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In early 2026, both National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced changes to the format and creation of their Data Management and Sharing Plans (DMS Plan). Here, we summarize how the changes will impact your proposal preparation and provide resources to help you prepare for the updated forms. 

Our team is ready to support University of California, Davis faculty applying for the 2026 National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER, so it's time to share what we have planned for our researchers this year!

Grant writers need to be able to justify not just why the work should be done, but also that the work CAN be done. Feasibility hinges on three primary factors: 1) investigator skills and experience, 2) logistics of project scope, budget, and time frame, and 3) suitability of the planned methods. While expectations vary by funding opportunity, all sponsors want assurance that they are investing wisely. 

Here are a few ways to effectively demonstrate feasibility in your next proposal. 

In 2026, disruptions in federal grant programs have led to an unusual convergence of early career proposal deadlines that were previously more staggered. In many cases proposal preparation time – the time between the release of funding opportunity announcements and proposal due dates – has also shortened.

While this environment presents challenges, it also creates an important opportunity: with thoughtful planning and early preparation, you can position yourself for success. Starting early and planning strategically is no longer just helpful, it is essential.

NIH is requiring personnel documents for all submissions due May 8 and after to be created using the Common Form in SciENcv (NOT-OD-26-079). This affects proposals, RPPRs and JIT submissions. Details of the changes can be found in the original notice (NOT-OD-26-018).

• They look just as expected based on the Preview forms.
• All sections of the Common Form must have something entered in order for you to download a compliant form. 
• You can add formatting to narrative sections (Personal Statement and Contributions to Science) using HTML code.

NIH is requiring personnel documents for all submissions due May 8 and after to be created using the Common Form in SciENcv (

A strong grant proposal will: 

UPDATE: As of January 30, 2026 we are anticipating a partial federal government shutdown starting at midnight Friday Jan 30th.  If it happens, this partial shutdown will impact only Dept of Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, Defense, Transportation, Homeland Security, State, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development.  

Not impacted are NSF, NASA, NIST, NOAA, Dept of Commerce, DOE, and USDA. These agencies should continue operating as normal. 

Developing a strategic funding plan can help any researcher. But for early career faculty looking to take advantage of opportunities exclusively for newer investigators, planning becomes even more important. Early career funding opportunities support newer researchers become independent investigators. With many of these awards being highly competitive and prestigious, it’s important to strategize when and how to apply. Below are important factors to consider along with resources that we’ve created to help.  

IMPORTANT: Federal requirements continue to evolve, so if you have any questions regarding whether you need a foreign justification please reach out to the Sponsored Programs Office (SPO) at [email protected]. 

What is a foreign justification and why do I need one?

One of the most difficult steps in writing is when you need to edit your own work. After spending days/weeks/months/years on a project, it’s hard to see your work objectively. So, what are ways to help you get a fresh perspective on your own writing? Below are some tips and resources to help you edit your work.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) uses two primary criteria to evaluate proposals: intellectual merit (how your work enhances your field) and broader impacts (how your work benefits society).

Since the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, there have been seven areas emphasized for broader impacts:

NIH recently announced a plan to limit PIs to submitting no more than 6 grant applications per calendar year, including new, renewal, resubmission or revision applications. What does that mean for UC Davis investigators?

We all need a break from staring at our screens from time to time, and a great way to use those breaks to help your grant writing and fund your research is to listen to a podcast! Below are some of our team’s favorites: 

In grant writing, the One-pager is your proposal pitch. It’s what you would send to a program officer, colleague, and/or potential collaborator to get feedback and check scope, and it is a critical step in the proposal development process. Crafting a One-pager requires you to crystallize the framework and rationale of your proposed idea, outline the objectives and activities of your project, and match your goals to the funding opportunity and sponsor. All of which needs to be done in a clear, concise, jargon-free way.