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Lecture8.1Howtowritearesearchproposal
AdaptedpartlyfromResearchProgramDevelopmentWorkshop,NSF,NIHandothersources
“Thereisnograntsmanshipthatwillturnabadideaintoagoodone,buttherearemanywaystodisguisea
goodidea.”NormBraverman,NIH
IntroducKon IntroducKon• Whydoyouneedtowriteaproposal?• ProposalwriKngisanessenKalpartoflifeinalmostallacademicposiKons.
• Forgraduatestudents:• 1.ApplyingforaresearchgrantandtravelgranttoaNendmeeKngs.
• 2.Exchangestudentprogramsandstudyoverseasfromthedepartment,university,naKonalparksorprivatefundsrequiresadecentresearchproposal.
BigPicture
• AlifeKmecareersuccess!
Researcher• Foraresearcher,thefundforbasicresearchinuniversiKesandnon-profitorganizaKonsprimarilycomesfromexternalgrants,suchastheresearchgrantsoftheMinistryofScienceandTechnology(MOST)andothergovernmentalagencies.
• ThecompeKKonforfundingisacademiaandotherorganizaKonisveryintense.Forthemajorityoffundingagencies,o\enonlythetop10-20%ofthesubmiNedproposalsreceivefunding,(about30%inMOST),andthepercentagehaveconKnuedtofallinrecentyears.
GraduateStudent
1.TobecomeasuccessfulgraduatestudentandeventuallysecureanacademicposiKon,therefore,itisveryimportanttobefamiliarwiththeprocessofgrantwriKngandreviewingasearlyaspossible.2.HopefullythegraduatestudentscandevelopthesetofskillsforwriKngupresearchproposalthroughpracKcesandbyreviewingother’sproposals,andsuccessfullycompeteforthelimitedresourcetofundtheirresearchideas.
WhatKeepsusfromDoingProposals?
WhatKeepsusfromDoingProposals?
• FearofrejecKon– Reality-onlyoneproposalin5isnotturneddownbecausetheideawasnotgoodenough– Reality-ArejectedproposalisworthaboutUSD$10,000offreeadvice– Reality-thesuccessrateishigherforproposalsturnedinasecondKme– Reality-thesuccessrateonathirdsubmissionisalmost1:1
NotEnoughTime
• WriKngislikeanOlympicevent– needsconstantpracKce.
• WriteeverydayataregularKmeinthesameplacefor20minutes• Ifyoudon tsitthereeveryday,thedaythatitwouldhavecomewell-youwon tbethere(writer’sblock).
TheProposalProcessisNeverWasted TheProposalProcessisNeverWasted
• Can’tgetagrantunlessyouwriteone• Professionallyfulfilling• Requiresyoutofocusyourthoughts• Armedwithreviewer’scommentsthesecondproposalisalwaysstronger
• Themoreyouwrite,thehigherchanceofgegngone
MOSTIntro
• • hNps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG0ASvTEI_U&feature=youtu.be
• MinistryofScienceandTechnology• hNps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2T9tBIMdns&feature=youtu.be
FundingRateinMOST
FundingRateinMOST40-45% 20%
1
生命科學研究發展司(106年)各學門新申請專題研究計畫 之審查排名分數統計表
學門 審查組別 一般計畫
審查排名之10%、20%、30%、40%、50%及最低錄取分數
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 最低 錄取分數
生物科學 基礎生物 88.00 86.50 85.50 84.50 84.00 84.00
生物化學及分子
生物 88.00 86.50 85.25 84.25 83.50 83.25
農產資源科學
農藝、園藝及農
化 87.00 85.40 84.25 83.25 82.50 82.40
漁業、水產、畜
牧、獸醫及實驗
動物 86.50 85.00 83.75 82.75 82.00 82.25
生農環境與 多樣性
生物多樣性 88.25 86.25 85.00 84.60 84.00 84.00 森林水保及生工
生機 86.25 85.75 85.25 84.25 83.75 83.25
植物保護、土壤
及環保 87.50 86.50 85.75 85.25 84.75 84.50
形態及生理醫學 細胞生物及解剖
暨病理及法醫 85.00 83.50 82.75 82.25 81.00 81.25
生理 86.00 83.50 82.50 82.00 80.80 80.80
生化及藥理醫學 醫學生化及分子
生物 86.75 85.25 84.00 83.00 82.00 82.00
藥理及毒理 84.75 83.50 83.00 82.00 80.75 81.75
微免及檢驗醫學 微生物免疫 87.50 86.25 85.00 84.25 83.50 83.50
寄生蟲及醫技與
實驗診斷 86.00 85.00 83.75 83.25 82.50 82.50
藥學及中醫藥學 藥學 84.75 83.50 83.00 81.75 81.00 81.00
中醫藥學 84.00 82.00 81.00 80.50 79.80 80.25
食品與營養保健 食品科學 84.25 83.00 82.00 81.25 80.50 79.40 營養保健 83.75 82.25 81.50 80.25 79.50 80.00
社會醫學
公衛及環境醫學 86.00 83.50 82.25 81.50 80.75 81.00 食品安全 83.50 82.25 81.40 80.50 79.50 79.50
精神醫學、老人醫
學及家庭醫學 84.75 83.50 82.80 81.75 80.75 81.25
護理 82.50 81.25 80.25 79.50 78.50 78.75
工程醫學
牙醫 82.50 81.50 80.75 79.80 79.25 79.75 放射核醫 84.00 82.75 82.20 81.75 80.5 81.4
醫工、骨科、 幹細胞 84.00 82.50 82.00 81.33 80.25 80.50
WhatDoesMOSTWant?
