Biosketches and Other Supporting Documents …..Who cares about that stuff anyway?

Overview: Today’s Topics Basic Tips Basic Tips Biosketches Biosketches Current and Pending Support/Funding Current and Pending Support/Funding Other Common Documents Other Common Documents Facilities/Resources Facilities/Resources Mentoring Plans Mentoring Plans Management Plans Management Plans Letters of Commitment/Collaboration and Support Letters of Commitment/Collaboration and Support

Expectations: Understand purpose and requirements for supporting documents Understand purpose and requirements for supporting documents Identify key points you need to convey through supporting documents Identify key points you need to convey through supporting documents Develop a checklist of supporting documents for your proposal Develop a checklist of supporting documents for your proposal

Deliverables-Today List of documents required and permitted for your proposal List of documents required and permitted for your proposal Matrix of key strengths/weaknesses; novel or unique attributes/approaches; and commitments and support required/desired Matrix of key strengths/weaknesses; novel or unique attributes/approaches; and commitments and support required/desired Preliminary work on biosketch Preliminary work on biosketch

Deliverables-Later this week Completed biosketch and current/pending support documents Completed biosketch and current/pending support documents Draft facilities/resources document Draft facilities/resources document Draft letters of commitment, support, and collaboration as appropriate Draft letters of commitment, support, and collaboration as appropriate Drafts of additional supplemental materials as appropriate or required Drafts of additional supplemental materials as appropriate or required

Why do supporting documents matter? They are your opportunity to present information reviewers will not otherwise see They are your opportunity to present information reviewers will not otherwise see Carefully presented documents add strength to your proposal and can sway reviewers in your favor Carefully presented documents add strength to your proposal and can sway reviewers in your favor

Basic Tips Style and formatting matters Style and formatting matters Don’t wait until the last minute Don’t wait until the last minute Have a plan: Have a plan: ⁻Identify what you are and are not allowed to submit ⁻Identify key attributes and weaknesses you want to address ⁻Determine how you will convey desired information across all proposal documents

Biosketches: Your opportunity to present your credentials to reviewers who don’t know you Your opportunity to present your credentials to reviewers who don’t know you Format depends on the funder. Almost always includes: Format depends on the funder. Almost always includes: ⁻Education/Special Training ⁻Appointments/Employment History ⁻Research Accomplishments – pubs, support, and honors Other common information Other common information ⁻Personal statement (NIH, some other fellowships) ⁻Collaborators and Mentoring Activity (NSF, other) ⁻Courses taught (training grants)

Things to remember: Follow the funder’s instructions for format and content Follow the funder’s instructions for format and content Spelling and grammar count Spelling and grammar count Customize biosketch for each proposal Customize biosketch for each proposal Prepare your biosketch with the reviewer in mind…..and know who the reviewer is Prepare your biosketch with the reviewer in mind…..and know who the reviewer is Have someone else look at your biosketch before you submit Have someone else look at your biosketch before you submit

The NSF Biosketch: 2 page maximum with standard NSF font size/spacing 2 page maximum with standard NSF font size/spacing 5 required sections 5 required sections Professional Preparation (UG, Grad, Postdoc) Professional Preparation (UG, Grad, Postdoc) Appointments (reverse chronological order) Appointments (reverse chronological order) Research Products (10 max) Research Products (10 max) Synergistic Activities Synergistic Activities Collaborators and Other Affiliations Collaborators and Other Affiliations

What NSF wants to know: Do you have the required academic background and position to do the proposed work? (education and appointments) Do you have the required academic background and position to do the proposed work? (education and appointments) Potential conflicts of interest/range of experience (collaborations and affiliations) Potential conflicts of interest/range of experience (collaborations and affiliations) Intellectual merit and scholarly value of prior work (publications/products) Intellectual merit and scholarly value of prior work (publications/products) Experience related to integration of teaching and research, broadening participation, and sercvice/leadership within your field (synergistic activities) Experience related to integration of teaching and research, broadening participation, and sercvice/leadership within your field (synergistic activities)

How to pick your ‘products’: First five should be those most directly tied to the proposed research – pubs or patents First five should be those most directly tied to the proposed research – pubs or patents Second five can be combination of most recent, most prestigious, and/or most impressive in terms of co-authors Second five can be combination of most recent, most prestigious, and/or most impressive in terms of co-authors Should not list pending articles, but you CAN list those with a future publication date Should not list pending articles, but you CAN list those with a future publication date

