INSTITUTE OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES WRITING GRANT PROPOSALS Thursday, April 10, 2014 Randy Draper, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research Room 125, IBS

THE INTERFACE BETWEEN FINDING FUNDING AND PREPARING A PROPOSAL Preparing a Personal Profile Deciding What to Do Developing a Search and Tracking Plan Learning about Prospective Sponsors Learning about Sponsor Programs and Priorities Finding a Match for Your Idea, Your Needs, Your Capabilities with Available Funding 2

YOUR IDEA Know your field Determine your research and educational goals Start with a good idea Develop your good idea Survey the literature Network with investigators working on similar subjects Prepare brief concept paper(s) Circulate and discuss your idea with colleagues 3

TURN YOUR IDEA INTO A PROPOSAL OUTLINE Define the problem Develop goals and objectives Build an outline Timeline Milestones Tasks Preliminary data Resources (personnel, travel, space, equipment, subjects, data, training, other) Potential evaluation criteria Match your goals and objectives to the out line 4

EVALUATE YOUR PROPOSAL Novel Idea, Good Science, Strong Presentation Significant Innovative Clear and Logical (objectives, plan, outcomes) Replicable / Verifiable Specific benefits Broader impacts “Doable” Capability / Capacity Support / Resources 5

MATCH YOUR PROPOSAL WITH A SPONSOR AND PROGRAM Internal (pilot funding) Related initiatives Related projects Seed grants External (project funding) Kind of proposal; kind of Sponsor Sponsor (mission, priorities, programs, projects) Program Ascertain Sponsor interest 6

REVIEW THE PROPOSAL GUIDELINES Purpose Process (proposal and award) Priorities Funding history Eligibility (applicant, activity) Deadlines Funding mechanism Funds available Number of awards Merit review process Evaluation criteria BE REALISTIC ABOUT THE TIME THAT IT WILL TAKE 7

WRITE THE PROPOSAL (NSF Format) Cover Sheet (title) Project Summary (abstract) Project Description (methodology) References Cited Biographical Sketches Budget Facilities, Equipment, Other Resources Current and Pending Support Special Information and Supplementary Documentation Postdoctoral Mentoring Plans Data Management Plans Letters of Support; Letters of Commitment 8

COMMON REVIEWER CONCERNS Not sufficiently innovative or scientifically relevant Guidelines not followed; sections missing or incomplete Undefined goals & objectives/unclear problem, question, hypothesis Preliminary data lacking Background discussion weak or missing key publications & findings Methods do not address the problem or test the hypothesis Alternate approaches, interpretation of data, or social relevance inadequately described Proposal overly ambitious Investigator may not be capable of carrying out the project 9

WHY GOOD PROPOSALS DON’T GET FUNDED The proposal is not relevant to the Sponsor’s mission, program’s purpose, or current needs. The application is not appropriate for the grant mechanism. There is insufficient lead time to implement the project. A similar project was recently funded. There is insufficient funding. 10

FINAL THOUGHTS Start with a good idea Start early Review successful submissions to the target program Seek criticism, advice, and collaboration Contact the Program Officer Follow directions carefully Write to your audience Write to the evaluation criteria Avoid jargon; write for the generalist Lead the reviewers; connect the dots Pay attention to the title, abstract, and budget Ask for sufficient funding Write a good cover letter Don’t give up on a good idea 11

LINKS TO USEFUL INFORMATION NSF Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE): NSF Grant Proposal Guide: Division of Institutional and Award Support – Policy Office: NSF Regional Grants Conference: NIH Office of Extramural Research – Grants and Funding: NIH Office of Extramural Support -- Proposal Tips: Guide for Writing a Funding Proposal, S. Joseph Levine: The Art of Grantsmanship, Jacob Kraicer (HFSP): The Foundation Center – Proposal Writing Short Course: