Reviewing grant proposals this week, I realized the importance of "road maps." Too often, PIs are so immersed in their research and quick to jump into their project, they forget that their reviewers haven't been beside them as they've developed their research. From the reader's perspective then, they begin reading your proposal and they feel as if they've been dropped off in the middle of the jungle and told to figure out how to get home. So, what do they need...? a road map. Here's how you create a road map in your proposal so you don't leave your reviewer stranded and frustrated.
Start with a map
To return to my jungle metaphor, think about how reading your proposal is like dropping your reviewer into uncharted terrain; uncharted unless you chart it. Although, the first thing you want to do in your proposal is create a hook, i.e., describing the great big problem your project will address, you want to quickly show your reader what your project is about and how it's going to solve the big problem. This serves as an overview or a bird's eye view of your project. This gives your reviewer a sense of what they're going to come away with. Tell them what you'll convince them of before you try to convince them. This way they are less likely to get lost in your discussion.
Use Signposts
Now, the road map of your introduction will be helpful, but in the jungle or your research, things start to look a lot alike, a how do I tell this swamp from that swamp sort of thing. This is where signposts or headings become useful. Signal your reader that you're about to describe the cutting edge research or you're about to delve into the methodology. If your reviewer has a heading to guide them, again they'll be more likely to follow you through the section and see how the sections fit together into the larger map or proposal.
Review and reiterate important directions
If you're like me, when someone gives you directions and you follow the first two, you've forgotten the rest of them (if you're really like me, you probably didn't even make it past the first direction). Similarly, in grant proposals, you can't assume that your reader/reviewer will remember everything you've already told them. We've heard heartbreaking stories from PIs who received comments back with a rejected grant, saying they hadn't outlined this or that. The PI woefully describes how the requested information was on page eight! And, although we don't tell these frustrated PIs this at the time (better not to rub salt in the wound), it's still their fault for not reminding their reviewer about this critical information more than once.
So, when things are important in your project or related to the problem you're pursuing, say it at least twice in different areas. Now, this doesn't mean you should copy and paste. Instead, you just want to re-emphasize important points using different examples or even statistics. One successfully-funded PI described how she would give national statistics about how bad the disease she was studying was in one section and then global statistics in the next section, just to remind the reviewers about how bad the problem was.
These three tips can help keep your reviewers on top of the information you're providing them instead of making them wade through the unknown depths of your research.
Resources:
7 Strategies for Writing Successful Grant Proposals - Professor Claudia Sanchez
Grant Proposals - or Give me the money! - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Thursday, January 17, 2019
Integrating new ideas in your proposal
In reviewing a couple of proposal resubmissions last week, I noticed that the PI in some cases had incorporated some new components into their proposal. This is a good idea, particularly if your new component or new idea is responding to comments from your grant reviewers. However, it is not enough to just add new components or ideas to your project in your proposal, you need to make sure they're integrated.
I've noticed that oftentimes PIs add an educational component or a diversity component, in particular, that is sort of tagged on to the project, instead of being incorporated into the project. Certainly, you would never add a laundry list of changes and new components on at the end of your proposal resubmission, so make sure that you're not inadvertently tagging things on. Below are some prompts to help you think about how to integrate new components instead of tagging them on to your proposal.
How does the new component change the outcome of your project?
When you want to add a new component to your project, give some thought to how this will change the outcome of your project. Will it make your original outcome better or more robust? Perhaps it will expand the outcomes you anticipate from your project? There's a reason you're adding the new component, so think through what that is and describe it in your proposal.
How does the new component contribute to the innovation of your project?
Similarly, if the new component you're adding will make your project methods, or even your research question, more innovative, identify all the ways that this is so, and be sure to articulate them in your proposal.
How does the new component better prepare you to conduct this project?
Sometimes the new component is an additional piece of preliminary data or another pilot project you've conducted to demonstrate the likely success of your project. Make sure that you're not just checking a box with this sort of preliminary work. Give your reviewers a full understanding of how the additional component has set you up to be successful so that they can be confident in funding you and your project.
Remember, what feels like an obvious benefit of a new project component to you may seem that you're just throwing new ideas/components at the wall to see what sticks if you don't take the time to integrate all components clearly into one holistic project.
Resources:
Fundamental Principles of Writing a Successful Grant Proposal - NCBI
General Grant Writing Tips for Success - NIFA
I've noticed that oftentimes PIs add an educational component or a diversity component, in particular, that is sort of tagged on to the project, instead of being incorporated into the project. Certainly, you would never add a laundry list of changes and new components on at the end of your proposal resubmission, so make sure that you're not inadvertently tagging things on. Below are some prompts to help you think about how to integrate new components instead of tagging them on to your proposal.
