Dear Lab researchers,
Today, Berkeley Lab is one of the most diverse multi-program research labs in the world, largely due to the creativity of our leadership and our researchers. It is important that we continue this exploration while ensuring that we build capabilities and funding sources in those areas we have identified as critical for the Lab’s future.
Recently, the Research Management Task Force (RMTF), a small group of career researchers and staff that has been examining ways we can more effectively manage the Lab’s research, has recommended more widespread visibility of funding opportunities. We’ve also heard feedback that some of our early- and mid-career researchers don’t clearly understand how new funding is sought or allocated at the Lab.
If you aren’t already using Pivot’s research funding tool, please use this online service and database to find and manage funding opportunities. Used by thousands of research institutions and universities around the world, Pivot provides a single, comprehensive resource for federal, state, and foundation funding opportunities. The Lab covers the annual subscription fee, so it is a free service at the Lab.
Pivot’s search features can help you refine and improve the discovery of targeted funding opportunities based on each user’s automatically generated profile. Individuals can set up notifications of new opportunities based on automated searches. Pivot can also help identify additional collaborators from across the Lab who might make your proposals stronger.
This service, I believe, will address much of our need for discovery of available funding opportunities that match the Lab’s capabilities, and it is accessible equally to everyone at the Lab. I encourage you and your teams to explore its capabilities. Over the next few months, please watch for more information about Pivot and how we can use it to achieve the greatest scientific impact possible.
Mike Witherell