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Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

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Page 1: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Refining ProjectContent

Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series

Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Page 2: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Some points to keep in mind…

• Every proposal is different– Different project, science, scale, etc.

– Different rules/guidelines

• Every funding program is different– Varied research communities (= reviewer pools)

– Different Program Officers

• No “magic bullets” here! You need to tailor your proposal to your funding program, and to your likely reviewer audience.

Page 3: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

First and Foremost -

READ the Program Solicitation/RFP carefully and find out what it is they are seeking to support!

Special initiative and Education solicitations tend to be proscriptive - they tell you what they want and how they want it.

However, most research solicitations are general - little is defined beyond a disciplinary area. If so - then you need to tell YOUR research “story” clearly and compellingly.

Page 4: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Telling your story: Your Research Agenda

This is for YOU as much as for a granting agency! (you need to know where you’re going…)What are your research goals? (Major, minor)Interesting/important research questions?What is the necessary expertise?

Infrastructure?How does your work align with major

scientific drivers, granting agency priorities, and/or community needs?

Page 5: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Your “Fit” with Research Funding Source Objectives

Developing marketable research efforts (How? Talk to Program officers, for a start!)

Emphasizing Solicitation objectives in grant applications

Incorporating new expertise, if necessary Talking about the larger implications of your work

(the “why?” question…) Writing out what you want to study, IN THE

CONTEXT of those issues of interest to a granting agency!

Page 6: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Review-Pieces of an NSF Proposal: Part 1

Cover sheet (you input solicitation info) Certification page (done for you) Recommended Reviewers (at your

discretion) PI Demographics (done for you) Project Summary (You’ve all written one,

yes?)Intellectual MeritBroader Impacts

Table of Contents (done for you)

Page 7: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Review-Pieces of an NSF Proposal: Part 2

Project Description (15 single-spaced pages, or as defined in the RFP) Project Objectives and Significance Clear statement of work to be undertaken Relation to PIs longer-term goals and previous

work Relation to state of knowledge of the field

References Cited Biographical Sketches (2 page NSF format) Budget with budget justification (3 more pages…) Current and pending support (ALL funding!) Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources (forms)

Page 8: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Who are you writing your proposal for? (i.e., who are

your readers?)

• A: Your readers are your reviewers.

• Q: Who are your reviewers?

Page 9: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

• Your reviewers are researchers in your general subdiscipline. They’ll understand some of the detail of what you do, but will be more interested in the likely outcomes and overall importance in the field. (Ad Hoc, or “mail” reviewers)

• Your reviewers are experienced researchers in your field, but probably not your subdiscipline. They won’t understand the detail of what you do in more than a general way, but will be very concerned with the importance of its outcomes and its relevance to current directions in your field. (“Panel” reviewers)

Page 10: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

[Most Important….]

• Your reviewer(s) is your Program Officer! They may or may not be currently active researchers in your field, but are intimately conversant with the important issues and scientific trends in your field, as they’ve been helping to drive those trends and issues!– Also, it’s the Program Officers who give the

Ad Hoc and Panel Reviewers their instructions on how to review your proposal - so they control the exercise!!

Page 11: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

NSF Project Summary - Stuff to cover:

Specific aims Long-term objectives Fit of work to program objectives General plan for research with design/methodRULES: No jargon or abbreviations No summaries of previous work - avoid first person Should be self-contained and accessible to most (like

Congress…) Emphasize value of project (public access) Intellectual merit and broader impacts (NSF: treat

this as an organizing element!)

Page 12: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Project Description/Project Plan Tips

Sometimes, they tell you how to organize it – if so, follow their instructions!

Otherwise: A variation on the NIH Research Plan works well- Project Objectives Background and Significance (stating

the problem…) Preliminary Studies/Progress Report (or

Results from Previous NSF Support…) Research Design and Methods - possible

outcomes

Page 13: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Project Description Tips

Essential content: Be sure you’re covering the essence of NSF’s Review Criteria: Intellectual Merit

Importance of project to advancing knowledgeQualifications of proposer and teamCreativity and originalityOrganization, resources, likelihood of success

Broader Impacts Advancing discovery coupled with application/trainingAttending to underrepresented groupsEnhancing infrastructure and social networksDisseminating knowledge and benefiting society

Page 14: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Project Objectives

Describes “What” and “Why”Suggestion: Start with short statement

of broad, long term goals.State what the specific research is

intended to accomplish (i.e., how to reach the broad, long-term goals - your specific objectives).