How does the new component change the outcome of your project?
When you want to add a new component to your project, give some thought to how this will change the outcome of your project. Will it make your original outcome better or more robust? Perhaps it will expand the outcomes you anticipate from your project? There's a reason you're adding the new component, so think through what that is and describe it in your proposal.
How does the new component contribute to the innovation of your project?
Similarly, if the new component you're adding will make your project methods, or even your research question, more innovative, identify all the ways that this is so, and be sure to articulate them in your proposal.
How does the new component better prepare you to conduct this project?
Sometimes the new component is an additional piece of preliminary data or another pilot project you've conducted to demonstrate the likely success of your project. Make sure that you're not just checking a box with this sort of preliminary work. Give your reviewers a full understanding of how the additional component has set you up to be successful so that they can be confident in funding you and your project.
Remember, what feels like an obvious benefit of a new project component to you may seem that you're just throwing new ideas/components at the wall to see what sticks if you don't take the time to integrate all components clearly into one holistic project.
Resources:
Fundamental Principles of Writing a Successful Grant Proposal - NCBI
General Grant Writing Tips for Success - NIFA
Monday, January 7, 2019
Towards Independence
At ORDE, we've noticed when conducting fund searches for Postdoctoral Fellows that it can be difficult for them to pin down their own research. Oftentimes Postdocs will give us a synthesis of their PI's research and projects and what they're doing on those projects. Yet, usually Postdocs aren't looking for additional funding for their PIs lab, they're looking for their own independent funding that will allow them to take their next step toward being an independent researcher.
In service of this oft-seen conundrum, I wanted to offer this blog for Postdocs and other early career investigators on things to remember as you move toward independence in your research.
Build your skills
Key to becoming an independent researcher is to secure funding as a PI, yet you won't be able to do this if you haven't learned and demonstrated the skills you need to successfully carry out a project. So, use your postdoc experience to build your lab management skills. Ask your mentor if you can supervise graduate students in the lab, for example. Also, ask if you can help your mentor write grant proposals with them, to hone your skills for when it's time to write your own proposal.
Find your niche
As you conduct research with your PI, continue to develop your own ideas, trajectories, and plans. There is no point in trying to clone your mentor with yourself. Consider how you can build on the work you've done in your postdoctoral fellowship to create your own research agenda, ready to go when the time comes.
Work with your mentor
Be sure to have early and frequent conversations with your mentor/PI. While you don't want to walk into your postdoctoral fellowship saying your main goal is to develop your own work, you do want your mentor to understand your goals ultimately and to solicit their support. Continue to have these conversations, particularly as you prove yourself to your mentor. As you achieve things in your postdoc, ask your mentor for space or resources to start building your own projects, and ask for their support and advice in grooming you to be an independent investigator.
Build your brand
Although it's tempting to just put your head down and do great work in your postdoc, don't forget that now is the time to be networking and building a name for yourself. Present research at conferences and seek out Program Officers and other potential mentors. Collaborate with colleagues. As you discover your research niche, make sure you're doing all you can to let folks in your area know who you are and the kind of research you're doing/going to do.
These strategies can help you to build a bridge between your postdoc and the next leg of your career as an independent researcher.
Resources:
4 Steps to Independence as Postdocs
Postdocs' Guide to Gaining Independence - NIAID
In service of this oft-seen conundrum, I wanted to offer this blog for Postdocs and other early career investigators on things to remember as you move toward independence in your research.
Build your skills
Key to becoming an independent researcher is to secure funding as a PI, yet you won't be able to do this if you haven't learned and demonstrated the skills you need to successfully carry out a project. So, use your postdoc experience to build your lab management skills. Ask your mentor if you can supervise graduate students in the lab, for example. Also, ask if you can help your mentor write grant proposals with them, to hone your skills for when it's time to write your own proposal.
Find your niche
As you conduct research with your PI, continue to develop your own ideas, trajectories, and plans. There is no point in trying to clone your mentor with yourself. Consider how you can build on the work you've done in your postdoctoral fellowship to create your own research agenda, ready to go when the time comes.
Work with your mentor
Be sure to have early and frequent conversations with your mentor/PI. While you don't want to walk into your postdoctoral fellowship saying your main goal is to develop your own work, you do want your mentor to understand your goals ultimately and to solicit their support. Continue to have these conversations, particularly as you prove yourself to your mentor. As you achieve things in your postdoc, ask your mentor for space or resources to start building your own projects, and ask for their support and advice in grooming you to be an independent investigator.
