2026 Workshop: From Vision to Funded Research
Julio Urbina
Romina Nikoukar
Angeline Burrell
Susan Nossal
Mark Conde
Andrew Pepper
Aidan Thayer
Bryce Halter
Phil Erickson
This interactive panel session at the CEDAR Workshop 2026 meeting will explore best practices for assembling, refining, and submitting competitive research proposals across a broad range of science areas and topics (e.g., basic research, rocket investigations to satellite and CubeSat missions). Designed in a moderated Q&A and presentation based format with clearly defined objectives and targeted questions, the panelist and presenters will feature perspectives from across our field (e.g., from a faculty member, a government program officer, and a soft-money researcher, with the potential inclusion of an external grants professional). Panelists will discuss how to start with a compelling science question, build and broaden effective teams, and “re-tool” for different agencies/proposal calls recognizing their distinct priorities and review processes. Topics will include selecting the right funding opportunity, understanding typical timelines, clarifying roles (e.g., who leads, facilitates, and submits), recycling and strengthening declined proposals, and identifying the positive outcomes that can emerge even from unsuccessful submissions. The session aims to provide broadly applicable guidance for the CEDAR community across career stages navigating an evolving funding landscape.
This session is important to the CEDAR Community and Workshop because proposal writing is an essential skill in our field. Continued progress in the field of aeronomy requires a steady stream of competitive proposals across a wide range of topics including basic and applied research, ground-based observations, sounding rockets, and satellite missions. As funding landscapes and agency priorities evolve, members of the community must be equipped to adapt ideas to the right opportunities, build effective and inclusive teams, and navigate the proposal process strategically. By sharing different and practical insights, this session will strengthen the community’s collective capacity to secure funding, foster new collaborations, support early-career scientists, and ensure that high-impact CEDAR science continues to thrive.