I’ve Got My Pilot Data. … Now What?
Here’s how to leverage pilot data for your best shot at federal funding.
"Amid the cutthroat competition for... research funding, new investigators can feel daunted by the prospect of jumping headlong into the scope of work required for larger ... grants. In applying for funding, they may face conflicting demands from the agencies who fund the research and the scientists who review it. Agencies tend to want high-reward, paradigm-shifting research that proposes grand advancements in science, technology, health or education. Conversely, reviewers may look for evidence of promise, potential or proof-of-concept that suggests a sure bet over a longshot." [Paragraph edited to appeal to a larger audience]
Full article: https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/career-advice/advancing-faculty/2026/05/11/ive-got-my-pilot-data-now-what-opinion