Embedded Files
Hotel Information
Hotel Information
We have secured a group rate of $249 per night (plus taxes) at the Placemakr Dupont Circle. Click here to book at this rate, which will be available until April 3rd. The RD team will plan to leave from the lobby area of the hotel as a group each day to travel to the group activities; there is a DC-Metro stop nearby.
If you are interested in sharing a room with a colleague, please contact the RD team to see if anyone else is interested. Please feel free to contact any of the other travelers as well.
Room Sharing
Room Sharing
If you are interested in sharing a room with a colleague, please contact the RD team to see if anyone else is interested. The block of rooms reserved at the Placemakr hotel is for studio apartments, but they may have some double occupancy units available for an additional charge. There may be nearby hotels which may be better for double occupancy, that you are free to explore and book.
Of course, please feel free to contact any of the other travelers directly as well.
Meetings with Program Officers
Meetings with Program Officers
You are responsible for making individual or small group (less than 5 people) meetings with program officers. Plan on starting to email or call starting in March, and ping them weekly until you get a meeting or an answer. We expect that you have received a variety of responses: some saying they don't meet with PIs, some requiring a concept paper, and some requiring you to work with another person within the agency. There is great variability in PO personalities. If you are receiving a disappointing response, we can help. Contact someone on the RD Team.
To the right is some sample text you can use to reach out to program officers. You can click on the document to open the Google Doc and make a copy.
Group Sessions
Group Sessions
When the group sessions are confirmed, we will invite you on Google Calendar so you have a placeholder. Look for these in your inbox soon. We will also add them to the Google Site Itinerary page when it's up.
Security Clearance at Federal Agencies/Buildings
Security Clearance at Federal Agencies/Buildings
Anytime you visit a federal agency/building, you may need to go through a security checkpoint in order to enter.
As you schedule individual meetings with program officers, please work with your contacts to make sure you follow the security protocol for visiting with them.
In all cases, be prepared with a government-issued ID. NSF and NIH only require one form of ID; others may require two forms of identification. Be sure to read the information carefully if you are going to another agency to ensure you have the required documentation.
Use Spaces to interact with researchers and staff going on the trip
Use Spaces to interact with researchers and staff going on the trip
We will use the Spaces feature of the Gmail App for speedy communication during the trip. Please make time to download the app and log into your mtu.edu Google account before the trip. It’s super helpful when coordinating metro and walking directions, finding out if anyone wants to have lunch or dinner together, and ride-sharing. Feel free to email us or ask a question on the Google Space chat.
In a browser window, navigate to your Gmail.
On the left-hand side of the screen, click "Spaces."
Click on "2026 Spring DC Trip"
In the Space, you can navigate Chat, Files, and Tasks
Use Chat to ask questions and answer prompts. We will use this more often on the trip. Plan on downloading the Gmail app if you don't already have it on your device. Tagging is helpful here to get someone's attention.
Use Files to access files.
Use Tasks to assign yourself or other tasks related to this trip, either in preparation, during the trip, or follow-up action items.
Page updated
Report abuse