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Become a Grant Reviewer

Both government and private funding agencies rely on faculty experts to review grant proposals and to make recommendations on funding.  These agencies are often seeking new reviewers to expand their programs and to replace reviewers who have finished their term of service.  Serving on a grant review panel is an excellent way to gain an insider’s perspective with regard to grant programs, to expand your academic and professional network, and to become a better proposal writer.

There are numerous benefits to being a proposal reviewer:

  • gain first-hand experience of the peer review process
  • observe common problems with proposals
  • learn strategies to create strong proposals
  • meet colleagues and funding agency program officers
  • develop networks and collaboration opportunities
  • stay current with innovations and trends in your discipline

The Office of Sponsored Programs encourages faculty members to explore this activity.

In The Chronicle of Higher Education, Karen Markin from the University of Rhode Island urges that becoming a member of a review panel is an outstanding experience. “The best way to find out what a review session is really like is to participate in one yourself. Being a junior faculty member need not be an obstacle. Many different organizations need grant proposals reviewed, and with a little effort, you can probably find a gig.”  The rest of Markin’s article explains how to become a grant reviewer. 

You can read the whole article .

Who needs grant reviewers? Just about everybody.  Links to several agencies are shown below, and if you didn’t find what you want, check with professional associations of which you are a member. 

National Science Foundation

National Institutes of Health

U.S. Department of Education

The National Endowment for the Humanities
 
DHHS, Human Resources and Services Administration

DHHS, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
 

Institute for Museum and Library Services

Fulbright Program

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