PAD Seminar Preparing to Submit Your Proposal ANDREW FEIG, Ph.D. Department of Chemistry Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

You will not get funded if you do not apply… 10/17/13PAD Seminar – Preparing to Submit a Proposal2  Unwritten or unfinished proposals do not get funded  Put your pride aside; we have all written many grants that went unfunded o I recently went 0 for 12 before getting 3 proposals funded in 2013  Funding is tight, but grants are still getting funded (except this week) o Try to understand what the priorities are of your grant agency or organization o Be explicit regarding how your work meets the goals of the funding agency

Available time is finite – use it wisely 10/17/13PAD Seminar – Preparing to Submit a Proposal3  Where do I spend my time in proposal preparation? o Reading literature and refining ideas and plans o Collecting preliminary data (often implicitly required even if the agency denies it) o Specific aims page (single most important page of proposal) o Achieving clarity in the language and ideas  I typically start writing relatively late in the process but the planning and framing goes on for months

Time line for proposal preparation 10/17/13PAD Seminar – Preparing to Submit a Proposal4  Identify funding opportunity  Speak with program officer if necessary  Notify grant manager/administrator regarding intent to apply for a given deadline Due date: Feb. 5 T - 2 weeks Jan. 15 T - 14 weeks Oct. 15 T - 8 weeks Dec. 1 T - 12 weeks Nov. 1 T - 10 weeks Nov. 15 T - 6 weeks Dec. 15 T - 4 weeks Jan. 1 T - 16 weeks Oct. 1

Time line for proposal preparation 10/17/13PAD Seminar – Preparing to Submit a Proposal5  Consider the specific aims of your proposal?  What is the core question?  Does it meet the agency’s goals/mission?  Are they interesting and important?  Do they meet the requirements of the RFA?  Do you need regulatory approvals (IRB? Radiation Safety? Biosafety? etc.) Due date: Feb. 5 T - 2 weeks Jan. 15 T - 14 weeks Oct. 15 T - 8 weeks Dec. 1 T - 12 weeks Nov. 1 T - 10 weeks Nov. 15 T - 6 weeks Dec. 15 T - 4 weeks Jan. 1 T - 16 weeks Oct. 1

Time line for proposal preparation 10/17/13PAD Seminar – Preparing to Submit a Proposal6  What data will be required to put forth a convincing argument?  Get lab focused on new data you might need…  Set up regular discussions to keep on timeline for collecting required data.  Deadline for last minute data from your co-workers is ~1/15. Due date: Feb. 5 T - 2 weeks Jan. 15 T - 14 weeks Oct. 15 T - 8 weeks Dec. 1 T - 12 weeks Nov. 1 T - 10 weeks Nov. 15 T - 6 weeks Dec. 15 T - 4 weeks Jan. 1 T - 16 weeks Oct. 1

Time line for proposal preparation 10/17/13PAD Seminar – Preparing to Submit a Proposal7  Think about the methods you are using?  Will you need collaborators?  Now is the time to identify them and make sure that they are on board.  Request letters of collaboration and biosketches Due date: Feb. 5 T - 2 weeks Jan. 15 T - 14 weeks Oct. 15 T - 8 weeks Dec. 1 T - 12 weeks Nov. 1 T - 10 weeks Nov. 15 T - 6 weeks Dec. 15 T - 4 weeks Jan. 1 T - 16 weeks Oct. 1

Time line for proposal preparation 10/17/13PAD Seminar – Preparing to Submit a Proposal8  Literature searching…  Have you identified everything there is to know about your project and read the relevant literature?  Write introduction and make figures for proposed experiments. Due date: Feb. 5 T - 2 weeks Jan. 15 T – 14 weeks Oct. 15 T - 8 weeks Dec. 1 T - 12 weeks Nov. 1 T - 10 weeks Nov. 15 T - 6 weeks Dec. 15 T - 4 weeks Jan. 1 T - 16 weeks Oct. 1

Time line for proposal preparation 10/17/13PAD Seminar – Preparing to Submit a Proposal9  Outline the specific experiments you plan to propose?  Are they the best methods to use?  What are the alternatives?  Pros and Cons of the methods?  Share ideas with a colleague over coffee. Due date: Feb. 5 T - 2 weeks Jan. 15 T - 14 weeks Oct. 15 T - 8 weeks Dec. 1 T - 12 weeks Nov. 1 T - 10 weeks Nov. 15 T - 6 weeks Dec. 15 T - 4 weeks Jan. 1 T - 16 weeks Oct. 1

Time line for proposal preparation 10/17/13PAD Seminar – Preparing to Submit a Proposal10  Draft goes out to colleagues for review… A second pair of eyes is always useful.  While proposal is with colleague(s) for evaluation, complete budget and form pages (biosketches, justification, data plan, etc.).  Understand what you are asking for and ensure that it is allowed by the agency.  Stay within budget limits; adjust as necessary. Due date: Feb. 5 T - 2 weeks Jan. 15 T - 14 weeks Oct. 15 T - 8 weeks Dec. 1 T - 12 weeks Nov. 1 T - 10 weeks Nov. 15 T - 6 weeks Dec. 15 T - 4 weeks Jan. 1 T - 16 weeks Oct. 1

Time line for proposal preparation 10/17/13PAD Seminar – Preparing to Submit a Proposal11  Revise grant in light of comments from colleagues…  Listen to your colleagues… Did they get the point? If not, that is your problem, not their problem. Reviewers will likely not get the point either?  If your colleagues only tell you about typos and formatting, they are not helping; find other colleagues to read your proposal deeply next time.  Add last minute data Due date: Feb. 5 T - 2 weeks Jan. 15 T - 14 weeks Oct. 15 T - 8 weeks Dec. 1 T - 12 weeks Nov. 1 T - 10 weeks Nov. 15 T - 6 weeks Dec. 15 T - 4 weeks Jan. 1 T - 16 weeks Oct. 1

Time line for proposal preparation 10/17/13PAD Seminar – Preparing to Submit a Proposal12  Remember that due date to SPA is several days ahead of due date to the agency; For Feb. 5 due date, your real due date of Feb. 1 to be done. Due date: Feb. 5 T - 2 weeks Jan. 15 T - 14 weeks Oct. 15 T - 8 weeks Dec. 1 T - 12 weeks Nov. 1 T - 10 weeks Nov. 15 T - 6 weeks Dec. 15 T - 4 weeks Jan. 1 T - 16 weeks Oct. 1