The Grant Rant

In this episode, I chat with Tom Kuhn (Grants Consultant) and Aubrey Leaman (Grants Researcher) about some of the topics and questions arising from our February webinar! We touch on compliance vs. advancement, whether funders will be prioritizing shorter-term grants, how to reframe your research for competitiveness, and more!  Follow me on Twitter ! Interested in Hanover helping you with your gran...

In today's episode we talk with Steve Jax (the man, the myth, the legend!) about his recent webinar on Advanced Strategies for Enhancing Your Proposal. We jabber about preliminary data (is it REALLY necessary?), getting to know your reviewers, evaluation plans and more. Check it out and stay tuned for another Federal Digest in the coming weeks! Follow me on Twitter ! Interested in Hanover hel...

We are back with all the details on the new Executive Order. Steve and I dive into the key takeaways (appointees reviewing announcements and awards, preference for lower indirect cost rates, termination for convenience), and then take a peek at the appropriations process and the good indicators coming out of Congress!  Follow me on Twitter ! Interested in Hanover helping you with your grants? Chec...

We are back with GOOD news! Today Steve and I chat about the appropriations process (because if you thought the Big Beautiful Bill was the end of the conversation you were wrong) and how the committees are being less slash and burn in their proposals. We also talk about some upcoming changes to NIH submission policy (no more submitting 6+ applications as PI or mPI per year) and their AI policy. Ch...

In today's episode, Senior Grants Consultant Steve Jax and I talk through some of the themes arising out of our most recent webinar on the FY2026 Federal Budget. We talk about best practices for faculty to take when considering how and when to apply, a very un-School House Rock overview of where we are in the budget process, and where to go to find good information as we move forward.  Follow...

We are back with a brief update on all federal happenings - the Supreme Court's decision on nationwide injunctions, DOGE losing access to Grants.gov, and what may be happening inside the administration with constitutional spend down requirements. Check it out! Follow me on Twitter ! Interested in Hanover helping you with your grants? Check out our website for more information . 

We are back today to talk about GOOD things! First up, a court case regarding the NIH terminated grants, then the House Appropriations processes related to USDA, NSF CAREER (it's here to stay, guys!), and finally some more updates on indirect cost rate discussions. Check it out! Follow me on Twitter ! Interested in Hanover helping you with your grants? Check out our website for more informati...

We are back after a brief break with all the updates on the new detailed executive budget plans. We talk about the restructuring happening at NSF and NIH, and what to look for in the coming weeks and months as the budget process progresses.  Follow me on Twitter ! Interested in Hanover helping you with your grants? Check out our website for more information . 

Steve and I are back this week to discuss the latest news - NSF is restructuring their divisions, NIH clarifies the foreign subaward policy (it's temporary!!), and the Gates Foundation speeds up their endowment spend down to assist with the federal government grant shortfalls! Follow me on Twitter ! Interested in Hanover helping you with your grants? Check out our website for more information...

Steve and I are back today to discuss the big stories: the Administration's budget request (eek!), NSF halts awards, NSF also has a new indirect cost rate policy, foreign subawards and (finally!) some good news! Check it out! Follow me on Twitter ! Interested in Hanover helping you with your grants? Check out our website for more information . 

We are back with Managing Grants Consultants Melissa Cornish and Kristina Weaver, answering all your lingering questions from our webinar series! We talk about foundations stepping up to the plate (and how to engage them), what makes grants competitive in these times, how to find collaborators, and more! Tune in and follow us for more! Follow me on Twitter ! Interested in Hanover helping you with...

Well we are back, this week with news on the NSF's leadership change, cuts to the EPA, and reorganizations planned for USDA. We also give brief updates on the Harvard lawsuit and the DOE indirect cost rate policy.  Follow me on Twitter ! Interested in Hanover helping you with your grants? Check out our website for more information . 

In the news today: President Trump's proposed budget and the potential ramifications in the HHS space; NSF and DOGE continuing audit that may slow awards; Northwestern and the fight against DOE's proposed 15% indirect cost rate; NIH's new Terms and Conditions and more updates from the federal shakeup.  Follow me on Twitter ! Interested in Hanover helping you with your grants? Check...