WhatDoesMOSTWant?
• MOSTlooksforproposalsthat– AreinnovaKveandpushthefronKersofknowledge– ContributetonaKonalneedsandprioriKes– Gobeyondmarginalia– Involveresearch&outreach
• MOSTdo(not)support– Developmentalefforts– Computerprogramming– Designof…..– CommericializaKon
Dos• Haveastrategicplan(schedule…)• Buildonyourstrengths• DifferenKatethisproposalfromyoupriorwork(thesis,papers)andothersponsoredwork
• PerformthoroughliteraturesearchandexploratoryresearchbeforewriKngtheproposal– JournalarKcles– ReadtheMOSTgrantproposalguide
• Establishandkeepyourcontacts(programofficers…)
MinistryofScienceandTechnologyGrantProposal
• III.ContentsofGrantProposal(wri
- -CM02 CM03 25
5
Word 12
2cm
hNps://www.most.gov.tw/most/aNachments/b8c2646a-8976-450d-86c0-068ffadea4ef
ScopeofourProposal ScopeofProposal1.OnemajorbiologicalquesKon.2.1-3sub-aims/goals.3.1-3yearsofprojectforonebeginninggraduatestudent.4.Maintext:ChineseorEnglish,maximumof5pages(notincludingcoverpage,abstract,figure,tableorreferences).5.Minimum1andupto3figures.6.Maximum15keyreferences.7.Mustincludeecologicalexperiments.8.MayincludeevoluKonary,behavioral,physiological,ormolecularbiologyexperiments.
ScopeofProposal9.Budget:NTD$500,000/year.10.Themainpurposeofthegrantproposalistoconvincethefundingagenciestofundyourresearchproject.Sostrivetothinkclearlyandwritelogically.11.PleasebesuretoaddressthefollowingquesKons:
1)Whyareyougoingtostudythistopic?2)Whyisthisstudyimportanttootherresearchersinthe
fieldofresearch?3)Howareyougoingtocarryoutthestudytosolvethe
proposedquesKons?4)Whatistheexpectedresultifthestudywascarriedout
successfully?5)Statementsofintellectualmeritandbroaderimpact.
ProposalBasics
ProposalBasics• Writetothereviewers(nottome,nottoyouryourself,nottoyourclassmates)
• Yourproposalwillbejudgedbythereviewers• Reviewerswanttoknowfourthings:
– Whatisitabout(theresearchobjecKve)?– Howwillyoudoit(accomplishtheobjecKve)?– Canyoudoit(youandyourplan&faciliKes)?– Isitworthdoing?
• Thisis,basically,alltheproposalneedstoconvey–butitneedstoconveythiswell
GegngaResearchTopic
Idea
• Anideaissomethingthatonlyexistsinyourmind.
• Yourtaskistopresenttheideainafundableproposal.
• TakeavagueideaandidenKfyaspecificproblemorneedassociatedwithit.
• AproposalisnotanIdea,itisaplan.
TheResearchTopic
TheResearchTopic• Itmustberesearch• Itmustnothavebeendonebefore• Itmustbesignificant• Theremustbehigherthanprobabilityzerothatyoucandoit
• Itmustlenditselftoaviableresearchplan• YoumusthavethefaciliKestoaccomplishtheresearch
• Itshouldfitintoyourstrategicplanandcareergoal
Groundwork
• Doyouknowinyourfield:– Whatisthecurrentstate-of-the-art?– Whoarethetoptenresearchers?– Whataretheydoing(researchtopic)rightnow?– Wheredotheygettheirfunding?– Whatdotheyconsidertobethekeyresearchissues?– Whowouldlikelyreviewyourproposal?– Howmuchmoneyisavailableforagrant?– WhatarethegrantopportuniKes?
Exercise:ShareSomeofYourResearchIdeas
• Writedownyournumber(1.2….),nameandtopicontheblackboard
• In
TheResearchObjecKve• Thisisprobablythehardestpartoftheproposal• Examplesofhownottodoit:
– TheobjecKveofmyresearchistoprovideaquantumleapinthedesignofanK-gravityboots.
– Thegoalofthisprojectistodevelopanintegratedmodelingtoolforthehardeningprocess.
– ThegoalofthisprojectistodevelopinnovaKveadvancestoenhancewiresawingprocesses.
