© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 CAREER PROPOSAL WRITING Tips for Success Ana Muriel Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering University of Massachusetts Amherst

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Section by Section uProject Summary uProject Description –Preliminaries –Research –Education –Dissemination –Project Management uLetters of Support –Industry collaboration –Institutional support

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Project Summary uMost important part of the proposal –Everyone will read this part in detail –It sets the stage »First impressions are hard to overcome uIn one page you need to: –Concisely describe the proposed work »Provide motivation and perspective –Demonstrate the importance of the work »Intellectual merit »Broader impact –Show that you have what it takes to do it!

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Tips uHave a number of people read it –Family, friends –Colleagues uBe clear and concise –Avoid long-winded sentences –Be specific uShow that you are the right person for the job –Previous work –Resources –Strong collaborations

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Project Description Preliminaries uThis is your CAREER plan uIt must fit with: –Your capabilities –Your current activities –Your long-term interests uHelp reviewers know you –Describe your current activities and accomplishments –Explain the long-term plan –Justify where the proposed project fits

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Tips uPresent the big picture of your career –Short and long term –E.g.: Research interests and prior NSF support uLet the reviewers know who you are –Major accomplishments »Research »Education

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Research uThis is a 5-year plan –Be ambitious –High-risk, high-reward uHowever, –Keep it focused –Show previous success –Demonstrate deep knowledge of the area –Clearly explain your research approach(es)

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Tips uPick the right topic: –Follow your passions, but follow the money… uEmphasize intellectual merit and impact uShow you can do it –Report your previous related results –Describe the current state-of-the-art –Explain research methods and fall-back approaches uBe clear and concise –Avoid long-winded sentences –Be specific –Make use of figures and schematics

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Education uIntegrated with research agenda uStandard elements –Graduate students –Courses –Undergraduate research activities

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Tips uSet yourself apart –Innovative curriculum –Educational materials –Technology in the classroom –Collaboration »Interdisciplinary/interuniversity/industry –Out-reach: »Women and minorities »Undergraduates »Community uShow commitment »Previous activities »Well thought-out plan

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Dissemination uJournals, trade magazines uConferences uCourses uWebsite

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Tips uCan you set yourself apart? –Wide dissemination of educational materials »Case studies »Software games… –Interactive website »Software –Organization of workshops

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Project Management uYou may be intellectually capable of performing the work, but…. –Can you manage the people and resources required? –Can you budget your time appropriately? uYou need a business plan!

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Tips uInclude a clear plan –Full proposal broken down into manageable tasks –Gantt Chart displaying »Duration and start/completion times of each task »Personnel and resources associated with each task –Brief discussion

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Industry Collaboration uIndustry collaborations serve many purposes: –Proof of relevance –Assumptions and model validation –Data acquisition and testing grounds –Quick technology transfer –Additional funding or resources

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Tips uLetters of support must show –The company is well aware of your work –The potential results are very important to the company –Commitment: »Funds »Personnel time »Equipment »Data »Student internships »Testing

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Institutional Support uYour university can show its commitment to your plan in various ways –Cost-sharing –Waiver of indirect cost –Resources

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Tips uYour institution will share in your success uSeek out the resources that they can make available to you –Teaching centers –Research institutes –Industry consortiums uLetters of support –Include specific commitment

© Ana Muriel, UMass 5/24/05 Conclusion uShow that the proposed work is very important –Intellectual merit –Broader impact uShow that you are the right person to do it –You are already in track »Previous activities in line with proposed ones –You have done the legwork »Literature »Approaches »Collaborations –You can manage it »People and resources »Detailed management plan