Grant Writing Grant Writing Prof. Muthukumaran Sivanandham Dean - Research Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, Sriperumpudur Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, Sriperumpudur

Grant Writing Skills

Purpose of Grant Writing Receive funds: Receive funds: Research and non-research – improve knowledge and society Research and non-research – improve knowledge and society Interact with scientists, technologists, and academicians – nationally and internationally – meetings and publications Interact with scientists, technologists, and academicians – nationally and internationally – meetings and publications Receive royalties for inventions Receive royalties for inventions Career advance Career advance

Purpose of Grants Research Research Educational – new programs Educational – new programs Facility, institution building, Facility, institution building, Equipment Equipment Conference, training Conference, training Non-academic – health club, swimming pool, child care center, etc Non-academic – health club, swimming pool, child care center, etc

Research Grant Hypothesis Hypothesis Literature search Literature search Patent search Patent search Discuss with collegues Discuss with collegues Choose a mentor Choose a mentor Keep updating the relevant knowledge by attending conferences, reading journals, etc. Keep updating the relevant knowledge by attending conferences, reading journals, etc.

Identifying Granting Agencies Intramural and extramural Intramural and extramural Advertisement – journals, newspapers, newsletters, internet – websites, Advertisement – journals, newspapers, newsletters, internet – websites, Contact relevant agency eg. ICMR for medical research, AICTE for Engineering and Technologies, etc. Contact relevant agency eg. ICMR for medical research, AICTE for Engineering and Technologies, etc. Office of grant administration Office of grant administration

Identifying Granting Agencies Cont. Writing “ letter of intent ” Writing “ letter of intent ” Propose your plan Propose your plan Ask relevancy to the granting agency Ask relevancy to the granting agency When to apply When to apply What is the budget limit What is the budget limit When will the grant be initiated if awarded When will the grant be initiated if awarded Success rate Success rate

Components of a Grant Proposal Summary Summary Introduction Introduction Aim or objective Aim or objective Method Method Significance Significance Budget Budget Regulatory info Regulatory info

Summary One page One page 2-3 lines on introduction 2-3 lines on introduction Clearly state the objectives Clearly state the objectives Methods to achieve the objectives Methods to achieve the objectives Significance of the proposal Significance of the proposal

Introduction Basic info – no complex Basic info – no complex Preliminary work – publications Preliminary work – publications Feasibility – facility, equipment, library, other collaborative investigators, other projects ongoing, etc. Feasibility – facility, equipment, library, other collaborative investigators, other projects ongoing, etc. Evolution of hypothesis. Evolution of hypothesis.

Objective Overall Objective Overall Objective Specific objective Specific objective

Methods Methods should be related to the specific aims Methods should be related to the specific aims Published – but change can be allowed Published – but change can be allowed Feasible – equipment wise, skilled persons, training, etc. Feasible – equipment wise, skilled persons, training, etc. Detailed – verifiable Detailed – verifiable

Significance Should have value Should have value Financial Financial Advancement of knowledge Advancement of knowledge

Budget Give a true estimate for: Give a true estimate for: Personnel (supplementary salary- percent effort) Personnel (supplementary salary- percent effort) Supplies and reagents Supplies and reagents Miscellaneous Miscellaneous Stationary Stationary Travel Travel Books Books

Regulatory Information Signatory authority Signatory authority National and international regulatory issues – human subjects, animals, recombinant biologics, etc. National and international regulatory issues – human subjects, animals, recombinant biologics, etc. Waste disposal – radioactive, biohazard, etc Waste disposal – radioactive, biohazard, etc Safety and ethics Safety and ethics

Accepting Grants Read the agreement and make sure you can follow the regulations pertaining to the awarding agency Read the agreement and make sure you can follow the regulations pertaining to the awarding agency If budget is reduced, renegotiate If budget is reduced, renegotiate If not feasible to do the work, do not take it If not feasible to do the work, do not take it

Reporting Follow the reporting requirements for progresses in science and budget Follow the reporting requirements for progresses in science and budget Adhere to the timeline in the proposal Adhere to the timeline in the proposal If could not be achieved the objectives as mentioned in the timeline, justify. If could not be achieved the objectives as mentioned in the timeline, justify.

Do’s and Don’ts Read forms and instructions Read forms and instructions Write clearly and precisely Write clearly and precisely Explain all abbreviations and acronyms Explain all abbreviations and acronyms Edit for spelling and grammar Edit for spelling and grammar Long phrases and complex sentences, avoid jargons Long phrases and complex sentences, avoid jargons Avoid lot of pictures, drawings, and tables Avoid lot of pictures, drawings, and tables Lot of citations Lot of citations Lose focus Lose focus

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