Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne Australian Catholic University Grant writing Faculty of Education

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne STATE OF PLAY  Research grants are the dominant way for academic researchers to get resources to focus on research  INVARIANT : there is never enough money  So you need to maximise your chances  Even a strong proposal is in a lottery, but a weak one will certainly not get funded  Strong proposals take care and time

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  Planning  Writing  Submission  Timelines (you may be driven by submission dates – but writing a competitive proposal takes a great deal of time – allow up to 9 months for an ARC application from start to submission) The Stages of Proposal Development

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  Review the Literature  Update your CV – include only the last 5 years  Develop a Research Theme  Refine Project Objectives  Search for Funding Opportunities  Start thinking who you may work with  Prepare a Project Outline Planning Stage

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne Writing Stage  Your Audience  With luck, your proposal will be read carefully by one or two experts. You must convince them.  But it will certainly be read superficially by non-experts … and they will be the panel members. You absolutely must convince them too.  Some influential readers will be non-experts, and will give you one minute maximum.  So write clearly, get non-experts to read it, and do not use too much jargon.

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne Writing for a tender  Read the call for proposals  Try to understand what the motivation of the agency (or company) is  Understand their criteria, and write your proposal to address them  But do not prostitute your research. Write a proposal for good research that you are genuinely excited about.  Do not exceed the page limit

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  Find a reason to telephone (not ) the program manager. S/he is a Human Being, and is constantly on the lookout for original research.  Build your relationship. Invite them to visit your institute. Offer to help as a reviewer. Ask what you can do that would help them. Do not begin by making demands (everyone else does).

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne I.Statement of Need II.Goals and Objectives III.Background IV.Methods V.Evaluation VI.Budget General Project Outline

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  Overview of current literature  Develops rationale for the study  Defines the scope of the problem  Identifies gaps in current knowledge  Generates an understanding of need for the research  Culminates in the Purpose of the study Background

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  Establish your credibility in the area  Reveal a familiarity with the subject matter and the literature  Identifies gaps and how this project will fill those gaps  Reflect why this project is the logical “next step” in the area Introduction

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  Goal: simple statement of what you want to accomplish » The Goal guides the Objectives  Objectives: the measurable outcomes of your goal » Specific, measurable and achievable in the specified time frame » Objectives help to define the methods » Tell what will be done and when Goals and Objectives

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  What is the specific problem you want to address and why?  Brief, clear and concise statement of the “global” theme or “problem”  Should demonstrate the Significance and Impact of the problem in relation to agency’s goals Statement of Need

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne Related work - Tips  Goal 1 : demonstrate that you totally know the field. Appearing ignorant of relevant related work is certain death.  Goal 2 : a spring-board for describing your promising idea  But that is all! Do not spend too many words on comparative discussion. The experts will know it; the non-experts won’t care.

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  Prove to the reviewer why this research needs to be addressed  Show the gaps in the current literature  Identify strengths and weaknesses in current published research in the area  Look for limitations and address them in your project Literature Review

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  What specific activities will enable you to meet the objectives?  Study Design (descriptive)  Subjects/Participants  Recruitment and Study Feasibility  Outcome Measurement Tools  Procedures  Data Management and Analysis Plans Methods

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  General Concepts to Keep in Mind  Staff: Number and qualifications  Facilities: Offices, laboratories etc.  Equipment: Have vs Need  Time: How long will it take to complete each major task in the methods?  Agency Limitations Budget

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  Write a topic sentence for each heading  Make one point in each paragraph  Keep sentences short  Use bullets and list  Keep related ideas and information together  Include transitions (I.e. “furthermore, additionally”)  If writing is not your strength, get help! General Tips to Keep in Mind...

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne In Summary 1.Here is a well-defined problem 2.It’s an important problem (evidence …) 3.We have a promising idea (evidence …) 4.We are a world-class team (evidence …) 5.Here is what we hope to achieve 6.Here is how we plan to build on our idea to achieve it 7.Give us the money. Please.

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne Peer Review  Ask others to read your proposal critically  Revise, and ask someone else  Repeat  Worthwhile: what someone thinks after a 10- minute read is Really, Really Important  Informative: after reading 20 proposals by others, you’ll write better ones yourself  Effective: dramatic increases in quality. There is just no excuse for not doing this.

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  Preparing your application for submission takes time  Complete the agency’s forms  Review narrative, budget and appendices to follow agency guidelines  Assemble the grant application package  Review for content and style  Get approvals and signatures Submission Stage

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne Submission checklist  a. The proposal must be NEAT, COMPLETE, and ON TIME, with the requested number of copies and original authorised signatures.  b. Address the proposal as directed in the guidelines.  c. Be sure to include required documentation. Before you send it …

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  3 to 6 months from conceptualisation to submission  9 to 12 months from submission to start-up  This depends on the grants  Some bodies want you to start straight away » Remember though it will take you a minimum of 3 months to start a project – Time for ethics approval – Time for signing of contracts – Time for employing Research Assistants – Time for instrument development How Much Time Should It Take?

Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne Review Criteria … Think Like a Reviewer!

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  Significance  Approach and Feasibility  Innovation  Investigator’s experience  Environment General Review Criteria

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  Ability of the project to further the funding agencies objectives  Does the research relate to the program applied to?  Does the proposal address a new area or direction in the literature?  Has the project narrative established a need for this research? Significance

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  Are the methods and budget feasible to attain the stated objectives?  Is the methodology sound?  Will the study design effectively measure what it is supposed to?  Are the budget and timeline appropriate to be successful? Approach and Feasibility

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  Is the approach to the research original?  What is so new about this research?  What will draw the reviewers’ attention?  Where is this going to lead? Innovation

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  Does the PI have the experience and expertise to conduct the research?  Publication and Funding History  Program of Research  Academic Record  Does the research team have the expertise to conduct the research?  Quality/Calibre of the research team Investigator

Elizabeth Warren Australian Catholic University Brisbane Sydney Canberra Ballarat Melbourne  Make Life EASY for Reviewers  Label all materials clearly  Keep things short and simple  Guide reviewers with graphics  Edit and proof-read your work  Organization is key to a positive review! Key Concepts to Keep in Mind