chhe faculty development core activities: grant writing workshops research mentoring funds available...
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CHHE Faculty Development CoreCHHE Faculty Development Core
Activities:Activities:Grant Writing WorkshopsGrant Writing WorkshopsResearch MentoringResearch MentoringFunds available for attendance at scientificFunds available for attendance at scientific meetings and workshopsmeetings and workshopsSeed money and funds for Pilot ProjectsSeed money and funds for Pilot Projects
CHHE Faculty Development CoreCHHE Faculty Development Core
Members/Mentors:Members/Mentors:Chris McGahanChris McGahanJames BonnerJames BonnerJane Hoppin Jane Hoppin Rob SmartRob SmartCathrine HoyoCathrine HoyoGerald LeBlancGerald LeBlancAlison Mostinger-ReifAlison Mostinger-ReifHeather PatisaulHeather PatisaulPhilip SannesPhilip SannesFred WrightFred WrightDan BurkeDan BurkeEmilie RissmannEmilie Rissmann
Grant writing 101—Specific Aims andGrant writing 101—Specific Aims andgeneral principlesgeneral principles
The ProposalThe Proposal
Read the InstructionsRead the Instructions
Read the InstructionsRead the Instructions
Read the InstructionsRead the Instructions
Know who your reviewers are!!!!Know who your reviewers are!!!!
• Call and get information from the granting Call and get information from the granting agencyagency
• Shyness is not rewardedShyness is not rewarded
1. Describe the Research Project1. Describe the Research Project
- Open with a general statement about the- Open with a general statement about theimportance of the subject areaimportance of the subject area
- Should be understandable to any reader- Should be understandable to any reader
2. Present preliminary data in support of your2. Present preliminary data in support of yourhypothesishypothesis
3. Clearly state your Hypothesis, a separate section3. Clearly state your Hypothesis, a separate sectionwill make this simple for the reviewerswill make this simple for the reviewers
4. Follow this with a general statement about approach,4. Follow this with a general statement about approach,model and methods usedmodel and methods used
5. Specific aims 5. Specific aims
6. Describe the purpose and usefulness 6. Describe the purpose and usefulness of the results of this projectof the results of this project
- There MUST be a clear reason or purpose- There MUST be a clear reason or purposebehind your proposed projectbehind your proposed project
- This needs to be spelled out in a clear and - This needs to be spelled out in a clear and completely unambiguous waycompletely unambiguous way
- Do not overstate the importance of the projectDo not overstate the importance of the projectbut you also must state why YOU are the best personbut you also must state why YOU are the best personand in the best position to do this work.and in the best position to do this work.
Ideas that get fundedIdeas that get funded
- Innovative, not a me-too project- Innovative, not a me-too project
- Is thoroughly researched- Is thoroughly researched
- Engages the reviewers, makes them into - Engages the reviewers, makes them into advocates for your idea/proposaladvocates for your idea/proposal
- Potential for having a significant impact on the- Potential for having a significant impact on thefield is readily assessedfield is readily assessed
Common reasons for failure and rejectionCommon reasons for failure and rejection of a proposalof a proposal
- Lack of a really good, original idea- Lack of a really good, original idea
- An unimportant problem- An unimportant problem
- Lack of experience, expertise or resources- Lack of experience, expertise or resources
- Unrealistic quantity of work proposed- Unrealistic quantity of work proposed
- Uncertain outcome- Uncertain outcome
““This project appears to be assembled from a catalogue. This project appears to be assembled from a catalogue. In each instance the PI seems to have chosen procedures In each instance the PI seems to have chosen procedures or assays because they are available as a package or kit or assays because they are available as a package or kit or purchasable service.”or purchasable service.”
““The main weakness of this proposal is that no The main weakness of this proposal is that no justification is actually given for any of the proposed justification is actually given for any of the proposed experiments, so the whole thing sounds like a bunch experiments, so the whole thing sounds like a bunch of experiments done simply because they can be done.”of experiments done simply because they can be done.”