– Rapidprototypingmachinesareanimportantpartofthevastarrayoftools.ThisresearchwillbridgetheaccuracygapintheseprocessesbydevelopingtheoreKcalandtechnologicalmeanstoimplementsignificantgainsinaccuracy.
TheResearchObjecKve
• Fouracceptablewaystodoitright:– TheresearchobjecKveofthisproposalistotestthehypothesisH.
– TheresearchobjecKveofthisproposalistomeasureparameterPwithaccuracyA.
– TheresearchobjecKveofthisproposalistoproveconjecture(conclusion)C.
– TheresearchobjecKveofthisproposalistoapplymethodMfromfieldQtoproblemXinfieldR.
TheResearchObjecKve
• Howtodoitright:– TheresearchobjecKveofthisproposalistomeasurethecross-secKonofthemuonnutrinointeracKonat5GeVaccurateto10%.
– TheresearchobjecKveofthisproposalistotestthehypothesisthatchipformaKoninhigh-speedmachiningofbriNlematerialsisdeterminedbyparametersx,yandz.
– TheresearchobjecKveofthisproposalistoaccountforuncertaintyinengineeringdesigndecisionmakingthroughtheapplicaKonofuKlitytheory.
TheResearchObjecKve
• Howtodoitwrong(“actual”submissions):– ThisprojectaimstoadvancetheresearchinpredicKvemodelingformanufacturingprocessopKmizaKon.
– Theproposedstudywillsignificantlyadvancethetheoryofrandomfields.
– ThisstudywilldevelopmodelingandsimulaKon-basedtechnologiesforbuildingconstrucKon.
– NewmethodsinrobustopKmizaKonareproposedforopKmizingcomplexmodelsunderuncertainty.
TheResearchObjecKve• Doingitright:– Begin: TheresearchobjecKveofthisprojectis... – Limit:25wordsorless– Bespecificaboutwhatyouintendtofindout– Besureyourstatementiscomprehensible– BesureyourobjecKveleadsdirectlytoaresearchproceduretoaccomplishtheobjecKve
– Putitupfront—sentenceone,paragraphone,pageone
– Donotgiveaweatherreportorstate-of-the-unionaddress
TheResearchObjecKve
• Donotusewordsthatmean“notresearch”– Develop– Design– OpKmize– Control– Manage
• Useofwordssuchasthesegivesthereviewerstheimpressionthatyouarenotdoingresearch,thereisnoinnovaKon,nothingisnew,etc.–yourraKngswillbelower
FindingaHome(FieldofResearch) QuesKons
• Isyour“research”research?– Ifitisn’t,itdoesn’tbelongatMOST
• Iftheansweris“no,”skiptotheend,lookforsupportfromothersources
• Iftheansweris“yes,”whatisyourresearchtopic?– TherightMOSThomeforyourresearchdependsonthetopicofyourresearch,notontheapplicaKonofyourresearch
StepTwo
• LookupMOST’swebsite:www.most.gov.tw– ReadthecurrentGrantProposalGuide– Specifically,lookattheresearchprograms,readwhatresearchtopicstheysupport
– LookupnewiniKaKves,readthecurrentannouncements
• Thencall/e-mailtheappropriateprogramofficers– BepreparedtoanswerthequesKon:“WhatisyourresearchobjecKve?”(25wordsorless)
2014ProgramChangeinMOST學門重整
歷史變革:1989年:以生、醫及農三大學門運作,依申請人機構之系所名稱,分類所屬之學門。1994年:設立18個學門並設置建立學門召集人(第一任)。1999年:增設至33個學門運作。2005年:整併學門至今的14個學門(67子學科)。
現況:14個學門,67個學科,學科各自運作者約50個,等於50個學門。
目的:(附件1)健全評鑑制度(除弊)。打破既有領域疆界,促使拓展視野(興利)。促進不同背景的研究人員合作與交流,如基礎科學人員、臨床醫師、流行病學研究人員等。導引台灣生命科學領域研究發展之進步。
P3
ProgramsinMOST ProgramsinMOST
1
學門名稱研究主 涵蓋範圍
學門名稱 學門研究主 涵蓋範圍
1 生 與多樣性
針對生物與 之關係的基 與應用研究。涵蓋生 與
生態科學之研究, 含 業 、 業設施工程、 保持
與 、 化學與 、生態與資 保 、生物資 利用、
生物多樣性、 地生態、 物醫學與 、 全 業與
等。
2 業資 科學
針對 人 之生物,增進其應用之研究。涵蓋 化、 、
、 業、 業、 、 醫及實驗動物等學科。專注於
產 相關研究,以提高 產 或量、提升其利用或附
價值為目的之研發。
3 基 生物學
以應用為主要目的之生物學研究,涵蓋內容由生 最基本
的分子、有機物、 、基因、 、 、 、個體、
群、生物社會等相關領域,並 至各專門領域,
學、 學、動物學、 物學以及仿生學等。
4 態醫學與生
討生物體自 起各層次結構與 能之關係,及在生 或
