I recently tried to apply for some grant, I was shocked by the paper work I have to do with the application forms, more than 44 pages to be filled. In addition it assumes that you know the future, and you know the outcome of your research before it is even started.
Do you think that this system needs to be changed?
Why research gate does not announce for new grants as they announce for new jobs?
Many paper jobs dear @Ahmad! I have never liked it! But, it is a MUST for researcher! I will attach some good readings that should make this process easier! Good luck!
http://theresearchwhisperer.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/research-grant-applications-101/
http://theresearchwhisperer.wordpress.com/category/apply-for-funding/
Dear Ahmad,
Indeed a lot of time is lost with unnecessary overloaded administration procedures and the very low rate of success based on review reports not giving convincing arguments for judgement. Applicants are often more competent than the judges.
The easiest way is to get a fixed amount of money every year that allows you to do your research.
Dear Ahmad,
All we know that to apply for a research support is a long and tedious work. As you said that the paper work you have to do with the application forms, more than 44 pages to be filled out.
I fully agree with your suggestion regarding the role of RG in announcing for new grants as they do with new jobs.
Unfortunately, research is under-financed in many countries: thus, the grant system is used to select e.g. only 10% of the best proposals and then, finance only these. For decision-makers, it is easier to select "winners" if proposals have to follow a specific structure and if the applicants have to fill some standardized forms. From the applicants' perspective, all this is often a huge waste of time, but, unfortunately, science is a very competitive field, and usually, you have to compete to get financing.
Many paper jobs dear @Ahmad! I have never liked it! But, it is a MUST for researcher! I will attach some good readings that should make this process easier! Good luck!
http://theresearchwhisperer.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/research-grant-applications-101/
http://theresearchwhisperer.wordpress.com/category/apply-for-funding/
Dear Ahmad, the problem of bureaucracy is a huge one for my country too, especially for the so called 'european projects', where in order to participate you need assistance from army of consultants! I really understand you and I have the same questions like you. If you finally find an answer, I'd like to share it with us. Good luck!
In order to apply for a support of your reasearch from EU, the bureaucracy is so big that you have to have either some personel working full time for this or you can not have any teaching activities! Personally I refuse to get such a grand!
The requarment should be up to three papges from the side of researcher, all the remaining should be the job of a specialized office in the University.
What an absurd purpose to convert a researcher and teacher to a bureaucratic officer!
Dear Ahmad,
Try one of those colleagues who have been doing this sort of business for years now. They often happen to know the ins and the outs very well!
Research grants for scholars in 3rd world countries are few. Frankly, many of these few grants are politicized. In politics, there are no charities but donations for specific purposes. To get a grant by giving them details of the details about your self , this must mean that they are collecting information about you for non-scientific reasons. I wish there are local or regional supporters for research instead of dependence on those who "donate to link"...
I can not speak to a comparison of availability of research grants. Regarding the process, however, the larger the award the greater the likelihood of an involved application process with numerous details to accomplish. The details, as you know, provide a method of weeding out. So, some grants at each level are eliminated to simplify the task of getting down to the x-number that will be funded. Prior funding increases the likelihood of future funding, for a number of reasons.
Political savvy does play into the process. And all factors that contribute to the process of grant awards--whether a third world country or industrialized are not equal. A danger for any researcher working anywhere is to modify the research agenda to pursue the plenteous or meager funding in whatever setting one is in. So, the money-pool may shape the questions asked, as well as the answers-- which is a danger. The financed response is not necessarily the right answer--although, good funding has potential to support astounding accomplishments.
Where funds are meager, another approach is to partner with other researchers and share resources, or jointly apply for a research grant. Perhaps, Researcher A has funding left over from X project, with appropriate release to apply it to a new project. Perhaps, Researcher B, has the necessary instrumentation, Researcher C is great at data analysis and so, forth.
In advance, I request forbearance if some naivete of viewpoint is inherent in my post. My experience in this area is limited. However, the question of research funding in third world countries stirred my interest in reading more of the posts.
I think the system needs to be not changed but develop so that means make it simple not difficult.
Dear @Ahmad, your last sentence "Why Research Gate does not announce for new grants as they announce for new jobs?" is good point! Seems that ResearchGate is going commercial too much! I think that would be nice to bring such funding informations to researchers! Here are some!
http://danube-inco.net/object/call/13970
http://danube-inco.net/object/call/13926
http://danube-inco.net/object/call/13865
Here are some more opportunities for grants! Hope it will be helpful for researchers to apply!
http://danube-inco.net/object/call/14031
http://danube-inco.net/object/call/14071
http://danube-inco.net/object/call/14035
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