““Nebulous rambling discourse inspiring no confidence”Nebulous rambling discourse inspiring no confidence”
Actual statements from reviewsActual statements from reviews
Helpful hints for proposals Helpful hints for proposals you will write in the futureyou will write in the future
- Get feedback from at least two other experienced - Get feedback from at least two other experienced grant writers about your approachgrant writers about your approach
- Get feedback from at least one other scientist who- Get feedback from at least one other scientist whois an expert in your fieldis an expert in your field
- Try to get good collaborators to sign on as consultants- Try to get good collaborators to sign on as consultantsespecially when starting out and your experience is notespecially when starting out and your experience is notbroad enough yet. The letters of support they provide broad enough yet. The letters of support they provide are extremely helpful.are extremely helpful.
Choosing a sponsor/mentorChoosing a sponsor/mentor
- MUST be respected by his/her peers- MUST be respected by his/her peers
- Should have a reputation for having time - Should have a reputation for having time to spend with menteesto spend with mentees
- Should be known for promoting mentees who- Should be known for promoting mentees whoare high achieversare high achievers
Sponsor’s responsibilities for proposal Sponsor’s responsibilities for proposal preparationpreparation
- Participate in helping you define your goals- Participate in helping you define your goals
- Go over the proposal with you and help you - Go over the proposal with you and help you learn to write a good proposallearn to write a good proposal
- Should NOT write it for you- Should NOT write it for you
Mentor’s responsibilities after the grant is Mentor’s responsibilities after the grant is funded (for ESI)funded (for ESI)
- Schedule regular meetings to ensure that- Schedule regular meetings to ensure thatprogress on the project is satisfactoryprogress on the project is satisfactory
- Be available for troubleshooting problems - Be available for troubleshooting problems which inevitably arisewhich inevitably arise
- Make sure the project is taken to completion - Make sure the project is taken to completion and that the requirements, such as writing a and that the requirements, such as writing a progress reports are done in a timely fashionprogress reports are done in a timely fashion
- Make sure that necessary resources are - Make sure that necessary resources are available when they are neededavailable when they are needed
There is a sign-up sheet There is a sign-up sheet to request grant writing assistanceto request grant writing assistance
Teams of 2-3 faculty, one generalistTeams of 2-3 faculty, one generalist+1-2 content experts will be chosen+1-2 content experts will be chosen
Essentials for writing a successful proposalEssentials for writing a successful proposal
- Learn from others -- don’t try to reinvent the wheel- Learn from others -- don’t try to reinvent the wheel
- Schedule enough time- Schedule enough time
- Have a schedule ---- and keep to it- Have a schedule ---- and keep to it
- Give yourself enough lead time, you need to- Give yourself enough lead time, you need towork with a sponsor and get feedback, thenwork with a sponsor and get feedback, thenthe proposal needs to be written/critiqued/re-the proposal needs to be written/critiqued/re-written, etc. Three-six months is about right for anwritten, etc. Three-six months is about right for anNIH R01.NIH R01.
Take home messageTake home message
- NEVER work in isolation on a proposal, everyone- NEVER work in isolation on a proposal, everyoneneeds feedback, even very experienced grant writersneeds feedback, even very experienced grant writers
In the grant review process, as in life,In the grant review process, as in life,
FAIRNESSFAIRNESS
does not always ruledoes not always rule
PERSISTENCEPERSISTENCE is the key to success is the key to successin the grant gamein the grant game
Responding to the Critique -- rules for later grant Responding to the Critique -- rules for later grant and manuscript submissionsand manuscript submissions
- Use the “twenty-four hour rule”, grow a thick skin- Use the “twenty-four hour rule”, grow a thick skinand try not to take the review personallyand try not to take the review personally
- No matter how unfair the critique appears to be----- No matter how unfair the critique appears to be----you MUST respond to it in some wayyou MUST respond to it in some way
- An objective eye is essential, find a knowledgeable- An objective eye is essential, find a knowledgeableand experienced colleague to helpand experienced colleague to help
- It is possible to turn a critique, even a very bad- It is possible to turn a critique, even a very badone, to your advantage, but it takes a lot of creativityone, to your advantage, but it takes a lot of creativity
REMEMBER TO SIGN UP FOR GRANT REMEMBER TO SIGN UP FOR GRANT WRITING ASSISTANCEWRITING ASSISTANCE