Grants & Grant Writing

Funding Graduate SchoolGail P. Taylor, Ph.D.Asst. PD, MBRS-RISE &MARC U*STARUniv. Texas at San Antonio02/18/20111Assumption of Research Training Programs:You are going all the way to a Doctorate!

2Graduate School?UTSA M.S. ProgramWorld Academic programs after Bachelors workOften default for Ph.D.

Today: Ph.D. Funding3What is a Doctorate (Ph.D.)?Latin: Philosophiae Doctor A doctorate or doctoral degree isAn academic degree of the highest level. Recognition of the candidate as an equal by the university or Graduate School faculty under which he or she studied. Usually research doctorates are awarded in recognition of academic researchIs of a publishable standard (even if not actually published)Represents at least a modest contribution to human knowledgeIs usually assessed by submission and defense of a doctoral thesis or dissertation, though in some cases a coherent body of published literature can be accepted instead.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduate_school4TrainingAll of the careers requiring a Doctorate come out of basic training in an academic institutionUniversityGraduate Schools at Medical, Dental, Vet Schools

5Standard Ph.D. Training PathBachelorsDegree.Grad. path Depends on FieldM.S. DegreePost BaccResearchDoctoralStudiesAcademic PostdocIndustry PostdocGovernment PostdocContinueEducationAcademicsGovernmentIndustryOther1-2 YrsEngineering/HumanitiesetcWork3 - 6 Yrs4 - 7 YrsHard Sciences6SoYouve Applied for doctoral TrainingWhat does it Cost & Who is Going to Pay for it?Financial Costs for PhD TrainingGenerally Full Time StudentUsually no outside jobSometimes Company will PAY for Ph.D.Tuition/FeesLiving Expenses Food, housing, etc.Books, Thesis and Degree Costs, etcHealth InsuranceTravel to Conferences8Ph.D. Program and MoneyAlready have HUGE Undergraduate LoansMedical/Professional School Costs High.For Ph.D.?Usually someone else pays or keeps you employedMoney comes from all over!9Tuition/FeesCost of classes and university amenitiesSomeone always has to pay the tuitionDoes not merely disappear if funded by Univ.Usually Dept. will keep payingMust consider tuition/fees, Health Ins, Travel if you obtain alternative fundingTravelMay learn technique elsewherePresenting at conferences very important to developmentSubmit abstracts (small publication)Make Oral/Poster PresentationsNetwork with others in fieldFind jobsStipendsAmount you are given to live upon20K 30K levelAmount depends onSchoolCost of Living/LocationDegreeCompetitive recruitmentHigh Stipend may mean you pay Tuition.

Health InsuranceDont believe that you will always be healthyHBC grad studentCervical pre-cancerous lesionsAppendicitisDont Worry.Grad students seldom are without funding if..Are progressing (< 7th year)Doing solid workHave a good reputation

Generally, if youre in and prior to your 7th year, you will be funded.

14Most FieldsAccept position by Financial Aid deadlineUniversity matches you with $$Money available for URM/Disadvantaged studentsGo about your business(for as long as $$ is promised)Then, get new sourceSome Fields/Univsyou seek $$YouUniversityStipendScholarshipsFellowshipsTAshipTuition/Fees/Health Ins.This will most likely be your graduate experienceWho Pays for All of This?You?Your Mentor (when mentors have grants)The Program?The University?The State?The U.S. Government?Private Organizations?Outside Jobs?17All of These, depending on School, Field and Timing

Financial Aid from SchoolStipend (usually for first few years)Fellowships/ScholarshipsMoney awarded to studentReward grades (entice top tier students)Support someone with certain backgroundUsually no service reqd.Research assistantships/associate-shipsMust perform researchTeaching assistantshipsMust teach (~1 class/sem or yr)Special programs/fundsMBRS-RISE or training grantMCNAIR Graduate Scholars19Clarifying FellowshipFellowship may refer to:A merit-based scholarship, or form of academic financial aid An academic position: see fellowFellowship (medicine), a period of medical training after a residency

Where does the money come from?21YouUniversityCollege/Grad SchoolDepartment/ProgramAlumniInvestmentsResearchGrantsStudentsTuition/FeesPhilanthropy/ PrivateEndowments/InterestStateGovt ProgramsStipendScholarshipsFellowshipsTAshipTuition/Fees/Health Ins.ServicesYale University Incomehttp://www.yale.edu/oir/open/pdf_public/W098_Fin_Inc_bySrce.pdf Financial Aid Through Research AdvisorResearch AssistantshipsWork on own research (Same as mentors)Work on Mentors research (In addition to own)May come from GrantMay come from Univ24YouUniversityDepartment/ProgramAlumniInvestmentsResearchGrantsStudentsTuition/FeesPhilanthropy/PrivateEndowments/InterestStateGovt ProgramsMentorResearchGrantsStipendScholarshipsFellowshipsTAshipTuition/Fees/Health Ins.ServicesCollege/Grad SchoolObtaining Your Own FundingPrivate programs/fundsStateFederalJobs Complementary to degreeGet Ph.D. WHILE on the jobLoansTypes of FundingPre-doctoral Fellowships, ScholarshipsFirst 3-4 yearsDissertation Scholarships/fellowshipsLast 1-2 years

26YouUniversityDepartment/ProgramAlumniInvestmentsResearchGrantsStudentsTuition/FeesPhilanthropy/PrivateEndowments/InterestStateGovt ProgramsMentorResearchGrantsStipendScholarshipsFellowshipsTAshipTuition/Fees/Health Ins.LoansJobsGrants/FellowshipsScholarshipsServicesCollege/Grad SchoolEvolution of Dr. Ts FundingState Fellowship through School 15KState Fellowship through School 15KState Fellowship through School 15KState Fellowship through School 15KTeaching Assistantship 13.5KHad to TADepartment FundedResearch Assistantship 20K (1/2 year)My Own ResearchDepartment deal with MentorThe Whole Time the Department was paying $13,500 Tuition28Why Do Others Pay?Doctoral trainees produces original researchUniversity gets $$ or reputationMentor may get publicationsTrainees carry Universitys reputationPhDs produce for economy/educationAlumni donate to help futurePhilanthropists donate for educationPhD income not traditionally high enough to recoup costs of education (particularly when you count in LOSS of income for 5 years..)29BE CAREFUL!Sometimes HUGE stipend means you pay tuitionNot all programs include health insuranceIf you change stipend sources, could influence tuition, travel, etc

Obtaining a Grant or Fellowship31Successful Grant Proposals RequireCommitmentCreativityThoroughness Patience and emotional strengthLong Term Planning32Why Apply for a Grant/Fellowship?Guarantees a funding sourceDemonstrates initiative, discipline, and ambitionDemonstrates marketability of ideasExperience integral to your professional careerMakes you more competitive in futureSuccess is self-perpetuatingGets you thinking about statements, etc.

33When can you write?Before or During studiesHeld to different criteriaNSF can write your way into any grad school

Grant Writing ProcessDevelop correct credentials!Identify SourceGet Organized/Follow Rules!Solicit RecommendersIdeaMay be yours or mentorsCreating a ProposalFollowing directions!!!Submitting proposalReceiving grant or feedbackRevising if necessaryResubmission if necessaryDeveloping CredentialsGrades, courses taken, GPAGPA improvement is consideredGRE Scores (study, retake if needed)Networking/ Letters of recommendationParticipate in Co-ops/Programs/InternshipsMcNair, MARC U*STAR, MBRS-RISEAttend ConferencesGet PublicationsThesis, scientific papers, abstractsHave a copy of these you will submit!Personal/Volunteer experiencesTeaching/mentoring othersHealth Related?Leadership/Organizing36Identify SourcesPrivate Funding (Paul and Daisy Soros, GEM, etc.)Government Funding (NIH, NSF, US Homeland Security, etc.)Various Scholarships (HACU, university-based, etc.)37Seeking Funding SourcesInternet (Google, msn)UTSA: http://www.utsa.edu/graduate/FutureStudentsAcademicPrograms/scholarshipupdated.html UNT: http://www.opgf.unt.edu/ Cornell: http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/?p=132 UCLA: http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/asis/grapes/search.asp University Libraries offer books on grantsUniversity databasesConferencesMentors Fellowship program officers University Recruitment Programs

38Very Prestigious FellowshipsRhodes Scholarshttp://www.rhodesscholar.org/ Marshallhttp://www.marshallscholarship.org/ Fulbrighthttp://www.cies.org/about_fulb.htm James Madisonhttp://www.jamesmadison.com/ Harry S. Trumanhttp://www.truman.gov/about/about.htm Andrew W. Mellonhttp://www.mellon.org/grant_programs/programs National Science Foundation http://www.nsf.gov/National Institutes of Healthhttp://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-002.html Know the Funding AgencyPertinent Fields of studyFoundations purposes and activitiesEligibility requirementsNumber and types of awards awarded per yearRules (deadlines, summer work, etc.)Contact infoTALK TO PROGRAM OFFICERS!40Get Organized!Know dates and deadlinesApplicationRecommendationsPre-Applications?Know page limitations and rulesHow long can it be?Margins, font, font sizeKnow materials requested (i.e. transcripts, C.V., etc.) and date requested or submittedHow should it be submittedTogether with rec?Mailed or Online? What formats?How many Copies?A track of any brain storming, rough drafting, and completion of essaysTime, date, and content of any communication with program officers41RecommendationsUsually consist of Letter as well as ratings formChoose people who have credentialsPH.D. better than Teaching AssistantProgram Directors (Long term relationship)Choose people who know you!Ask EarlyProvide recommenders with a narrative of the fellowship, CV/Resume, personal statementsRemind recommenders when near datesThank your recommenders and any other staff (i.e. secretaries) 42Grant Proposal ContentAbstract (summary of research)Research Plan (remember page limits)Specific Aims/Goals, Introduction/Significance/Background, Methods/Research Design, (Prelim data?), Research Plan, Timeline, Expected outcomesBudgetSometimes:Cover pageAbstract for LaymenLetters of CommitmentBiosketch of Proposed MentorDescription of research environment43Where do Ideas come from?Your Own Ideas:Research ExperienceRecord down Ideas that you have!Coursework ReadingsLectures/SeminarsDiscussion GroupsImportant national problemsExtension of Research Mentors workIf you know where you are going to goSpecific Aims:State a clear, focused, and attainable research question or hypothesisResearch question can be original, a reassessment of a prior study, or bothcontain good ideas that embrace problems at the forefront of a fieldbe enthusiastic

45Significance and BackgroundStarts with literature supporting the Big PictureHones down to the rationale of your projectStudy detailed reviews of scientific literature, books, etc).Statements about the importance of the work proposed46Pilot Studies/Prelim Data:Very important section of proposal (after the abstract)Describe previous research that led to your proposalShould demonstrate your ability to analyze and interpret data47Methods Section:Description of procedures and tests that will be used in the proposed workSpecial handling proceduresKinds of data expectedHow the data will be analyzed48Expected ResultsWrite about what you hypothesize/expect to seeWrite up what alternative results you might getWrite about what youd do if you GOT alternative resultsHints about WritingTo use active voice instead of passiveAvoid jargonWrite in regard to appearance Keep aware of the fontSeek constructive criticism Read aloud to yourselfProofread and edit

50Extra documentationReportsPublicationsCVResumesAdditional comments sheetDegree plan of study51Dont forget tothank your recommendersthank their secretariesbe polite to project officersgive yourself credit!

52Thank you and good luck!!!53