I've been out of science for 10yrs (Dh is still in science) and it is just as Val describes. Val what branch of science are you in? I was an immunologist. I remember as a graduate student when my PI got her first R01...it was almost unheard of to have it funded on the first try and nearly 100%. And yes, you need to have most of the work done before you get money to do it. So you get a grant for work you've already done, to pursue your next project. IN our field you used to could postdoc for 6months-1yr, get your position, get your grant, set up your lab.... now folks are postdocs for years and years and then become research ass 1, research assistant 2 blah blah blah.
