Using background research to bolster your case

When reviewers read your grant proposal, sometimes they are not as familiar with the field as you are. This creates a tricky juxtapositioning of your proposal. You must speak to reviewers who are both experts in your field and those who are somewhat familiar.

Building your project case using background research can help you navigate this conundrum. Clearly walking reviewers through the cutting edge research in your field, identifying the gap, and showing how your project will fill that gap can help present a clear case to those with varying levels of project-specific expertise. Below, I offer some tips in presenting background research to create a clear and compelling case.

Make sure you're aware of all relevant research:

Remember, that your reviewers will likely include experts who have conducted research in the same area. Although you may not know who will be reviewing your proposal, if a reviewer is a researcher in your area who has conducted cutting edge research (or knows of some) not reflected in your proposal, it can be bad news for your review. Of course, you can't cite everyone in your proposal, but make sure that you're citing those studies that are most relevant. Definitely make sure that you've reviewed all relevant research before submitting your application.

Highlight your own research:

If you've been one of the researchers contributing to the cutting edge research in your area, be sure to show that. You're not just trying to convince reviewers that your project is brilliant and innovative, but also that you're the best person to complete the research. What better way to show that than to describe how you've been doing this work already?!

Show the gap and why it should be filled:

If you've laid out the cutting edge/background research well in your proposal, it should be obvious that there is a gap. But even if that seems obvious, carry your idea through. Explicitly identify the gap and don't stop there! Explain why this gap needs to be filled and why now. You may feel like you're getting repetitive in stating and re-stating these points, but you want to tie up any loose ends in your case and re-emphasize your key points. As long-time reviewer, Andrew Thorburn, has noted, there's no such thing as making your grant proposal too simple. Remember, reviewers are reading a lot of applications in one sitting and sometimes at the last minute. Reviewers will thank you for conveying your project as simply as possible.

You are probably really excited about your research project. But, why is that? You have been on a journey in your research and discovered a missing link. Without the context for that journey, which is rooted in background research, reviewers will not be able to get excited with you.

Resources:

Background and Significance Sections - ConductScience

How to write a grant proposal - NCBI