Waiting for Your Program Officer to Respond? Here’s What to Do
Most of you have no problems communicating with your program officer, but if you do have difficulty getting a response within the timeframe you need, here are some actions to take.
- If you’ve applied for a grant or have an award, contact your grants management specialist. This person may have the information you need or can help you get an answer.
- Leave a message at the appropriate general NIAID number.
- DAIDS: 301-496-0545
- DAIT: 301-496-1886
- DMID: 301-496-1884
- If your inquiry is related to a specific topic or service covered on an NIAID Web site, look for contact information for the people who coordinate the activity in question.
- As an example, for training and career development awards, you may contact our general help desk at AITrainingHelpDesk@niaid.nih.gov even if you’re already working with your program officer. When you get in touch, reference that person and any related correspondence.
- All Resources for Researchers and scientific programs have a contact person for general inquiries.
Check that you go through the following steps before you do the actions above:
- Confirm you have the right person.
- If you have a grant, check the Commons.
- If you do not have a grant, go to Finding People or see the contact information in the funding opportunity announcement or Guide notice.
- Clearly explain why you are getting in touch and describe what you want.
- Follow up your phone call with an email, or follow up your email with a phone call.
- Provide additional contact numbers and email addresses if you have them.
- Convey a sense of urgency or provide a time or date by which you need a response.
Expect to wait longer than normal if you try to contact your program officer immediately after the release of a funding opportunity announcement or Guide notice. We get a spike of inquiries whenever we publish new opportunities or policies, and it takes time to respond to each person who gets in touch.
May 25, 2011
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