We are back this week with Senior Grants Consultant Steve Jax to discuss recent grant-related news from the federal landscape: Harvard takes a stand, Nature's recent analysis on NIH cuts, and yes - more indirect cost rate updates.  Follow me on Twitter ! Interested in Hanover helping you with your grants? Check out our website for more information . 

AI is here...and likely to stay. Today we chat with Senior Grants Consultant Tom Kuhn about the federal grantmakers and their views on utilizing AI tools in proposal preparation.  Follow me on Twitter ! Interested in Hanover helping you with your grants? Check out our website for more information . 

Every Tuesday, join us as we talk about relevant grantseeker news from the federal world. Today, Senior Grants Consultant Steve Jax discusses the injunction on NIH's indirect cost rate policy, what's happening at NEH, pending legislation with key institutions, and more.  We're here to help - reach out with any questions about the shifting federal landscape and how we can support you...

On today's episode I chat with Senior Grants Consultant Michelle Frank all about NSF CAREER! We are taking your questions - from the impacts of DEI language, to what makes educational activities 'pop,' to whether or not an NIH R01 is competitively prohibitive for CAREER.  Follow me on Twitter ! Interested in Hanover helping you with your grants? Check out our website for more inform...

In today's episode we return from a loooong hiatus to welcome back Senior Grants Consultant Sarah Ott! We chat about the NIH's new review criteria that went into effect at the end of January, what this means for researchers, and what to be aware of as you're submitting your grants!  For more information on NIH review changes, reach out to us at podcast@hanoverresearch.com! Follow me...

On today's episode, we chat about the NIH's C06 program! Grants Consultant Steve Jax joins Katy and me (KATY IS BACK) to talk about the biomedical research facilities program, which allows for renovating and construction costs for places to do the work, ya'll. Steve talks about what makes for a strong application, things to consider well ahead of time, and other hot tips. Check it o...

We're back!! After a brief (or maybe not so brief) hiatus, we are back today with Katy and Tom to discuss large scale proposals...also known as the dreaded center grant proposal. We discuss the challenges with managing these, how to plan ahead, and dive into a few haunting experiences with these beasts. Are center proposals worth it? YES! But listen in for tips on how to survive them without...

On today's Grant Rant, I chat with Senior Grants Consultants Steve Jax and Sarah Ott about best practices when it comes to aims and objectives in grant proposals. We all know codependency in relationships is bad, but did you know it's bad in grants too? Well, it is! Sarah and Steve talk me through keeping those aims independent, what interdependence looks like, and how to make a compelli...

It's a party! On today's episode we are joined by Grants Consultants and our Managing Content Director to talk about a milestone in our journey as a practice...TRES COMMAS!  Over the past 14ish years we've had the privilege of working with so many amazing clients, and we celebrate securing over $1 billion in funding with them! Join myself, Tom Kuhn, Kristina Weaver, Paul Tuttle, Ste...

We are winding down our NIH series, but we can't say goodbye without talking about early career! Many agencies have great resources for early career PIs, and the NIH is no exception. Tom and me chat about the early career reviewer program, how to extend your ESI status, the K series, and what makes a good mentor. Check it out! We'll be closing this series in the next episode as we talk a...

Did you know that NIH has a delightful suite of tools called  NIH REPORT? Did you also know that these tools can help you find the right Program Officer, the right Study Section, and give you tons of information on funded projects? You didn't? Fortunately, Tom Kuhn and I are here to give you all the tea. Listen in! Follow me on Twitter ! Interested in Hanover helping you with your grants? Che...

Hear ye, hear ye! It's time to talk about international applicants to the NIH! While some federal agencies are less chummy when it comes to international grants, the NIH is quite welcoming! In this episode, we chat about the Fogarty Center (an institute at the NIH specifically for international applicants and research), where to find eligibility criteria, and how to best position yourself for...