Faculty Development
Research and Faculty Development offers faculty training programs designed to enhance the skills that lead to successful proposals, from finding funding opportunities, to interacting with program officers, to writing effective project narratives.
Proposal Development Academy (PDA)
Proposal Development Academy (PDA) is a nine-week workshop series held in the Spring Semester where participants learn essential skills and best practices to enhance the competitiveness of future grant proposals. Cohorts of 10-12 early-career faculty member PDA participants are selected in the fall of each year, and we request nominations from college deans to begin.
NSF CAREER Club
The University of Idaho NSF CAREER Club is a cohort-based program for early career U of I faculty who plan to submit a National Science Foundation CAREER proposal. Facilitated by the Research and Faculty Development Team, this six-month program provides participants with a suite of valuable tools and events to use in a step-by-step approach to building a compelling, competitive proposal. NSF CAREER Club runs from January to July and a four-week application window typically opens in October. There are a limited number of seats awarded each year through a competitive selection process.
Broader Impacts 101
A competitive National Science Foundation (NSF) grant proposal must include a compelling Broader Impacts (BI) section. The Research and Faculty Development Team (RFD) offers a recurring Broader Impacts 101 Faculty Success Seminar. Designed for anyone interested in applying for NSF funding, this seminar details the meaning of “Broader Impacts” and outlines how faculty can plan BI activities that align with their research as well as their professional and personal interests. The seminar is typically offered in the fall semester, and one-on-one BI consultations are available year-round from the RFD Team. The BI 101 seminar is designed to be useful to those who are new to BI and those who would like a BI refresher.
Research Leadership
RFD offers an eight-week Research Leadership Development program every other fall through an external consulting group (next offering will be Fall 2026). This program supports early-career faculty in gaining the skills, confidence and networks to be successful leaders within their fields. Cohorts of 10-12 early-career faculty member participants are selected through competitive processes.