Melissa Burant, Grants and Contracts Specialist, Senior, Pre-Award
Since 2013, the CFAES Office for Research and Graduate Education, Grant Development Support Unit has been organizing the D.C. Days program. This initiative offers faculty researchers an invaluable opportunity to enhance their competitiveness by engaging directly with federal program officers and funding agencies in Washington D.C. During these visits, researchers can determine if their basic research concepts align with the sponsor’s mission, seek advice on project design and appropriate funding tracks, and gain a deeper understanding of the peer review process.
This year, 11 faculty researchers and two administrative staff from CFAES attended the D.C. Days trip from May 6-9. The event kicked off with a group networking dinner the night before the first agency visit, allowing participants to connect and discuss expectations. Agency visits began the next morning with presentations from the Foundation for Food & Agricultural Research (FFAR), the OSU Office of Government Affairs, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The group then traveled by metro to the National Science Foundation's (NSF) campus, where they spent the afternoon hearing about various NSF programs and had the valuable opportunity to meet one-on-one with Program Directors. Day two began bright and early at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to learn more about their specific funding opportunities, such as the Specialty Crop Research Initiative and the AFRI program. The group was also fortunate to meet NIFA Director, Dr. Manjit Misra, and had the opportunity to ask questions and hear from him directly (see photograph). USDA is consistently one of the top funders of land-grant institutions. After the sponsor visits, participants could schedule additional meetings with program officers to further maximize their time on the hill.
If you are interested in joining the next trip, the 2025 Request for Applications is now available and can be accessed on the DC Days page.