狀況下之改 與調適。範圍除涵蓋解 、 、 、
生 、 、法醫等領域外,並 化與再生及
內、外在 改 後從 到個體各層 之 能異常與重整
之基 與 研究,與 異或再生、 態與生
能重建等相關學門領域。
5 生物化學
從基 到 使用各種生物 型 討有關生長與發 調
、 的結構與 能、 體 能、 與 化、
互動與 、 運 統、 降解與自體
統、 結構與 能等 。涵蓋生物化學、分子生
物學與 生物學等領域。
6 生物 術
用於基 或應用研究或產業之 術研發。藉由生物化學、生
物物 或分子生物之 作改 生物、 或分子之性 ,應
用於醫 、 、 或 保 等領域之 論或 術
研發。
7 學及
針對用於預 斷 或其他足以影響人體結構及
機能的物 之研究,涵蓋領域 含基 、 與 接 物之
研發,從分子機制、 點確認到 物 上 。 學、
中醫 學、 學及 學等相關領域在新 物、
、中醫與中 等之作用機 與 性及其在基 與
上之研究。
24%
13%
12%12%
8%
6%4%3%3%3%
12%
生農環境與多樣性生物多樣性森林水保植物保護植物動物土壤環保農化生工生機漁業園藝其他
10%
10%
8%
7%
7%7%6%
6%5%5%
29%
農業資源科學
漁業農化植物食品動物園藝畜牧獸醫實驗動物農藝其他
16%
15%
12%
10%7%4%
3%3%3%3%
24%
基礎生物學
動物生物生化分子生物植物生物多樣性醫學生化生理微生物漁業農藝其他
23%
9%
8%5%4%
3%3%3%
3%3%
36%
形態醫學與生理
生理病理解剖醫學生化分子生物再生生物醫學藥理幹細胞動物腫瘤科其他
舊子學科 舊子學科
舊子學科 舊子學科
新學門與舊子學科組成比例圖(TOP10)(1) *新學門僅包含第一順位,舊子學科包含全部順位
P18
ImportantQuesKons
• Doesmyresearchtopicfitwellwiththeprogram?
• Doestheprogramhavefundstosupportmyresearchifmyproposalreviewswell?
• Whatsizegrantispushingthelimitsofthefundingabilityoftheprogram?
• Whataretheproposalsubmissiondeadlines?• HowareproposalssubmiNedtotheprogramreviewed?
QuesKonsYouShouldn’tAsk• So,willtheprogramfundmyresearch?• Isthisagoodresearchtopic?• WhatresearchtopicdotheprogramthinkIshouldworkon?
• Whataremyodds?• IfIsendacopyofmyproposaltoyou,willyouhelpmeeditit?Willyoutellmewhatyouthinkofit?
• Myproposalwasn tfunded,socanIresubmitittoelsewhere?
Catch22
• Myresearchdoesn’tfitinanysingleMOSTprogram,howaboutjointsubmission/review?– DidyouformulateaclearresearchobjecKve?– IsyourresearchobjecKvetoobroad?– Doyouwanttoconsiderfocusingyourscope?
• SupposemyresearchreallydoesspanmulKpleprograms?– Contactallrelevantprogramdirectors
TheTitle TheTitle
• TheKtleisimportant
• Itshouldcoveywhattheprojectisabout
• Itiso\enusedtoassignreviewgroups
StudyDesign
• Thisisnotthe“experimentalmethods”secKontospecifytheprocedureindetails,forexample,howtocatchbirdsorPCRcondiKons.
• Buttospecifytheimportantaspectsof“experimentaldesign”,includingsamplesize,parameters,definiKon,replicaKon,staKsKcaltests,andsignificancethresholds.
• Howdoyoucontrolforconfoundingfactors?
Whatisanexperiment?
Whatisanexperiment?
• Only‘manipulaKve’experimentqualifiesasan‘experiment’
• InmethodsecKonoftheproposal,state‘procedure’,‘protocol’,‘method’insteadof‘experiment’unlessitisarealexperiment.
• ‘manipulaKve’experimentshouldcontain‘control’and‘treatment’
• Samplesize&itsjusKficaKonshouldclearlystatedinthemethodsecKon
StaKsKcalAnalysis
StaKsKcalAnalysis
• UseonlycorrectandproperstaKsKcstoanalyzethedataproposedinthestudy
• ConsultastaKsKcianbeforeplanyourstudydesign
WriKngtheSummary
WriKngtheSummary/Abstract• ThemostimportantstatementisyourstatementoftheresearchobjecKve– Itshouldbesentence1ofparagraph1– Donotbeginwithaweatherreport:“Theskyisfalling.Toolsarebreaking.Designsarefailing…”
– Donotbeginwithastate-of-the-unionaddress:“Businessismovingoffshore.Manufacturingisgoingtothe…”
• Remember,thisisnotatechpaper,itisnotamurdermystery(wherewefindoutwhattheobjecKveisonpage15)
• Don’tforgettheIntellectualMeritandBroaderImpactstatements
WhatProgram/ReviewerWanttoKnow
• WhatisyourresearchobjecKve?– Thisiswhatdirectsyourproposaltotheappropriateprogram
• Whatisyourapproach?– Outline—justtwoorthreesentences
• WhyisyourcontribuKonimportanttoyourresearchcommunity(theintellectualmerit)?
