Today's Vent: Know what you are getting yourself into!

Applying for federal money is a complicated, time-consuming process. Whether you are applying for an NIH or NSF research grant, or a CDC cooperative agreement, you need to understand that you are embarking on a long journey that requires attention to detail and proper planning. If you are responding to a 200-page Request for Proposals, guess what? You actually need to read the entire 200 pages. If you do not have the time and resources available to fully commit to putting together a top-notch proposal, how will you carry out the project you propose if the grant is awarded?