your grant done early!
8. Revision — Improving your grant application.
9. As long as you can affirm your desire to pursue a successful career in scientific research, do not give up on your grant! Your time spent revising your grant is not wasted!

If you have additional information on funding opportunities or suggestions to this Web site content, please contact the ACR Fellows Subcommittee at . We are always working to improve our Web site content and quality.