Selecting synergistic activities: Include things most relevant to your proposal that prove your ability to integrate teaching and research, broaden participation, and extend the impact of your work Include things most relevant to your proposal that prove your ability to integrate teaching and research, broaden participation, and extend the impact of your work Curriculum or pedagogy development or teaching awards Curriculum or pedagogy development or teaching awards Experience with underserved students and/or mentoring Experience with underserved students and/or mentoring Professional memberships and scholarly leadership roles beyond immediate institution Professional memberships and scholarly leadership roles beyond immediate institution

NSF Example:

The NIH Biosketch 4 page maximum 4 page maximum 4 primary sections: 4 primary sections: ⁻Personal Statement ⁻Positions and Honors ⁻Select Peer-Reviewed Publications (15 max) ⁻Research Support (current/completed; 3 years)

What NIH is looking for: Scholarly credentials (Positions/Honors) Prior research success (Research Support) Recognized contributions within the field (Publications) Demonstrated unique skills, expertise, environment, and experiences that position you for success on THIS project (Personal Statement)

How to write a personal statement: State the goal of the project and what you hope to achieve Describe your qualifications (academic preparation or prior experiences) and/or unique skills that position you to do work in this content area, on this topic, and/or with this particular audience Describe experience managing projects and/or working with collaborators Address any work disruptions or gaps

Sample NIH Biosketch:

Other Biosketches NEH- 2 pages ⁻Current and Past Positions. ⁻Education: List degrees, dates awarded, and titles of theses or dissertations. ⁻Awards and Honors: Include dates. ⁻Publications: Include full citations for publications and presentations. ⁻Other Relevant Professional Activities and Accomplishments.

Other Biosketches Continued US Dept of Ed—typically send full CV Department of Defense—1 page or 2 pages Department of Energy—1 or 2 pages

Current and Pending Support What to include varies by funder Typically, you will include the following: ⁻Project Title ⁻Funding Source or sponsorship if unfunded award ⁻Total Award Amount ⁻Award Period ⁻Role on the Project ⁻Person-months/year allocated to the project (total, not just funded effort)

What are they trying to find out? What level of experience have you had recently with grants? Who else finds your work to be of merit? How much effort are you currently spending on research and do you have sufficient effort available for the proposed project?

Facilities, Equipment, Resources Allows you to paint a picture of your research environment Serves as proof that you have or have access to everything you will need to complete the proposed work MUST tie logically tie your research plan and link to letters of collaboration as appropriate—should not just be a laundry list

What to include Information regarding routine or specialized facilities, instruments, tools, and technical support you will require to complete the project either on site or at a collaborator’s site Relate each item listed to its use in the proposed research Include information on effort to be devoted to the project that will NOT be funded by the sponsor

Other Supporting Documents Data Management Plans ⁻How data will be collected, secured, shared, managed, and otherwise accounted for Post Doc Mentoring Plans ⁻Specific and intentional activities designed to further research skills and job readiness as well as to develop additional domain expertise Management Plans ⁻Organizational structure of a project, specific roles and responsibilities of each key person, activities planned to coordinate research tasks

Letters of Support Few funders allow generic letters of support (US Dept of Education is exception) If allowed, letters of support should: ⁻Identify who the supporter is (organization, title, and responsibilities) ⁻Explain what they are supportive of, why this is relevant to their organization, and what the expected significance will be to their organization ⁻Encourage favorable review

Letters of Commitment Should be included (if allowed) when need to prove financial, time, or resource access referenced in a proposal Letters of support should: ⁻Identify who is committing what to the project (organization name, title/authority, and description of commitment) ⁻Identify role, if any, in the project and/or why this commitment is being made ⁻Encourage favorable review

Letters of Collaboration Should be included (if allowed) for all collaborators as proof of commitment to participate in your project Letters of collaboration should: ⁻Identify who the collaborator is and the nature of your relationship (organization name, title, and how you have previously worked together or how you know each other) ⁻Identify collaborator’s specific role on the project ⁻Identify synergy of effort/why collaborator is interested in working with you ⁻Encourage favorable review

Supporting Document Matrix Identify documents required and permitted Identify key strengths (personal, institutional, collaborator), support, collaborations, or commitments you need to highlight Identify weaknesses (personal or institutional) that need to be addressed

Final Comments and Questions Thank you for your attention, and Good Luck!