Build your brand
Although it's tempting to just put your head down and do great work in your postdoc, don't forget that now is the time to be networking and building a name for yourself. Present research at conferences and seek out Program Officers and other potential mentors. Collaborate with colleagues. As you discover your research niche, make sure you're doing all you can to let folks in your area know who you are and the kind of research you're doing/going to do.
These strategies can help you to build a bridge between your postdoc and the next leg of your career as an independent researcher.
Resources:
4 Steps to Independence as Postdocs
Postdocs' Guide to Gaining Independence - NIAID
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
Spring 2019 ORDE Seminars
Happy New Year! I'm happy to announce our 2019 spring seminars. Start your grant year off right by registering for the seminars that will help you take your grant proposal game to the next level. These seminars are open to all faculty on the Denver and Anschutz Medical Campus. Lunch and resources are provided at each seminar. Please register here.
Denver: Writing a Project Overview
Denver: National Science Foundation
Resources:
ORDE Spring Seminars
ORDE Seminar Video Library
AMC: NIH K Award Grant Planning Seminar
February 14, 2019
12:00 – 3:00 pm
Location: Strauss Health Sciences Library, Reading Room
Faculty Experts: William W. Hay, Jr., Professor, School of medicine; Karen Hampanda, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Community and Behavioral Health Jean Mulcahy Levy, Assistant Professor, School of Medicine; Minghua Tang, Assistant Professor, School of Medicine; Uyen Truong, Associate Professor, School of Medicine
Description: During this working seminar, you will learn about the NIH’s K award grant programs, as well as strategies for approaching these unique grants. You will learn tactics and experiences from past K awardees and have an opportunity to get feedback on your K plan from your peers and awardees.
Denver: Career Programs
February 18, 2019
12:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: TBD
Faculty Experts: Amy Wachholtz, Assistant Professor of Psychology and Arunprakash Karunanithi, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering
Description: During this seminar, you will learn about the NSF CAREER program and the NIH mentored-K programs, as well as strategies for approaching these unique grants. You will learn tactics and experiences from a past K and CAREER awardee.
Denver: Writing a Project Overview
March 6, 2019
12:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: TBD
Faculty Expert: Chris Phiel, Associate Professor, Integrative Biology
Reviewers tend to make up their minds as to whether they like or don’t like a grant proposal upon reading the first page. This makes your project overview, whether it be Specific Aims or a Project Summary, essential in terms of hooking your reviewer and getting them excited about your work. Join us for this seminar where you will learn how to craft your project overview to be clear and compelling.
AMC: Writing Your Specific Aims
March 19, 2019
12:00 – 2:00
Location: TBD
Faculty Expert: Sonia Flores, Professor, School of Medicine
The Specific Aims is the most crucial component of your NIH grant proposal. It is the first thing the reviewers assigned to your proposal look at, and for those reviewers not assigned to your proposal, it is often the only thing they see of your proposal before scoring it. In this seminar, you will learn how to craft your Specific Aims and you will hear from a seasoned PI on their experience with Specific Aims from a PI and Reviewer perspective.
Denver: National Science Foundation
April 18, 2019
12:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: Student Commons, Rm. 2000
Faculty Experts: Martin Dunn, Dean, College of Engineering and Applied Science; Doris Kimbrough, Professor, Chemistry
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the premier federal funding agency for the Sciences. Join us for this seminar to learn about the NSF and their grants program. Seasoned experts will discuss the mission and organization of the NSF, their overarching grants criteria, their proposal structure, and tips for applying to the NSF.
AMC: How to plan for a P01 or Center Grant
April 30, 2019
12:00 – 2:00 pm
Location: TBD
Faculty Experts: Cathy Bradley, Professor and Associate Dean of Research, Colorado School of Public Health; John Hokanson, Professor, Colorado School of Public Health; Jennifer Kemp, Director, Department of Medicine Research Office; Jon Samet, Dean, Colorado School of Public Health
P01 and Center grants are highly competitive and unique. It takes seasoned PIs, multiple great projects, integration, collaboration, and sustainability. This seminar is targeted for seasoned PIs who want to learn what it takes to submit a competitive P01 or center grant. You will hear from faculty experts on the demands of the P01/center grant proposal as well as from those who have successfully competed for such a grant.
Resources:
ORDE Spring Seminars
ORDE Seminar Video Library
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