• Ifsuccessful,whatwillbethebenefittosociety(thebroaderimpact)?Whyisyourprojectimportanttosociety?
Since2015MOSTrequires:
• “(
) ”
SummaryTemplate• TheobjecKveofthisresearchprojectistoprovethehypothesisthattoomany
monkeysinatreewillcausethetreetobreak.TheapproachwillbetotakeasampleoftentreesandloadthemwithmonkeysunKltheybreak…
• IntellectualMerit–ItisimportantthatweknowhowmanymonkeyscanclimbatreebeforeitbreaksbecausethisaffectsourpercepKonsofmonkeyprocreaKonand…TheSnerdTheoryholdsthattreesizelimitsmonkeyprocreaKon.ThisstudychallengesthattheorywiththenoKonthat…IftheobjecKvehypothesisiscorrecttherefore,itwilltransformourapproachto…
• BroaderImpact–Monkeysareusedinmedicalresearch.Byknowinghowmanymonkeyscanfitinatree,wewillbeabletoprovidemoremonkeysforsuchresearchtherebyadvancingmedicalsciencemorequicklyandimprovingthequalityoflife.Also,bywatchingthemonkeysgethurtwhenthetreebreaks,graduatestudentswillbelesslikelytoclimbtrees,therebyincreasingtheirprobabilityofgraduaKng.
Remember
• Yourproposalwillbereturnedwithoutreviewif:– Youfailtoincludeexplicitstatementsofintellectualmeritandbroaderimpact(enKtlethemIntellectualMerit,BroaderImpact)
– Youusethewrongfontoritistoosmall– Themarginsaretoonarrow– YourbioisincorrectlyformaNed– YouhaveanunauthorizedaNachment
TheRestofYourProposal
• Thenext10-15pagesofyourproposalgivebackupanddetailtoyoursummary
• StartwitharestatementofyourresearchobjecKve,clarifyit,andprovidearesearchplantoaccomplishit
• Provideaconvincingargumentthatyoucancarryoutyourproposedplan
• Restateandprovidedetailonyourintellectualmeritandbroaderimpact
TenThingsYouMustDo TenThingsYouMustDo
• 1.Findtherightprogramforyouandyouridea♦ Mainpurposeofprogram(fundingprioriKes)-
doesyourideafitinmainstreamoronthefringe
♦ Findoutwhereabstractsofpreviouslyfundedprojectsare..…greatsourceofinformaKon
♦ DiscussyouridearelaKvetotheprogramprioriKeswithyouradvisorsandclassmates
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 1.Findtherightprogramforyouandyouridea♦ Bestapproachistofindprograminyourarea
and determine program prioriKes, thendevelopideatofitwithintheprogram
♦ Don’t waste Kme applying to the wrongprogram … square pegs do not fit in roundholes
♦ EligibilityrestricKons?
TenThingsYouMustDo
2.Becomea‘student’oftheprogram
Understandthemaingoaloftheprogram
Don’thesitatetodiscusswithyouradvisor,seniorsandclassmates
UnderstandthedirecKonsoutlinedintheprogramonhowtoassembletheproposal
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 3. DevelopaKmelineforproposalpreparaKon
♦ DevelopaKmelinethatwillallowforcompleKonofproposal3to4weeksbeforesubmissiondeadline
♦ IfyourushpreparaKonoftheproposal,itwillshow-reviewerswillnoKceandwillnotbekind
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 4. Understandcriteriausedtoevaluateproposals♦ Programnormallycontainsthecriteriathat
willbeusedbyreviewerstoevaluateyourproposal
♦ UnderstandthesecriteriaBEFOREyoubeginpreparingyourproposal
♦ ProvidesagreaterunderstandingastowheretoputthegreatesteffortsduringproposalpreparaKon
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 4. Understandcriteriausedtoevaluateproposals♦ Typicallyreviewcriteriainclude:
Ø ScienKficmerit
Ø RelevancetoprogramprioriKes
Ø QualificaKonsofprojectpersonnel
Ø PlanningandadministraKonofproject
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 5. Understandthereviewprocessandreviewers
♦ ReviewersareprovidedguidancebytheprogramforevaluaKngproposalsusingevaluaKoncriteriaintheprogram
♦ Reviewersevaluateeachproposal…..strengths,weakness,qualificaKonsofpersonnel,probabilityofsuccess,etc.
