1. Visitors are coming to our class.. March 17, 2008 –Dave Reed, VP for Research –Anita Quinn, Director of Research Services –Lisa Jukkala, Research Services –Kim Codere, Research Services –Peter Larsen, Research Services March 31, 2008 –Chung-Jui Tsai, Forestry –John Jaszczak, Physics –John Vucetich, Forestry

2. Knowledge is the key! Know your funding agency Know your topic Know your colleagues Know yourself

3. Subject Three topics Select one topic Come up with three ideas Select one idea Decide the NSF program you want to apply to

4. The Scientist (1998) Significance: Will the study move the field forward? Novel, not mere confirmatory! Approach: Are the experiments sound and technically feasible? Innovation: Are your ideas creative/novel? You and your environment: Can YOU accomplish the goals given your training, resources, budget and collaborations?

5. Is there a single rule for becoming a successful grant writer? No, but smart thinking and hard work might help Individual skills, experience and ability Salesmanship How you package an idea? How readable and exciting you make it Make reviewers your advocates, not adversaries How are you the only one in the world who can do it or lead it?

6. Pearls of Wisdom Jacob Kraicer Grantsmanship is the art of acquiring peer- reviewed research funding Good writing will not save a bad idea but bad writing can kill good ones. Read instructions CAREFULLY and follow them EXACTLY! Make your proposal a joy to read!

7. Penn State’ top ten list Office of Research Affairs In order to win, you have to play Do your homework Learn to walk before you run Don’t let the tail wag the dog If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right He who has gold, rules Keep several irons in fire Don’t promise what you can not deliver Deliver what you promise Try, try and try again until you succeed

8. Formulate ideas Identify colleagues who could help >generalists >specialist Read literature Generate preliminary data Identify resources >funding >institute >research services >successful proposals >criticism Have time on your side

9. They can not read your mind! Think like a scientist –Define a problem –Ask questions –Formulate hypotheses –Design experiment –Plan for evaluation –Get rich?

10. So you are ready with page 1 Now, it is time to read GPG (it is at our class site) What are the essential parts of your final proposal? Success doesn't just "happen." It is organized, preempted, captured, by consecrated common sense. - -- F.E. Willard

11. INTRODUCTION First 1-2 pages described what research activity you want to pursue You told reviewers your objectives and how you plan to achieve them You told them about the methods You told them about significance Now they are hooked and hungry for more!

12. Background information Why? Because they should know what you know! Start from broad topics and narrow down to specifics of your proposal Review of literature: know difference between thesis, publications & proposal You want to show them your depth of knowledge and understanding of the current literature and research trends Build your story on the basis of what is known!

13. Literature review Now start thinking about the background information Collect two-three papers that are key to your project/proposal Discuss those papers with your peer group on Wednesdays

14. Project Description Format –Pagination: You do it just before submission –15 page limit –Previous NSF grants (max 5 pages) –10 points or larger font –Density 15 characters per 2.5 cm –6 lines per 2.5 cm vertical space –margins in all directions 2.5 cm –My suggested font will be Times New Roman 12 point –References not included in the 15 page limit –But figures and tables are.. What if I do not follow these guidelines?

15. How can I use all the space that I got? Leave some blank space for aesthetic purpose. Solid page is hard to read! Use some figures and pictures to break the monotony. (Color better!) ( But no clip arts, please) Show one diagram of interrelationship among various proposal components Explain the figures/tables that you put there! Personalize proposal with your unique style! –Picture/figure on the first page may be better

16. Don’t forget the basics Grammar, spellings and style counts! Use Bold, underline, and bullets to draw attention (1 of 3) Write each paragraph so that it builds on the preceding paragraph. Make your ideas connect and flow. Each new paragraph is a step toward the final paragraph to solve the problem. Each new paragraph adds excitement and urgency of doing proposed work (Bev Browning) You should answer every question that comes next to your mind when you read your own narrative Limit flowery words to three-four in the entire proposal This is not a novel although it should read like one. They should not stop reading and go back and forth Touch their heart, mind, intellect and wallet! Always start fresh..

