A series of panels, launched in May by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, is sharing strategies with Cornell faculty for playing a wider funding field. The first panel this semester, “Seed-to-Grant Funding,” will be held Sept. 2, at 2-3:30 p.m. ET, in Atkinson Hall 121. 

“Faculty at Cornell and other top research universities are facing a lot of uncertainty and rapid change in the funding landscape, particularly in relation to federal sponsors,” said Gary Koretzky ’78, interim vice provost for research. “These panels highlight ways researchers can diversify their funding portfolios.”

“Our goal is for faculty to leave these discussions more confident about how to pursue avenues that they may not have needed to explore in the past,” said Natalie Bazarova, associate vice provost for research and professor of communication in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). 

Bazarova plans the series with the two other associate vice provosts in the Office of the Vice Provost for Research: Marjolein van der Meulen, the Swanson Professor of Biomedical Engineering in Cornell Engineering, and Marcus Smolka, professor of molecular biology and genetics in CALS.

Each panel focuses on a different strategy or funding source.

“We ask panelists to share their insights into these funding models, along with success stories and lessons learned,” van der Meulen said. “We are essentially crowd-sourcing experiences with important funding sources that are poised to play a larger role as researchers look for alternatives to federal sponsorship.”

The upcoming panel on Sept. 2 is comprised of four leads of seed programs along with two faculty members who have successfully leveraged seed grants to attract external funding. 

 “With each panel, our emphasis is on strategy” Smolka said. “For the upcoming seed-to-grant panel, for example, we aren’t just talking about what are the opportunities at Cornell. We are learning from colleagues about how to take a small seed grant and use it to the greatest advantage for developing an impactful project and expanding funding portfolios.”

The series kicked off in May with a panel focused on engaging with foundations and other private funders. More than 100 faculty attended.

A panel focused on industry funding, to be facilitated by Krystyn J. Van Vliet, vice president for innovation and external engagement strategy, is scheduled for Oct. 1.

An up-to-date schedule of past and future panels is available on the Research Services website. A summary of the May panel on foundations and other private funders is also available. Dates of future panels and summaries of past panels will be added as the series continues. 

The funding panel series is sponsored by Research & Innovation; University Foundation Relations & Corporate Philanthropy, part of Alumni Affairs and Development; and the Provost’s Office of Faculty Development and Diversity.

J. Edward Anthony is a writer for Cornell Research & Innovation.