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 5. Understandthereviewprocessandreviewers
♦ Reviewersprovideindividualscores;whentheymeetasagroup(reviewpanel),theythenprovidea groupscore
♦ Reviewersarelookingforproposalstheycanchampionandthosetheycandismiss
TenThingsYouMustDo• 5. Understandthereviewprocessandreviewers
♦ Eachreviewermaybeassigned10to25proposals
♦ FollowingdirecKonsintheprogramhelpsthereviewers;notfollowingdirecKonsmakesthemworkhard
♦ Preparingtheproposallogicallyandclearlyhelpsreviewers;notdoingsomakesthemworkhard
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 5. Understandthereviewprocessandreviewers
♦ Tothedegreeyoumakeareviewerworkhard,theprobabilityofyourproposalbeingfundeddecreasesexponenKally!
♦ Worktomakereviewerschampionyourproposal
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 6. Writetheproposallogicallyandclearly
♦ MostimportantsecKonoftheenKreproposalistheProjectSummaryorAbstract
♦ Summarycapturestheessenceofyourproposal–mustbeclear,concise,wellarKculatedandlogical
♦ TypicallytheonlysecKonthateveryreviewerreads
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 6. Writetheproposallogicallyandclearly
♦ OrganizeproposalaccordingtooutlineinMOSTorreviewevaluaKoncriteria,whicheverismostlogical
♦ Followingtheprescribedformatmakesreviewershappyandmoregenerous
♦ Makingreviewersworkhardhurtsyou
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 6. Writetheproposallogicallyandclearly
♦ Backgroundestablishestheneedfortheproject-projectisimportantandinteresKng
♦ TheneedcanbereadilyidenKfiedwiththeprioriKesoftheprogram…..makesureyousayitintheproposal!
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 6. Writetheproposallogicallyandclearly
♦ Overarchinghypothesis(alternaKve)
♦ SpecificaimsorobjecKvesthattestthehypothesis
♦ MethodologieswithassociatedKmelines
♦ Expectedoutcomesandimpacts
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 6. Writetheproposallogicallyandclearly♦ Reviewersmustbeconvincedthat:
Ø GoalsreflectmajorprioriKesoftheprogramØ IfobjecKvesareaccomplished,youwillaNaingoals
Ø Ifmethodologyisfollowed,objecKveswillbeaNained
Ø ExpectedresultsaredirectlyrelatedtooverallgoalsandprioriKesoftheprogram
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 6. Writetheproposallogicallyandclearly♦ Reviewersmustbeconvincedthat:
Ø TheproposedevaluaKonplanwillkeepyouontracktosuccessfulcompleKonoftheproject
Ø Theprobabilityofsuccessisacceptable
Ø ThattheproposalNEEDStobeFUNDED
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 7.PreparebudgetwithastrongjusKficaKon♦ Use Kmeline to compute amount of Kmepersonnel will spend carrying out eachporKonoftheproject
♦ Unreasonable budgets hurt proposals - theycreateskepKcswithinreviewerranks
♦ Keepbudgetswithinguidelinesintheprogram-theyarejudgedonthedegreeofreasonableness
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 8.ObtaincriKcalinputfromexperiencedandsuccessfulcolleagues
♦ OnewhohassignificantexperKseinthetopicarea
♦ Anotherwhohasonlypassingfamiliarity(orless)withthesubjectmaNer
♦ Athirdwhoisanexcellentwriter
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 8.ObtaincriKcalinputfromexperiencedandsuccessfulcolleagues….someone♦ Whotalksfrankly,bluntlyandclearly-do
notwantsomeonewhobeatsaroundthebush
♦ WhohasliNlesympathyforyourego♦ Whoissmartandcra\y♦ Whohassuccessinobtaininggrants
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 9.Filloutformscompletelyandcorrectly
TenThingsYouMustDo
• 10.AllowKmeforintramuraladministraKverequirements-sendtoarriveonKme
♦ Adeadlineisadeadlineisadeadline!
AppropriateWriKngStyle AppropriateWriKngStyle
• Writetothefundingsource
• Writeinthecorrectlanguageofthefield-butnojargon
• Neverwritein1stperson
• Clarity• 5W’s(Who,What,Where,When,Why)
• Writetoinform– Don’tuselanguagethatisbiased
• Writetopersuade– datafromreputablesource
– usecurrentdata– establishcredibility– NounsubstanKatedopinions
TipsonProposalWriKng TipsonProposalWriKng• Useonly12pointtype• Donotusefiguresortablesasfiller—everythingshouldcontribute
• Everythingshouldbelegible—donotuse2pointtypeonfiguresortables
• BesuretoincludeaclearlystatedresearchobjecKve
• Useonlytherequiredformat• Besuretoincludeintellectualmeritandbroaderimpactstatementsinthebodyoftheproposal
TipsonProposalWriKng
• Don’tincludeleNersofsupportfromindustryif– Theyaren tverysupporKve– LeNersfromseveralcompaniesareidenKcal– TheyareleNersfrompreviousproposals– Youdon thavethembeforethesubmissiondeadline
• Don tcutandpastetogethernewproposalsfromolddeclinedproposals
• Proofreadyourproposalbeforeyousubmitit(anda\eryousubmitit)
AddiKonalTipsonProposalWriKng
AddiKonalTipsonProposalWriKng
• 1.Importanceandrelevance:
♦ Relatedtoanimportantagriculturalproblemortohumanhealthandwellbeing?