17. What is the goal? What are the main objectives? Goal: one sentence statement about the END that one strives to attain Objectives: attainable milestones or checkpoints to be achieved to know how far are we from our goal? A Timetable is must! Use active words: will be established, proven, discovered..

18. You may use up to 5 pages for this but remember… This is not a space filler! Use only what is absolutely necessary for building YOUR story Critical review of literature Direct relevance to your proposal But it will not work..

19. How to deal with those spoilers? Some publications will poke holes in your story. Tell, why they are not applicable Please be humble! Avoid negative tone if at all you can (exercise) –Nothing is known.. Little is known –It is not possible… It is difficult Try to explain why your story stands!

20. Preliminary data Your own unpublished results Your best chance to use diagrams, colors, & charts but remember the KISS principle Keep it simple, sweetheart! Show that you mean business! If data does not support a hypothesis, change it by going back to drawing board! Do not overkill or you will work for free!

21. Why to give preliminary data? You are on the right track You think like a scientist You are “objective” in your approach not emotional Something trivial need not be given! Something major should not be missed! No detailed methodology: for specialist Emphasize that you are a professional! 3 pages maximum, reemphasize your objectives at the end No preliminary data needed for your class proposal Intro 1-2 pages; Background 5 pages; prelim data 3 pages: 9-10 pages are up

22. Experimental plan: Future activity Give overview of the activity to be undertaken Who will do what? How many years? No $ data! How data will be collected and analyzed Timetable here or at the end Overview: 1-2 paragraphs only Then take objective 1and rephrase it in the form of a question if you can. Explain how it will be answered. So on… Keep to 3-4 objectives only

23. Avoid these traps! If success of your objective 2 is based on objective 1 and objective 3 needs objective 2 to work, your proposal is doomed if 1 fails! This has already been done as cited in the background..and it does not work The positive outcome can not be guaranteed The negative outcome is of no use in advancing science!

24. Methods, Data analysis & Pitfalls Do not give long boring methodology: We are dealing with experts (you are one of them!) Show that YOU are the expert Use citations if necessary (your own will be better but do not overload) Indicate that instruments are within your reach (and/or you know where to get them) Give supporting letters if you do not know something or if crucial, make them Co-PI Expected outcome Possible Pitfalls and how to avoid them or tweak the experiment with the outcome. Milestones! Timetable of activities (6 month slots) Total space available 4-5 pages

25. Integration of research and education Major goal of NSF How will you use your results in teaching Include within description and on last page How your work supports missions of your University, Department/college and group How your field will be advanced? Society? Grad students, postdocs, undergrads benefited Diversity and training Collaborate, publish and present seminars Novelty! (One last page)

26. Service continued.. Public education Popular talks for laymen Specific groups benefited: K-12 schools Journal clubs A good project just achieves the scientific goals but the best one benefits everyone who associates with it!

27. References How many are too many? Depends on your field Use 30-40 best ones that serve YOU the best! Give some popular review articles (recent) Don’t say: Recently in 1955… Cite leaders, old-timers and little people too Cite those who support your train of thoughts

28. Lesson in communication! Speak the language of your stakeholders Is it not English? No! Grantlish: Bev Browning Grant lingo! GPG: overwhelmed by the 61 pages Skip first 5 pages, look at table of content Start from overview..

29. Five things Reviewers look for before they even think about reading your proposal Who is proposing it? CV and support.. Where are you coming from? How much are you asking? What is the title of your proposal? What activity you are proposing: Summary

30. How will your proposals be evaluated? We will try to use the same two criteria that NSF uses (Read GPG). Intellectual merit –How important for advancement of knowledge? –Qualification of PI and quality of proposal? –Creative and original concepts? –How well conceived and organized is this activity? –Sufficient resources available? Broader impacts –Advance discovery and understanding –Can promote teaching and research integration –Diversity (gender, ethnicity, disability, geographical) –Infrastructure development –Dissemination of information obtained –What is the benefit to society?