Include specific hypotheses to test!Bulleted statements are helpful.

Page 15: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Tips for Project ObjectivesAvoid purely descriptive objectives. (Think

“hypothesis-driven science!”)Be specific about WHY (“To study the effect

of x on y” is not a useful objective). Only list methods here if the objective is to

develop methods.Avoid contingencies that could undermine

part of the project - stick to what can/will be done.

Include objectives that align with the agency’s programmatic goals (these can relate to major NSF/Directorate/Divisional initiatives)

Page 16: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Background & Significance

Establishes context and demonstrates your understanding.

How?Briefly orient reviewers to the problem and

relevant literature.Critically evaluate existing knowledge.Explain how your project will expand

knowledge and fill key gaps.Explain how your project ties in to broader,

long-term scientific/programmatic objectives.

Page 17: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Tips for Background &

Significance Refer generously to the literature - give

credit where it’s due (they may be your reviewers!).

DO consider likely reviewers and their work.Discuss all sides: Avoid “fanning the flames”

of controversy.Cite references using author/year format.Place your work in the context of your

background, but DON’T present it AS the background!

Page 18: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Results from Previous NSF Support

Required if you’ve had NSF support before.Must list NSF awards (Project no., title, PIs,

duration, amount), and published outcomes from said awards

Generally, only RELEVANT Previous support requires discussion in the text - all other grants can be listed w/ published outcomes (if any)

Can be treated as Background, or as Preliminary Studies - build it into your text constructively!

Page 19: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Preliminary/Relevant Results

Establishes PI’s experience and qualifications for the project.

Describe your data or publications that are relevant to the project.

Vary detail as a function of relevance.Describe other info that will help to establish

your credibility with respect to the proposed project.

Provide evidence that project is realistic and you can handle it.

Page 20: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Tips for Preliminary Studies Be sure to explain how your work puts you in

a good position to complete the proposed project.

First person/direct attestations are best avoided.

Clearly explain rationale, methods, diagrams, etc.

Don’t include preliminary data that could preempt project.

Be sure to let reviewers know HOW your work relates to proposal. (Apparently irrelevant preliminary studies can count against you).

Page 21: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Research Design & Methods

“How” to answer Project Objectives, and “Why” (the ‘meat’ of the proposal!)

Goal: Convince reviewers of quality of you, your approach, your lab.

Distinguish your overall research design (paradigm) and particular methods.

Connect your research design to your specific objectives/hypotheses.

Clearly describe your methods within context of your research design.

Page 22: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

More Research Design & Methods

Provide rationales for your objectives, and connect these to your project design.

Explain advantages of chosen methods.How will you interpret your data? Discuss control experiments, if applicable.Discuss potential pitfall and limitations,

and your plans to address these.Include general timetable for the project.

Page 23: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Tips for Research Design & Methods

Remember your reviewers: help them understand and appreciate your project.

Beware research designs that could lead to dead ends.

Converging methods only strengthen a proposal.

Point out problems—but only if you can describe how you will try to address them.

Use heads/subheads and spacing to help guide reviewers through your ideas/text.

Page 24: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Staying on Target

Do your best to be:Informed (read the literature)Straightforward (keep it simple)Realistic (don’t take on too much, or

try and do it too quickly)Reasoned (say why it matters)Modest (get help where needed)Lenient (just get it on paper)

Page 25: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Improving Your Funding Chances

Pick a good topic (theoretical advance, latest literature, compelling question).

Be explicit in design, and focus on qualityEnsure you have the skillsets on hand to

complete project work - engage co-PIs /consultants as necessary (Senior Co-PI’s may/may not help - consult with your Program Officer to know for sure!).

Talk to your program officer well in advance of submission!

Use your reviews to revise your submissions.Work on something you are excited about.

Page 26: Refining Project Content Summer Grant Proposal Writing Workshop Series Sponsored by CAS Office Of Research & Scholarship

Making Research Attractive

Speak directly to the issue of fit.You can describe fit without

substantively changing design.Making your research attractive

is not selling out.Be honest, but draw out the

connections, and make your case!