♦ Relatedtosignificantdeficitinourknowledgeofimportantbiologicalprocess?
♦ RelevanttoprogramprioriKes?
AddiKonalTipsonProposalWriKng
• 2.Developanoverreachinghypothesis:
♦ AtestableideaornoKon
♦ Basicpremisefortheproposal
♦ Onceformedandfocused,itshoulddrivetherestoftheproposal
♦ BiggerthanthespecificaimsorobjecKves
AddiKonalTipsonProposalWriKng
• 3.Hypothesis:♦ NotintheformofaquesKon,butastatement
♦ HypothesisshouldberepeatedØ Abstract,Background,SpecificAims
♦ Statedexactlythesamewaythroughout
♦ SameappliesforSpecificAims
AddiKonalTipsonProposalWriKng
• 4.Specificaims:
♦ Compelling
♦ Clearlyhypothesis-driven
♦ Notnamesofexperiments
AddiKonalTipsonProposalWriKng
• 5.AvoidusingtermsindicaKngdescripKon :
♦ correlate
♦ describe
♦ assess
♦ measure
• Avoidpassivevoice,floweryterms,wishy-washyterms
AddiKonalTipsonProposalWriKng
• 6.EachsecKonoftheproposallinkedtoeachother:
♦ RaKonaleforeachstudylinkedtoanaspectofhypothesis
♦ PotenKaloutcomesofexperimentslinkedtoprovingordisprovingthehypothesis
AddiKonalTipsonProposalWriKng
• 7.Highprobabilityofsuccess:♦ Focused
Ø NotafishingexpediKon
♦ FeasibleØ Solidpreliminarydata
Ø LeNersfromexpertsexpressingsupportandwillingnesstohelp
AddiKonalTipsonProposalWriKng
• 8.Significance:♦ Notamysterynovel-delivermessagefast
♦ ProposedstudiesyieldinformaKonthatisunique;otherapproachesdonotworkaswell
♦ Relevanttothe BigPicture
♦ Key to convincing reviewers to support yourproposalratherthanthatofyourcompeKKon
AddiKonalTipsonProposalWriKng
• 9.Maketheproposaltextbookquality:♦ Avoidtypographical,grammaKcal,spellingerrors
♦ Uselargefont,makeiteasytoread
♦ Includesub-headings,includelotsofspacing
♦ Usehighqualityfigures
♦ Minimize author-defined acronyms
AddiKonalTipsonProposalWriKng
• 10.ProvidesufficientdetailforevaluaKon
• Presentpi}alls,providealternaKvesoluKons
• Don’tpadthebudget,keepitleanbutadequate
AddiKonalTipsonProposalWriKng
• 11.Theone-pageProjectSummaryorAbstractshouldbeaworkofart!
• Clarityiseverything!
• Proofread,Proofread,Proofread!
♦ Electronicspell-checkerswon’tcatcheverything!
MostCommonCriKcisms
MostCommonCriKcisms
• 1.PoorlywriNen
• 2.NotwelljusKfied♦ scienKficproblem♦ experimentalmodel♦ relevancetoprogramprioriKesorpurpose
• 3.Lacksconvincingpreliminarydata
MostCommonCriKcisms
• 4.Nohypothesisorpoorlypresented
• 5.Nothypothesis-driven,studiesaredescripKve
• 6.ObjecKvesdon’taddresshypothesis
• 7.ObjecKveslackfocus,toodiffuse
MostCommonCriKcisms
• 8.ApproachesandmethodslackdetailneededtoevaluatepotenKalforsuccess
• 9.InvesKgatorlacksexperKsewithgivenapproach
• 10.Expectedresultsnotpresented,interpreted
• 11.Pi}allsnotaddressed,alternaKvesoluKonsnotpresented
MostCommonCriKcisms
• 12.OverlyambiKous,toomuchortoodifficulttoaccomplishinreasonableKme-frame
• 13.Time-lineunrealisKcforsuccessfulcompleKonofproposedproject
• 14.ResubmiNedproposaldidnotaddressconcernsidenKfiedduringpreviousreview
IntellectualMeritandBroaderImpactStatements IMandBIStatements
• Theyarerequired• Yourproposalwillberatedbasedonthem• But:– Whatarethey?– Whatshouldyouinclude?– Howshouldtheyshapeyourproposal?
IntellectualMerit
• TheIntellectualMeritisthecontribuKonthatyourresearchmakestotheknowledgebaseandhowthatimpactsthefield
• QuesKons:– Whatisalreadyknown?– Whatwillyourresearchadd?– Whatwillthisdotoenhanceorenableresearchinyourorotherfields?
– WhyisyourcontribuKonimportanttoyourresearchcommunity?
