National Research Initiative: A Vital Competitive Grants Program in Food, Fiber, and Natural-Resources Research (2000)
Chapter: B Survey on the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Appendix B
Survey on the US Department of Agriculture’s National Research Initiative (NRI) Competitive Grants Program
1. Are you familiar with the NRI program?
|
a) |
Yes, very familiar |
_____ |
|
|
b) |
Somewhat familiar |
_____ |
|
|
c) |
Not familiar |
_____ |
(Please answer Question 8 and any others you consider appropriate.) |
Comments:
2. In your view, has the program contributed to the mission of generating fundamental and applied research, and future scientists for agriculture?
|
a) |
Yes _____ for the most part. |
|
b) |
Yes _____ but less than I expected. |
|
c) |
No _____ its promise remains largely unfulfilled. |
Comments; Examples:
3. Is the NRI peer review process fair?
|
a) |
Yes _____ |
|
b) |
No _____ |
Comments:
4. As a NRI grant recipient/applicant, how did this affect your career? (If this question does not apply to you, but you know someone whose career is or has been affected, please fill in the following.)
|
|
|
Greatly |
Some |
Very Little |
|
a) |
Promotion impact |
_____ |
_____ |
_____ |
|
b) |
Tenure impact |
_____ |
_____ |
_____ |
|
c) |
Publication(s) |
_____ |
_____ |
_____ |
|
d) |
Patent(s) |
_____ |
_____ |
_____ |
|
e) |
Career development of undergrad. students |
_____ |
_____ |
_____ |
|
f) |
Career development of your graduate students |
_____ |
_____ |
_____ |
|
g) |
Career development of your post-doctoral fellows |
_____ |
_____ |
_____ |
|
h) |
Ability to pursue independent (curiosity-driven) research |
_____ |
_____ |
_____ |
Other (comments):
5. Has the NRI enabled you or your institution/company to obtain other funds (leveraging)?
|
a) |
Yes _____ |
|
b) |
No _____ |
Comments; Examples:
6. Has the NRI contributed to development of human resources in food and agriculture?
|
a) |
Yes _____ |
|
b) |
No _____ |
Comments; Examples
7. Has the NRI program resulted in any major benefits to the U.S. food and agriculture system?
|
a) |
Yes _____ |
|
b) |
No _____ |
Comments; Examples:
8. Are the areas of congressionally mandated funding appropriate? These areas are: plant systems; animal systems; nutrition, food quality and health; natural resources and the environment; processes for adding value and new products; and markets, trade and policy.
|
a) |
Yes_____ |
|
b) |
No _____ (Please explain in the comments area) |
|
c) |
What two areas of research are most important to you, in order of priority (1=highest)? |
Comments:
9. If the NRI received a significant increase in appropriations, how should the additional funds be used? Rank the following (1=highest; 5 = lowest).
|
a) |
Expand into new areas |
_____ |
|
b) |
Increase size of awards |
_____ |
|
c) |
Increase duration of awards |
_____ |
|
d) |
Increase number of submission dates per year |
_____ |
|
e) |
Other |
_____ |
10. Should the NRI continue? Mark all that apply.
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|
|
Very Much |
Some-what |
Not Much |
|
a) |
Is the NRI continuance important to you |
_____ |
_____ |
_____ |
|
b) |
Is the NRI continuance important to your institution |
_____ |
_____ |
_____ |
|
c) |
Is the NRI’s continuance important for the U.S.? |
_____ |
_____ |
_____ |
|
d) |
Is the NRI an important part of the USDA research portfolio? |
_____ |
_____ |
_____ |
|
e) |
Is the overhead rate (now 19%) acceptable? a deterrent? (please circle one and then respond) |
_____ |
_____ |
_____ |
11. How would you improve the NRI? Mark all that apply.
|
a) |
Change program areas |
Yes _____ |
No _____ |
|
b) |
Change application process |
Yes _____ |
No _____ |
|
c) |
Change review process |
Yes _____ |
No _____ |
If “yes”, please elaborate and give examples:
