Fellowship proposal writing Research & Enterprise

Outline These guidelines are transferable to a variety of fellowship and award applications. However, always carefully read the guidelines for any application you are writing for. Successful fellowship writing involves the coordination of several activities, including planning, searching for data and resources, writing and packaging a proposal, submitting a proposal to a funder, and follow-up. There are a couple of ways of progressing: Developing your own concept and matching that to Annual funding rounds, where you can plan & Ad Hoc funding – responding to RFPs international calls etc which may have short timelines

They are evidence of capacity and capability What are Fellowships? Highly competitive and prestigious funding schemes to: Support outstanding researchers who have the potential to become leaders in their field Foster independent research careers and research career development Contribute towards the researcher’s salary/stipend and research costs They are evidence of capacity and capability

Common traits of successful fellowship applications They: Promise excellent research  Are of value to potential users outside or within the research community  Convince of the ability to deliver research  Demonstrate value for money So what could you include in an application to demonstrate this

Excellent Research Convey your genuine interest, understanding and enthusiasm for the work Have a clearly formulated problem. Demonstrate how the work sits within contemporary debates and builds on existing research. Show how you will make a contribution to research in the field (step change vs incremental) Develop appropriate and attainable aims and objectives Provide a clear and considered research design

Research Impact Align your work with the funder’s mission statement or strategic priorities/challenges Ensure fit with the primary aim/purpose of the scheme Identify and consult potential users of your research outside of the academic community Provide a dissemination strategy and impact statement (or equivalent)

Evidence that you are the best candidate Demonstrate: Track record Quantify Relevant experience How the research fits with your career development plans This is just one period in the larger plan that you have

Potential focus of fellowship Pursue a new body of knowledge Substantially extend their own knowledge or competency Acquire new research skills/methods Develop interdisciplinary skills Attend specific courses Develop academic networks Gain other experiences and responsibilities

Some may require proven track record: Pursue: Travel & Conference Grants Internal Funding Conference presentations and awards Industry links Exchange programmes Local awards Out reach programmes and/or Science communication

Read the guidelines (see how you will be assessed) Follow the rules Writing tips: Write for your audience Avoid jargon Make every sentence count Define abbreviations and use them sparingly Avoid excessive use of might, maybe, could perhaps Avoid grammatical and spelling errors Make it as clear as you can

Preparation You are likely to find preliminary writing steps to be the most time consuming, yet most vital aspect of the process. If done well, your preparatory work will simplify the writing stage. 1. Define your project Clarify the purpose of your project and write a concise outline/purpose. Define the scope of work to focus your funding search. Develop a timeline: depending on what you are applying for or responding to this may include: the planning phase, the period of searching for funds, proposal writing, and the intended project start date. Update the timeline as you learn more about submission deadlines, award timetables, etc

Guidelines Read the guidelines carefully, then read them again. Seek clarification to your questions. Guidelines usually tell you about: submission deadlines eligibility proposal format timetable budgets funding goals and priorities evaluation process and criteria contact details other submission requirements Word/page limits, font size, referencing rules, restrictions on the number applications, team, etc Submission deadlines – what are the internal dates Is there any Institutional sign off required. Do you need budgetary assistance

Writing the application/proposal Structure, attention to specifications, concise persuasive writing, and a reasonable budget are the critical elements of the writing stage. Read the guidelines for specifications about required information and how it should be arranged. Standard proposal components are: the narrative, budget, appendix of support material, and delegated authority signature.

Backgrounds & Narratives Typically must satisfy the following questions: What concern will be addressed and why it is important? Why now? Who will benefit and how? How does this funding request relate to the funders purpose, objectives, and priorities? Who is the team and how do we qualify to meet this need? What specific objectives can be accomplished and how? How will results be measured? What is new/novel about it? What are you seeking to achieve?

Budget Budgets are cost projections. Be sure that the budget is realistic and cover the full cost of the project. Budgets reflect how projects will be implemented and managed. Well-planned budgets reflect carefully thought out projects. Be sure to only include those things the funder is willing to support. Many funders provide budget templates forms that must be submitted with the proposal. Don't forget to list in-kind and matching revenue.

The HOOK There are many ways to represent the same idea. However, the HOOK tailors the description of the idea to the interest of a particular funder. This is a critical aspect of any proposal because it determines how reviewers will perceive your proposal to be. Engage the readers – what will make your proposal memorable.

Basic Tips and Hints Work out the overall tone of your research plan. Understand your audience. Reviewers may be experts in your field but not in your topic. Include basic, obvious information throughout. Keep it concise and avoid convoluted arguments & jargon. Guide your reader through every sentence and idea. Define your aims. Demonstrate that your aims are realistic. Explain how you can accomplish all of them with the money you will receive. And in the time allowed.

Basic Tips and Hints cont. Keep sentences short Make every sentence count Define abbreviations and use them sparingly Avoid excessive use of might, maybe, could perhaps Avoid grammatical and spelling errors Make it as clear as you can Avoid repetition

Things you can change Too vague Too much jargon or hype Incomprehensible No hypothesis or aim or clear discovery component Poor research plan / methodology Team not appropriate Not cutting edge (“business as usual”, “filling gaps”, “incremental”)

Basic Tips and Hints continued What is the significance of your work in the larger context of educational knowledge and your field? How much will knowledge be expanded because of the work? Not business as usual. Make sure the underlying science and experiments behind your plan are sound, feasible and complete. Get it reviewed in line with the guidelines. Get it peer reviewed.

Tips to Make Your Research Proposal a Winner Address all questions reviewers may have about your project and methodology. Identify potential weaknesses in your protocols and research design. Offer alternatives, in case your primary method fails. Show you are capable of adapting future experiments depending upon the results generated.

Refer to supportive and conflicting (if any) literature relevant to your work. Make sure your text is visually easy to read. Check your use of English spelling and grammar.