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Writing a Successful CAREER Writing a Successful CAREER ProposalProposal

- my personal experience- my personal experience

Hong LiangJordan Career Development Associate Professor

Mechanical EngineeringTexas A&M University

NSF CAREER WorkshopFairbanks, AK

Aug. 22-23, 2007

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At the Starting LineAt the Starting Line

Start from the day oneManage time – teaching,

research, and proposal writing…Generate preliminary results

◦ Student training◦ Journal paper publication

There are three years till midterm tenure review…

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Career PreparationCareer Preparation

What is the research focus?◦Unique and exciting◦Needs to be different from Ph.D. thesis◦Align with department and college

mission◦Have local infrastructure support◦Lifelong research and learning

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Proposal PreparationProposal PreparationDiscuss your career plan with the

department head and obtain support

Do a thorough literature search◦ Explore new ideas◦ The literature review can be used for future

publications

Compare your idea with prior art◦ Put in the format of tables or charts◦ Potential impact should be clear at this stage◦ Discuss with mentors

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Education PlanEducation PlanSet goals - don’t make a laundry list

Be innovative but stay focused on achieving goals - Be unique and achievable

Curriculum development◦ Does your department need it?◦ Will the school be better ranked because of it?

Students◦ Would they be better prepared for future?

Community◦ Will more people benefit from your effort?

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Writing the ProposalWriting the ProposalRead and follow NSF guidelines carefully

◦ Any sign of carelessness will cost the proposal…

Objectives should be clearly stated and easy to find ◦ 1st line in the summery, subtitles, or starting

paragraphs

Use figures and tables

Be your own reviewer: what, why, how, and outcome

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Writing the ProposalWriting the Proposal

Collaboration◦ establish a strong connection but make

sure to be independent

Propose the exact budget

Get help from local proposal office

Have it reviewed by peers and senior colleagues

Which program to submit?◦ read winning award abstracts◦ ask program managers

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Improving the ProposalImproving the Proposal

Don’t take panel review comments personally◦ You might have written the best proposal, but

someone else wrote a better one

Panel is formed of researchers from different areas◦ Everyone should be able to grasp your ideas◦ Consult popular science magazines

Submit regular proposals

Proposal writing skill is important for a successful academic career, so might as well enjoy doing it

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• Be innovative• Be persistent• Be resourceful

State Web

Final WordsFinal Words

Disney

S.F. tour

UAF Web

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Open Discussion