“We’re just started getting the word out—reach out to faculty and let them know that we’re available,” Fitzgerald said, adding that his office can offer “expertise” to faculty who do not have experience with the grants process.

Molecular and Cellular Biology Director of Research Affairs Feng Chen said that the reduction in federal funding is probably felt most acutely by junior faculty in science fields, who need seed funding to begin the research necessary for getting tenure.

“The success rate has really become really low,” Chen said. “And I think this is probably not unique to FAS or Harvard alone—everywhere you go, people are talking about how to explore unconventional resources to support research.”

Faculty are spending more and more time on the paperwork to apply for as many grants as possible, Chen added.

“I think all faculty realize that the competition for research funding is intensified,” said Susan O. Gomes, FAS director of research development. “The key word is strategy,” she added, emphasizing that the government has invested more money in some areas even while slashing other funds.

—Staff writer Radhika Jain can be reached at radhikajain@college.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Kevin J. Wu can be reached at kwu@college.harvard.edu.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

CORRECTION: Oct. 18

An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the position of Susan O. Gomes in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. She is not the director of research development for science but the director of research development.