Seeking Guidance: Overcoming Rejection and Finding Support in High-Impact Research

TL;DR

I am a microbiologist and faculty member aiming to contribute to pandemic preparedness in Africa. Despite rejections from several Effective Altruism opportunities, I am committed to transitioning into vaccine design, specifically focusing on phage-based vaccines. I secured a research visit position at the University of Waterloo but faced funding challenges, with rejections from Open Philanthropy and EA Funds. I seek advice on coping with feelings of inadequacy, understanding what projects funders find impactful, evaluating the potential impact of phage vaccine development, and identifying alternative funding sources for research visits.

I am currently grappling with feelings of inadequacy in my efforts to make a high impact. As a faculty member and microbiologist, I believe pandemic preparedness is critically important for Africa.

To contribute to this field, I applied to various Effective Altruism (EA) opportunities to enhance my understanding and refine my impact. Unfortunately, most of these opportunities did not consider me a "good fit," with the latest rejection being particularly discouraging.

After attending a Bluedot course on Pandemic Preparedness, I was inspired to transition into vaccine design and research. Specifically, I decided to focus on developing a phage-based vaccine to gain the necessary skills for vaccine development. I secured a research visit position at the University of Waterloo but needed funding to attend.

I applied for support through the Open Philanthropy career program and the EA Long-Term Future Fund, believing my goals aligned with their objectives. However, Open Philanthropy declined my application, and although EA Funds initially considered my request, they ultimately rejected it after I asked for a quick response.

I have several questions:

1. How do you cope with the feeling of not meeting the high expectations associated with making a significant impact?

2. What types of career activities or projects do these funders typically view as high-impact and worth supporting?

3. Do you believe pursuing a career in phage vaccine development can truly make a significant impact?

4. Are there any available funding sources for research visits like mine that you are aware of?

Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences.