There is a resonant rhythm to life in higher education—one that I’ve always cherished. Fall arrives full of energy in the air, as campuses come alive with the excitement of new beginnings: New Student Convocation, homecoming festivities, and the roar of our Husky community cheering on our football, soccer, and volleyball teams. Winter settles in with its short, dark days, where classrooms glow with learning and late-night study sessions are fueled by hot drinks with friends. Then comes the whirlwind of spring, a season of transformation as students wrap up final projects, dream about the future, and walk across the stage at their commencement ceremonies. Amid this joyful, fast-paced academic cycle, we often lose the quiet moments needed to reflect on, prepare, and write about the science we’re so passionate about.
For faculty who have summer salary, the summer months offer an opportunity for them to step back from the academic year’s hustle and invest in the long-term growth of their research programs. Whether you’re an early-career investigator or an established scholar, the following ten strategies can help you make the most of the summer months and return in the fall with renewed scholarly momentum.
1. Invest in Research Training
Summer is an ideal time to hone your research skills or explore new methodologies. We post internal and external training opportunities in our Weekly Research Roundup and encourage you to enroll in workshops, webinars, or online courses that align with your research goals. In addition, this can be a great time to update required research trainings, including Good Clinical Practice, Financial Conflicts of Interest, Grants Management for Investigators, and Research Security Training. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions about these trainings that are required for all funded UW School of Nursing principal investigators.
2. Update Your SciENcv
Planning to apply for federal research funding? Now’s a great time to create or update your SciENcv—a streamlined, electronic CV system used by agencies like NIH and NSF (distinct in purpose and form from Interfolio). It saves you from re-entering the same info for every grant or report, and a polished profile not only preps you for future applications but also helps you track your professional growth.
3. Articulate Your Impact
Potential investors and collaborators want to know the “so what” of your work. Use the summer to reflect and craft a compelling narrative about the significance of your program of research on the lives of our community members. What problems are you solving? Who benefits from your findings? A clear, concise impact statement can strengthen proposals, publications, and public-facing materials.
4. Set Up Your Workday PI Dashboard
Stay on top of your research grant spending with ease by getting familiar with the PI dashboard in Workday. This powerful tool helps you track your grants, gifts, deadlines, sponsored staff, and budget projections—all in one place. The dashboard offers a clear snapshot of your research portfolio expenses and lets you drill down into the details that matter most.
5. Stay Informed on Open PAs, RFAs, and Policy Changes
Keep an eye on open Program Announcements (PAs), Requests for Applications (RFAs), and any changes in funding agency language or priorities. Sign up for, and review, the UW School of Nursing Weekly Research Roundup for new grant opportunities, subscribe to newsletters from major funders in your field, and set alerts for keywords relevant to your field. When you’re tuned into the next opportunity early, you will be better prepared to submit a successful proposal.
6. Plan for Fall Grant Deadlines
Many major grant deadlines fall in the early fall (e.g., NIH, RRF, RIFP). Use the summer to map out your submission calendar, gather materials, and begin drafting. Early planning reduces last-minute stress and improves the quality of your proposals. Remember to submit your planned proposals to the ONR&I Grant Proposal Intake Form as soon as possible!
7. Draft a One-Pager on Your Next Research Step
Clarify your vision by writing a one-page summary of your next big research or scholarly program idea. This exercise helps you distill your goals, identify gaps, and communicate your plan to mentors, collaborators, and funders. It can also serve as a foundation for diversifying future proposals.
8. Stay Connected to ONR&I
The UW School of Nursing Office of Research and Innovation (ONR&I) is a valuable resource throughout the year. Reach out to learn about internal funding, proposal development support, and strategic initiatives. Building a relationship with ONR&I can help you navigate the research landscape more effectively.
9. Explore International Research Opportunities
Global collaboration can open new avenues for funding and innovation. As the federal government updates their policies on funding global collaboration, use the summer to identify potential international partners, understand relevant regulations, and explore funding mechanisms that support cross-border research.
10. Read Widely and Voraciously
Finally, make time to read beyond your area of scholarly expertise. Reading broadly can inspire new ideas, uncover emerging trends, and spur interdisciplinary connections. Whether it’s journal articles, white papers, lay articles, books, or poetry, reading is a powerful way to nourish your intellectual curiosity.
By engaging with some or all of these ten strategies, faculty can use the summer not just to recharge, but to strategically advance your program of research. The quieter months offer a chance to reflect, recalibrate, and invest in your research goals—so that when the academic year resumes, you’re not just prepared for the new academic year, you’re ahead