Visitors are coming to our class.. March 17, 2008 –Dave Reed, VP for Research –Anita Quinn, Director of Research Services –Lisa Jukkala, Research Services –Kim Codere, Research Services –Pete Larsen, Research Services March 31, 2008 –Chung-Jui Tsai, Forestry –John Jacszak, Physics –John Vucetich, Forestry

Knowledge is the key! Know your funding agency Know your topic Know your colleagues Know yourself

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

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?

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?

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

Penn State’ top ten list Office of Research Affairs In order to win, you have to play Do your homework Learn to walk before you run Don’t 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 Don’t promise what you can not deliver Deliver what you promise Try, try and try again until you succeed

Formulate ideas Identify colleagues who could help >generalists >specialist Read literature Generate preliminary data Identify resources >funding >institute >research services >successful proposals >criticism Have time on your side

They can not read your mind! Think like a scientist –Define a problem –Ask questions –Formulate hypotheses –Design experiment –Plan for evaluation –Get rich!

So you are ready with page 1 Now, it is time to read GPG (it is at our class site) 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

How to submit a NSF proposal? Electronic via FASTLANE Reach there by Deadline but don’t wait till last minute (Target date?) How it is processed at NSF Three major steps to survive the first cut –Read the instructions

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

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

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

INTRODUCTION First 1-2 pages described what research activity you want to pursue You told reviewers your objectives and how you plan to achieve them You told them about the methods You told them about significance Now they are hooked and hungry for more!

Background information Why? Because they should know what do you know! Start from broad topics and narrow down to specifics of your proposal Review of literature: know difference between thesis, publications & proposal You want to show them your depth of knowledge and understanding of the current literature and research trends Build your story on the basis of what is known!

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 Wednesdays

Project Description Format –Pagination: You do it just before submission –15 page limit –Previous NSF grants (max 5 pages) –10 points or larger font –Density 15 characters per 2.5 cm –6 lines per 2.5 cm vertical space –margins in all directions 2.5 cm –My suggested font will be Times New Roman 12 point –References not included in the 15 page limit –But figures and tables are.. What if I do not follow these guidelines?

How can I use all the space that I got? Leave some blank space for aesthetic purpose. Solid page is hard to read! Use some figures and pictures to break the monotony. (Color better!) ( But no clip arts, please) Show one diagram of interrelationship among various proposal components Explain the figures/tables that you put there! Personalize proposal with your unique style! –Picture/figure on the first page may be better

Don’t forget the basics Grammar, spellings and style counts! Use Bold, underline, and bullets to draw attention (1 of 3) Write each paragraph so that it builds on the preceding paragraph. Make your ideas connect and flow. Each new paragraph is a step toward the final paragraph to solve the problem. Each new paragraph adds excitement and urgency of doing proposed work (Bev Browning) You should answer every question that comes next to your mind when you read your own narrative Limit flowery words to three-four in the entire proposal This is not a novel although it should read like one. They should not stop reading and go back and forth Touch their heart, mind, intellect and wallet! Always start fresh..

What is the goal? What are the main objectives? Goal: one sentence statement about the END that one strives to attain Objectives: attainable milestones or checkpoints to be achieved to know how far are we from our goal? A Timetable is must! Use active words: will be established, proven, discovered..

References How many are too many? Depends on your field Use best ones that serve YOU the best! Give some popular review articles (recent) Don’t say: Recently in 1955… Cite leaders, old-timers and little people too Ego trip! So let some ride on it too (no attacks!) Cite those who support your train of thoughts

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..

Five things Reviewers look for before they even think about reading your proposal Who is proposing it? CV and support.. Where are you coming from? How much are you asking? What is the title of your proposal? What activity you are proposing: Summary

How proposals are evaluated? We will try to use the same two criteria that NSF uses (Read GPG). Intellectual merit –How important for advancement of knowledge? –Qualification of PI and quality of proposal? –Creative and original concepts? –How well conceived and organized is this activity? –Sufficient resources available? Broader impacts –Advance discovery and understanding –Can promote teaching and research integration –Diversity (gender, ethnicity, disability, geographical) –Infrastructure development –Dissemination of information obtained –What is the benefit to society?