BroaderImpact
• TheBroaderImpactfocusesonthebenefittosocietyatlargeasaresultofyourresearchresult
• Meanstobenefitsocietyinclude:– Economic/environment/energy/health/safety– EducaKonandtraining– ProvidingopportuniKesforunderrepresentedgroups– ImprovingresearchandeducaKoninfrastructure
Thekeyissueishowyourresearchresultswillbeapplied—whywouldthegeneralpubliccare?
Example• TheresearchobjecKveofthisproposalistotestthehypothesisthat
chaNercanbepredictedby…Thegoalistogainsufficientunderstandingofthedynamicforcesduringmachiningtoenablehigh-speedcugngofKtaniumwithoutencounteringchaNer.Theapproachwillbeto...
• Ifsuccessful,thisworkwillleadtoatheoryof...• Intellectualmerit:Thecurrentstate-of-knowledgeregardingthehigh-
speedmachiningofKtaniumislackingin...Theproposedeffortwillcontributetotheknowledgeof...Thiswillenablefurtherprogressthrough...
• Broaderimpact:TitaniumisfindingnewusesinapplicaKonssuchas...ImprovedknowledgeofKtaniummachiningwillleadtomoreefficientproducKonoftheseparts,thusleadingtolowercostandmorewidespreaduse.Societywillbenefitthrough...InaddiKon,infusionoftheresearchresultsintotheclassroomwillbeNerpreparegraduatesforworkin...
CauKon
• Yourresearchgoalsandapproachshoulddeterminetheintellectualmeritandappropriatebroaderimpact
Ethics BreechofEthics
• PeoplewhosubmitproposalstotheGovernment(e.g.,toMOST)areheldtohighstandards
• Abreechofethicscanleadto– Beingbarredfromsubmigngproposals– Fines– JailKme– ReallybeingontheoutswithyourinsKtuKon–gegngfired,losingtenure
• ViolaKonofsomeethicslawsisafelony
FormsofMisconduct• Plagiarism—materialcopiedwithoutcitaKonandquotaKon—ifyoucopyit,citeitandoff-setit;ifyouacceptanawardbasedonaproposalthatincludesplagiarism,youmayhavecommiNedafelony
• Chargeforworkalreadydone—canbeafelony,donotchargetwiceforthesamework
• FalsificaKonofdataandreports—changingdataorresults—behonestinallyourannualandfinalreportsandpapers
• FabricaKon—makingstuffup—reportonlywhatisreal
#FormatofFullProposal
#FormatofFullProposal
1.Coverpage:includetheKtleoftheproposal,name,posiKon,contactandaffiliaKonoftheapplicant,duraKonandtotalbudgetoftheproposal.
2.Abstract:oneparagraph,limit200words.3.Keyworks:listupto6keyworks.
#FormatofFullProposal4.IntroducKon:(1)3paragraphs,Beginwiththemajor(big)
quesKontobeaddressedandfollowbyabrief,broad,butfocusedliteraturereviewtothequesKons.(2)Specificaimsofthestudyneedtoappear
earlyintheintroducKonormakethemveryobvious(possiblywithbulletpoints).(3)Thenconcludewithmoredetailed
introducKontotheexperimentaldesign.
#FormatofFullProposal5.Experimentaldesign:
(1)1-2pages,clearlystatetheraKonalefordesigningeachexperimentisveryimportant.Presenttheexperimentalplaninlogicalsequence.
(2)Thisisnotthe“experimentalmethods”secKontospecify,forexample,howtocatchbirdsorPCRcondiKonsindetails,buttospecifytheimportantaspectsof“experimentaldesign”,includingsamplesize,staKsKcaltestsandsignificancethresholds.Howdoyoucontrolforconfoundingfactors?
#FormatofFullProposal
(3)Discusswhatistheexpectedresultandhowyouwillinterpretit.ItisalsoveryimportanttoconsiderthealternaKvehypotheses(explanaKons)forthedatayouaregoingtogather.(4)Manyproposalusedifferentapproachesto
addressthesameissue.YoumayneedtosuggestalternaKveexperimentsinaddiKontotheleadingapproachintheproposal.
#FormatofFullProposal
6.Impact&significance:Oneparagraphtobrieflysummarizethesignificanceoftheproposedstudyandthekindofimpacttheprojectwillhaveinitsfieldofstudy.ItcanbescienKficimpact,significanceinimprovingpublicunderstandingofscienKficresearch,oroutreachandeducaKon.
#FormatofFullProposal
7.Timeline&BudgetBrieflyoutlinethescheduleandbudgetoftheproposedstudy.TheKmeframecanbeatable,anoutline,aflowchat,orafigurewiththeduraKonofthemajortasksofstudybeingclearlypresented.ThebudgetshouldbesupportedbyitsjusKficaKon.
#FormatofFullProposal
8.Reference:Maximum15referencedpapers.
9.Page&linenumbers:Exceptforthecoverpage,eachpageoftheproposalshouldhaveapagenumberandlinenumbers.
TheEnd
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