Subject

1
Subject
Three topics
Select one topic
Come up with three ideas
Select one idea
Decide the NSF program you want to apply to
2
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?

3
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?

4
Pearls of Wisdom Jacob Kraicer

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

5
Penn State top ten listOffice of Research
Affairs

• In order to win, you have to play
• Do your homework
• Learn to walk before you run
• Dont 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
• Dont promise what you can not deliver
• Deliver what you promise
• Try, try and try again until you succeed

6
Web of Science
Identify colleagues who could help
gtgeneralists gtspecialist
Have time on your side
Formulate ideas
Read literature
Identify resources gtfunding gtinstitute gtresearch
services gtsuccessful proposals gtcriticism
Generate preliminary data
7
They can not read your mind!

• Think like a scientist
• Define a problem
• Ask questions
• Formulate hypotheses
• Design experiment
• Plan for evaluation
• Get rich!

8
So you are ready with page 1

• Now, it is time to read GPG (it is at our class
  site http//forest.mtu.edu/faculty/joshi/web/index
  fw5850.htm
• 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

9
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..

10
Type of program documents

• Dear Colleague letter draw attention
• Program description-broad description
• Program announcement-open for business
• Program solicitations (RFP or Request for
  proposal)-
• Deviations from GPG
• Deviation from evaluation criteria
• Deadlines
• Letter intent?
• Limits on award, cost share, applicants/institute

11
Prescreening Not for all programs!

• Letter of intent
• PI and institute
• What area of research
• Not peer reviewed
• Just for information to decide upon panel
• Preliminary proposal
• Short listing of good quality proposals
• Invite/do not invite Only for large centers
• Encourage/discourage advisory

12
Who may submit?

• US Universities/academic institutions
• Non-profit/non-academic Museums etc
• For-profit SBIR, academic/industry
• State and Local Govt.
• Unaffiliated individuals US citizenship
• Foreign organizations
• Other federal agencies limited collaborative

13
Simple Assignment Title

• Come up with one line title.
• Short sweet but not too cute!
• Avoid acronyms
• Should attract reader to your proposal
• Use key words, dont be too general
• Avoid using these words understanding,
  developing, finding, proposing, for the first
  time
• Title should tell people what this proposal is
  about!

14
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
  coming Thursday