The Proposal Development Office (PDO) is a support unit that focuses on the pre-award stage of extramural funding.   Staff members conduct funding searches for specific projects that researchers wish to pursue, assist in the preparation of competitive proposals by reviewing and critiquing proposal drafts, providing descriptive material on UK resources, and writing sections of proposals where appropriate.  PDO can also link researchers with others on campus with similar research interests for possible multidisciplinary projects.

PDO distributes information about extramural programs electronically through the Grant Deadlines, a monthly publication of funding opportunities; the Grants Bulletin, a newsletter focusing on research-related issues and funding;  and the The PDO Report, a more detailed description of selected extramural programs.  The office encourages UK researchers to sign up on appropriate subject-related mailing lists to receive timely funding announcements in specific areas.

UK subscribes to the Community of Science/Scholars, an international database with several components including a funding opportunities database and a research expertise database.  PDO also offers data entry of UK faculty resumes into the research expertise database.

PDO presents seminars, workshops, and special events that provide information on specific agency or funding programs, enhance grant writing skills, or stimulate the development of new ideas and multidisciplinary opportunities. For many of these workshops, you can register on line.