Strategic Initiatives
Research Priorities in Focus
Research Priorities In Focus is a strategic competitive intelligence series designed to help USF researchers navigate an evolving federal research landscape and position their work for greater competitiveness, relevance, and impact.
The series provides practical insights into emerging federal priorities, funding opportunities, and partnership pathways—helping researchers anticipate change, adapt strategically, and align their work with areas of national significance.
How Research Priorities in Focus Can Help You?
Federal research priorities shape the future of innovation and funding. As agencies increasingly emphasize applied research, cross-sector partnerships, and translational outcomes, researchers need a clearer understanding of how those priorities connect to their own expertise and research strengths.
This series helps USF researchers do exactly that by exploring how to:
- Anticipate shifts in the federal research landscape
- Align proposals with emerging agency priorities
- Identify funding opportunities and collaborative pathways
- Strengthen narratives for competitive proposals
- Position work for maximum impact and relevance
- Connect research strengths to regional, national, and industry needs
What Each Session Includes
Each session features:
- Competitive Intelligence Analysis: Deep dive into a specific federal research priority and its alignment with USF’s strengths, infrastructure, and regional assets.
- Funding Opportunity Analysis: Explore current and upcoming federal programs and strategies for success.
AY 2026-2027 SCHEDULE
The New Research Partnership Paradigm: Industry-Connected Research
September 17th, 12:00 – 1:00 PM EST
Karen Walker (Associate Director, Competitive Intelligence, RDI) & Elizabeth Nelson
(Director, USF - Florida High Tech Corridor)
Industry engagement is emerging as a key factor shaping research priorities and funding. This session examines the competitive intelligence behind this shift, including emerging patterns in industry-sponsored research, public-private partnerships, technology transition priorities, and workforce-driven innovation agendas. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of where industry interests are converging with federal priorities and learn practical strategies for identifying partnership opportunities, aligning research strengths with market needs, and positioning their work within evolving innovation ecosystems.
Following the Federal Investment Landscape: AI and Quantum
October 26th, 12:00 – 1:00 PM EST
Karen Walker (Associate Director, Competitive Intelligence, RDI)
Artificial intelligence and quantum science are rapidly emerging as defining priorities within the federal research enterprise, driving investment strategies across agencies focused on economic competitiveness, national security, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and scientific discovery. This session explores the competitive intelligence behind these national priorities, examining where federal investments are accelerating, how agencies are approaching convergence between AI and quantum technologies, and what these trends reveal about future funding directions. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the evolving innovation landscape and learn practical strategies for identifying alignment opportunities, building interdisciplinary collaborations, and positioning their research within some of the nation's most significant and fast-moving areas of investment.
Beyond Traditional Solicitations: Readiness, Adaptability, and Responding at Speed
December 2, 12:00 – 1:00 PM EST
Karen Walker (Associate Director, Competitive Intelligence, RDI) & John Johnson (Associate
Director, Pre-Award, RDI)
The most competitive researchers are no longer simply responding to opportunities—they are positioning themselves before opportunities appear. This trend favors researchers who understand agency priorities, cultivate relationships before opportunities appear, and maintain a state of proposal readiness. This session explores the competitive intelligence behind these evolving funding practices and provides practical strategies for identifying emerging opportunities, engaging program officers, developing adaptable research concepts, and positioning teams to respond quickly and effectively when funding opportunities arise.
Decoding NIH Priorities: Using Highlighted Topics to Anticipate Future Funding
February 4, 12:00 – 1:00 PM EST
Karen Walker (Associate Director, Competitive Intelligence, RDI) & Miranda Mattingly,
Ph.D. (Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives, RDI)
NIH's Highlighted Topics resource offers researchers a valuable view into emerging areas of scientific interest across the biomedical research enterprise. This session explores how researchers can use these signals to better understand evolving NIH priorities, identify areas of alignment for investigator-initiated research, and anticipate future funding opportunities. Participants will gain practical strategies for incorporating these insights into proposal development, agency engagement through solicited and unsolicited proposals, and long-term funding planning.
Understanding the Merit Review Process Through the Lens of Gold Standard Science
March 18, 12:00 – 1:00 PM EST
Karen Walker (Associate Director, Competitive Intelligence, RDI) & Ross DuBose, Ph.D.
(Assistant Director, USF Research & RDI)
As federal agencies embrace the principles of Gold Standard Science, expectations surrounding research quality, transparency, reproducibility, and integrity are becoming increasingly central to funding decisions. This session examines the competitive intelligence behind these shifts, exploring how merit review criteria are reshaping proposal evaluation and signaling broader changes in agency priorities and funding strategies. Participants will gain insight into emerging expectations for scientific excellence, credibility, and impact, while learning practical approaches for strengthening proposals, demonstrating research rigor, and positioning their work for success in an increasingly competitive funding environment.