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Secrets of Successful Grant-writing. Petr Z em čík CERGE-EI (based on a presentation by R. Filer). Goals of Proposal Design. Your Objective Function Contains: Probability of Acceptance Interest (to you) of the Project Probability of Successful Completion - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Secrets of Successful Grant-writing
Petr ZemčíkCERGE-EI
(based on a presentation by R. Filer)
Goals of Proposal Design
Your Objective Function Contains:1) Probability of Acceptance2) Interest (to you) of the Project3) Probability of Successful Completion4) Effect on Your Reputation of Outcome
There Are TRADEOFFS - Today and Over TimeProbability or interest is often so low that writing
application fails cost/benefit test
KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
Interests of Funding Source Review Process Budget Consideration Administrative Procedures
Interests of Funding Source
Science / Policy Viewpoint / Political Agenda
Review Process
Internal / External
Specialists / Generalists
With / Without Referee Reviews
All Combinations Are Possible
Examples:
1) GDN or NSF - External, Specialists Refereed
2) Fulbright - External, Generalists, Refereed
Budget
Always Cost / Benefit Calculation
1) At Initial Stage
2) Negotiate After Review
What Are Your Incentives in Each Case?
Administrative Procedures
How Easy Is It To Modify While In Process?
Availability of Extensions (Cost or No-Cost)?
How Closely Will Deliverables Be Scrutinized?
How to Influence Probability of Acceptance
Pr(A) = f(CR, CP) where
CR = Characteristics of Researcher
CP = Characteristics of Proposal
Characteristics of Researcher
Can’t influence much in short run – but remember it is a repeated process
Send the strongest possible signal without exaggerating
Can you “borrow” someone else’s reputation?
Will evaluation be on team or institution?
Characteristics of Proposal
Importance of Initial Impression Use of Language Is a Signal Show Mastery of Subject Show Significance of Contribution Show Realism
Capabilities Work Plan Budget
Main Reasons for Grant Rejections
Mechanical Methodological Personnel Cost-Benefit
Mechanical
Deadline Not Met Format Not Followed Presentation Not Clear Presentation Not Complete Presentation Showed Political Agenda Quality of Writing Was Poor Presentation Was Sloppy
Methodological
Proposal Lacked Originality Methodology Was Inappropriate Unclear That Required Data/Cooperation
Would Be Available
Personnel
Investigator Did Not Show Mastery of Literature
Investigator Appeared to Lack Required Background
Investigator Failed to Deliver on Previous Projects
Investigator Appeared to Be Overcommitted
Cost-Benefit Test
Relevance to Agency’s Priorities Not Clear Budget Excessive in Relation to Apparent
Benefits Budget Reveals Padding Not Necessary for
Project Probability of Failure Seems High
Grants Administration
Internal webpage: For Faculty and Researchers » Important Info for Researchers
The Deputy Director for Finance, DDF, and the Deputy Director for Research, DDR, would like to ask all researchers who are coordinators of or partners in research grants to set up a meeting with DDF at least one month before the end date of each grant to discuss final financial reports.
A minimum of 25% of the total budget of each research grant must be used for the internal overhead of CERGE or EI. The following expenses can be included in this overhead:
- official overhead approved by the grant agency; - monthly research assistantships; - purchase of PCs, printers, databases, books, journals, office supplies for common use - phone and mail expenses, unless they must be included in the official overhead; - compensation for local staff (finance management, workshop coordination, etc.).
Czech Grant Agencies
Grant Agency of the CH.U. (GA UK) - University employee or doctoral student at Charles University, January
Grant Agency of the Academy of Science of the Czech Republic (GA AV ČR), April
Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (GA ČR) - Czech or permanent residence, March/Sept.
Other Agencies
National Science Foundation Global Development Network European Commission FP7