Objectives
Participants will learn:
- Strategies for competing successfully for grants
Participants will examine the world of grants from the reviewer’s perspective and discuss ways to “help yourself by helping reviewers do their jobs.” Reasons why applications for grants are not funded will be analyzed including due diligence errors and other avoidable problems. Recommendations for preparing yourself to be competitive and getting into the grantsmanship game will be discussed including how to find a sustainable research niche and determining what your competitors are doing.
- How to write convincing abstracts and precise specific aims
The abstract and specific aims pages of the application are your best chance to make a positive first impression and persuasively communicate the merits of the project. Reviewers may skim the bulk of the application, but virtually all reviewers will critique these important grant components carefully. It is essential to clearly communicate what you propose to do, why it's valuable, and how you will accomplish the project goals.
- Strategies to maximize the reviewer-friendliness of your application
The clarity of your writing (readability, precise use of words, organization) and the packaging of the application (neatness, layout, attention to directions) are reflections of your managerial skills. A carelessly prepared application sends a message that you might manage the project the same way. Learn how to “help reviewers do their job” by making it easy for them to understand the objectives and methodology of your proposal.
- Writing strategies for background and significance, preliminary studies, research design/methods, and the budget justification
Strategies for organizing and writing each section of the research plan will be demonstrated and red flags will be reviewed. Working as review committees, participants will assess sections of grant applications to identify red flags. Tips and tricks for writing budget and personnel justifications and letters of support will be demonstrated.
- What to do if your grant application is not funded and how to respond to criticisms in your revision
Strategies for assessing the fundability of your grant on re-submissions will be reviewed and participants will see examples of how grant writers responded to criticisms in revised applications.
Workshop Schedule
| Day One |
Topic/Activity |
| 9:00 – 10:00 am |
Getting Started – The World of Grantsmanship
- Overview: understanding the reviewer’s world and getting into the game
- Reasons why grants are not funded: NIH/govt, associations, non-profits
- Grantsmanship: How can investigators prepare to compete for funding?
|
| 10:00 – 10:20 am |
BREAK |
| 10:20 – 12:00 |
Writing Clear, Compelling & Convincing Abstracts
- What questions do reviewers want answered in the abstract?
- A template for structuring abstracts & allocating words for optimal impact
- Participants critique abstracts
|
| 12:00 – 1:00 pm |
LUNCH |
| 1:00 – 2:15 pm |
Writing the Specific Aims Section
- Recommendations for reviewer-friendly structure & layout
- Examples of specific aims sections from funded grants
- Participants critique specific aims sections
|
| 2:15 – 2:30 pm |
BREAK |
| 2:30 – 3:45 pm |
Reviewer-Friendly Writing
The 4 C’s of grant writing: clear, concise, compelling & convincing
Wordsmithing practice: participants edit text from grants to improve clarity |
| 3:45 – 4:00 pm |
Day One Wrap-Up & Distribution of Grant for Day 2 Critique |
| |
|
| Day Two |
|
| 9:00 – 9:30 am |
What Do We Remember from Day One?
Participants work in teams to identify key “take-home messages” from day one:
- Grantsmanship strategies
- Abstracts
- Specific aims
- Reviewer-friendly writing
|
| 9:30 – 10:20 am |
Writing the Background & Significance and Preliminary Studies Sections
- Triple G writing style – Grab, Gap, Get
- How to structure these sections for maximum impact
- Participants critique examples
|
| 10:20 – 10:40 am |
BREAK |
| 10:40 – 12:00 |
Organizing the Methods Section
- How to sequence information to help reviewers understand your proposal
- Using tables & diagrams effectively
- Common flaws that “sink” grant applications
|
| 12:00 – 1:00pm |
LUNCH |
| 1:00 – 2:20 pm |
Critique This Grant
Participants work in teams to critique and score a grant application |
| 2:20 – 2:40 pm |
BREAK |
| 2:40 – 4:00 pm |
Budget Tips
- Red flags when writing budgets
- How to write personnel justifications
- Writing letters of support that build a case for your pro
What Should I Do If My Application is Not Approved for Funding?
- Should I re-submit? – assessing your chances
- Strategies for writing revisions and responding to critiques
|
Endorsements for AAL’s most recent Writing Research Grants Workshop, held at Northern Michigan University:
“Excellent experience. Two days well-invested.”
Abhijit Jain, Assistant Professor - Information Systems
“Attendance at this two-day workshop was definitely a productive use of my time. Prof. Hendricson is an expert in the grant-writing field and gifted in sharing his expertise with others.”
Nanci Gasiewicz, Assistant Professor - Nursing
“Thank you for an engaging and purposeful course on writing grant applications. This course struck a great balance between big picture ideas and the nuts and bolts necessary for increasing our chances of success. I would attend this again.”
Joseph Lubig, Assistant Professor - Education
“As a new researcher I found this workshop to be excellent. I am excited about grant writing – thank you!”
Dr. Lisa Lawrence, Assistant Professor - Nursing
“Excellent Program! Very informative!”
Erich Ottem, Assistant Professor - Biology
If you would like additional information or would like to schedule this workshop at your institution, please contact the Academy for Academic Leadership.
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