Vice President for Research Research and Sponsored Programs Effective Grantsmanship April 13, 2006

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Vice President for ResearchResearch and
Sponsored ProgramsEffective GrantsmanshipApril
13, 2006

• TOPICS - Presenter
• Introductions Anita Quinn
• Definitions, Dos Donts Lynn Artman
• Resources Writing Peter Larsen
• Submission and Award Process Anita Quinn
• Questions/Final Comments

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• Introduction
• Research at Michigan Tech

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Total Sponsored Funding
Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2005
37,335,094.00 Total
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Fiscal Year 05 Award Dollarsby College
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Federal Sponsored FundingFiscal Year Ending June
30, 2005
25,115.944.00 Total
25,115.944.00
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06Basic Definitions What every proposal
writer must know!
RFP-Request for Proposal SRO-Sponsored Research
Office (RSP at MTU) PI-Principal Investigator
(Co-PI) Budget Jargon Cost Share a Portion of
the costs MTU covers Direct Costs obvious
expenses, labor, materials, etc. Indirect
Costs/FA/Overhead insurances, space,
electricity, etc. Allowable Costs - Things the
sponsor will pay for A-21- Federal
Guidelines CFDA-Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance
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06Basic Definitions What every proposal
writer must know!
Limited Submission - Sponsor will only accept a
limited of proposals from one source GACS
Graduate Assistant Cost Share F A Facility
and Administrative costs allowed by Federal Gov.
Determined by Feds Fringe Benefits indirect
cost associated with labor, insurances,
retirement, payroll taxes, etc. Internal
submission deadlines - MTU deadlines
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06Our Top 10 Dos DontsOf Grant Writing
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06First, the Donts
10. Dont wait until the last minute. 9. Dont
ignore the boring partsthey are
required! (management plan, evaluation, etc) 8.
Dont ignore any of the RFP instructions MTU
Policies. 7. Dont lie or plagiarize. 6. Dont
promise anything you cant deliver!
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More Donts
5. Dont try to say too much in your proposal.
Keep it simple. 4. Dont assume that anything is
obvious. Explain yourself! 3.Check for spelling
and grammar! It counts. 2. Dont ignore
reviewers comments. (If youve submitted
before). 1. Dont give up! You cant win if you
dont try.
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06Now, the Dos
10. Start with a great idea. Ask yourselfwould
you fund this idea for someone else? 9. Start
early. Good proposals take time. 8. Ask for and
use available help. Pete will talk more about
this. 7. Learn to accept constructive criticism.

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06Definitely Do
6. Understand goals, objectives, and
activities.
Activities The to do list Chronological order
Objectives What you want to achieve in the
short-term Immediate results from your project
Goals Long-term changes or contributions. The BIG
PICTURE things
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06More Dos
5. Understand the goals of the funding agency.
Dont propose something they arent interested
in! 4. Show your passion. First or second
paragraph get an emotional buy in. 3. Sell
yourself. Dont be shy, dont be
arrogant. Remember it is NOT about YOU or MTU! It
is about how you and MTU can help THEM!
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06More Dos
2. Make your proposal easy to read. Use common
terms and plain language. Pete will talk more
about this. 1. Be an optimist! You will never
sell something you dont completely believe in
yourself.
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Graduate Student Research Fellowships
The Why and How
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06Why Would I Want a Graduate Fellowship?
Prestige Career Enhancement Research
Independence Of coursethe money! Often carry
generous stipends (up to 30,000) and tuition (up
to 10,500) for multiple years.
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06Resources to Find Funding

• Professors (NSF Supplemental)
• Community of Science - www.cos.com
• Grants.gov
• Google it!
• Michigan Techs Internal Resources
• ?Grad School website-current funding
  opportunities
• ?Petes resources
• Selected funding opportunities
• Funding opportunities by month
• Funding opportunities for international
  students
• ?Lynns resources
• Foundation Search Private and Corporate

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Writing Resources

• Program Officers/Foundation Staff
• Colleagues and Professors
• Michigan Tech Resources
• Pete Lynn
• Submission RSP staff
• Writing Centers
• Prior awardeeshow to find?
• Reviewer comments
• Books/Online Help
• NSF-Grant Proposal Guide (GPG)
• http//www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/nsf04_23/
• The Science of Scientific Writing
• www.amstat.org/publications/jcgs/sci.pdf

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How to Win!

• What makes a winning proposal?
• Great Idea
• Well-expressed content
• Well organized
• Direct verbiage, activenot passive
• Active I believe that proposal writing skills
  can be learned.
• Passive It is believed by the presenter that
  proposal writing skills can be learned.
• Great Abstract
• Highlight review criteria (review sheet)

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How to Win!Continued

• Easy to read
• White space, well-organized, font, margins,
  charts, grammar, punctuation.
• Find the right sponsor!
• Mirror the language of the RFP
• Follow all directions, answer all questions
• Use references
• Remind reviewers that you can do what you are
  proposing.