Know Your Grants
A simple definition of research is the “careful study that is done to find and report new knowledge about something” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). While many of us may picture scientists in white coats performing lab experiments, the range of research grants is far wider. Additionally, a “research grant” isn’t one, specific type of grant. Rather, grants that fund or support research can be awarded through a discretionary grant, block grant, or any of the other types of grants.
First, you or your organization need expertise within your field of work (e.g.,
aeronautics, biomedical devices, or ecology).
Next, before searching through hundreds of grant opportunities, you may want to
familiarize yourself with the grant-making agencies and their programs that fund
research.
Each agency funds research to some degree, but here are some of the most frequent
funding agencies and links to resources about research grants: