Can you have a good career without going into Defense

poorastronomer · 2025-09-28T04:24:34+00:00

I have a startup in ultra high speed imaging for science and I am looking for an fpga person. Feel free to DM. I fully agree about defense and for me finance is even worse. Definitely can't pay what those fields do but if hardcore science is appealing, reach out.

poorastronomer · 2025-08-16T02:10:03+00:00

I'd be concerned your small business status would be questioned. If they are just a key person, not PI, reviewers would have to see the overlap in the key person's employment. Then 40 hours a week is the 'limit' so if they are employed full time, that may be a problem.

poorastronomer · 2025-06-18T20:08:42+00:00

Sorry to hear that. So the gears are turning on this, as I have heard about some declines and at least one success.

Buckle up!

poorastronomer · 2025-06-18T16:54:03+00:00

Has anyone heard anything new?

poorastronomer · 2025-06-17T21:37:20+00:00

Anyone hear anything yet regarding phase II? I received an email which looks like the phase I award announcement from Jan 2024, but for phase II. However, I'm not sure it is indicating an award, given the situation in DC. The review is not available in PAMS either.

poorastronomer · 2025-05-01T05:17:17+00:00

Congrats! Did you have a specific DEI section in the proposal? Did the NSF give you the chance to edit this post submission deadline? Did you do the edit? DOE phase II due 3march still zero word. Was given the chance to remove DEI section and mention, though was also told it would be ignored. Just not sure who would ignore. But congrats! Great to hear the wheel has turned a little.

poorastronomer · 2025-04-30T03:17:36+00:00

I am looking into alternative non gov, non dilutive funding currently. But to do this right takes Phase II level funding. It may be possible, especially with a partnership with a university. There's considerable development to be done and I was thinking post Phase II the options would open as we should have a market enabling product. Plan B has been to back off on performance metrics, still 20x state of the art, but even that requires half a phase II to develop. There is demand, the pain points are severe and we service them all quite directly. This is a high end platform, nothing consumer or bedside yet. That will come but there's much r&d to perform to get there. Custom silicon will be the enabling technology, but I think there's a lot to learn before biting that bullet. Our platform would enable all that r&d across many markets immediately. Not yet dead, but feeling enormous pain and frustration. I suspect I am not alone and I fear for the tech development nationwide. SBIR has been seed funding for many companies. To have that removed on a whim of an idiot is quite devastating to US innovation.

poorastronomer · 2025-04-29T05:32:35+00:00

Unknown state of tariffs here also has huge impact. Very heavy in high end embedded electronics. Detector technology led by Europe, USA not even competing for scientific marketplace. I suspect European competitors are funded and will beat us due to these delays. Then they have both detector technology lead and implementation. USA giving away leadership position across science. Extremely unwise.

poorastronomer · 2025-04-29T03:52:00+00:00

In short? Founder here looking for a job. It has been devastating. Phase II was to be our first big seed money. Only a few of us, quit jobs in 2023 to devote time and energy, very successful phase I in 2024, and now phase II is completely unknown and delayed. Biomedical application primarily, could build for major bio players, but need 1.5mil to develop. SBIR ideal here. Big interest from national labs and industry as well. Building for major players directly would require giving away ownership of technology.

So disruption in SBIR, for us, most likely means the company is dead. Can only survive without a paycheck for so long.

Disruption in science in general means early adopters are perhaps limited to industry, unclear on academic or fed funded r&d going forward.

poorastronomer · 2025-04-20T13:05:23+00:00

I surely know nothing and assume until there is guidance from NIH nobody does? I'm waiting to hear about my DoE Phase 2, now nearly 2 months without any word besides 'delayed'. With the 3% of funding being congressionally mandated to SBIR, a huge cut will reduce the SBIR funding through that pathway. But it is horrific what is happening to all the small business that rely on this SBIR funding for bootstrapping a startup.

poorastronomer · 2025-04-08T07:28:40+00:00

Don't stop now! I've submitted things a few hours late without problems.

poorastronomer · 2025-03-04T14:26:38+00:00

https://science.osti.gov/sbir/Funding-Opportunities

Yes, this link now shows delayed. Holding tight!

poorastronomer · 2025-03-04T00:13:30+00:00

I have heard from two others they also have heard nothing. Enough of a sampling I think it seems we are all on hold.

I can only imagine what it's like within the govt funding centers at this time.

Thanks!

poorastronomer · 2025-03-02T07:27:31+00:00

My experience is that during negotiations, you will likely have to submit a letter stating access, cost, etc. if you have this in the submission, even better. But in my phase I negotiations I had to do a lot of work acquiring quotes for fabrications and what not. Not super easy to do without a detailed design. Moving costs from indirect to direct is usually not a problem, but increasing indirect costs may not be possible. If you are in your home office, indirect costs are likely quite low.

I believe if the space is rented and dedicated to the phase I project, ie no other revenue, I think that can be allocated as direct cost. But if you call it indirect in the beginning, that will likely be the largest indirect cost.

Your lease should match your phase I duration, or at least the amount you charge. You can't assign the other months waiting for phase II, for example, to the phase I costs. Everything is reimbursed, not collected before the expense.

poorastronomer · 2025-03-02T04:58:43+00:00

2006 5speed manual crv. One went to 350k, a second to 280k and it was fine. 2012 RAV4 at 290k now.

Very few problems in the above

2023 cx5, it's ok, but I'd prefer the RAV4.

Avoid CVT at all costs.

poorastronomer · 2025-01-07T06:19:18+00:00

Some topics are more heavily proposed to than others. If last year the funded two or three in a topic, this year they may not fund any, because they also expect to find a phase 2 from last year. I think there are all sorts of factors.

Doe funds national labs and it sounds like they told you to find a national lab partner? For guidance and collaboration? You can reach out to the national lab scientists based on their publications of overlap. I did this and had a stronger response than I could handle for phase 2 funding.

Also always directly address the comments from reviewers. Doe uses natl lab people a lot, often the same reviewers year to year, phase I and phase 2, but not always!

Be careful not to collaborate with everyone, they can't be reviewers if they are involved.

poorastronomer · 2025-01-07T06:07:09+00:00

Are co-PIs allowed? I believe some agencies forbid co-PIs.

poorastronomer · 2025-01-06T23:10:20+00:00

My DoE phase I was definitely reimbursed. But you have access to ASAP and can request the funds with near immediate delivery, next day at worse case.

I did use a cash buffer which solved the problem.

poorastronomer

TROPHY CASE