1. WELCOME EFFECTIVE GRANTSMANSHIP WORKSHOP FW5850 CREDIT 3 Mondays and Wednesdays 2.05 to 2.55 pm G002 Forestry $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

2. Objective To prepare a complete research grant proposal in NSF or any other suitable format

3. FW 5850 - Effective Grantsmanship Workshop Ability to write successful grant application is an important part of graduate education. Students will learn basic techniques of grant writing for federal, industrial, and international funding agencies and will submit a well-organized proposal for peer review in the class. Credits: 3.0 Lec-Rec-Lab: (1-2-0) Semesters Offered: Spring Timing: Monday and Wednesday 2-3 in Foretsry G002 Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore, Junior

4. CLASS GOALS To demystify the process of obtaining research grants by actually writing a grant proposal. To familiarize students with research grant preparation (learn grants basic). Proposal evaluation basics To get as many research proposals as possible ready by the end of this semester (Hall of Fame!)

5. Why was this course proposed? Many graduate students are beneficiaries of their advisor’s Grantsmanship. Graduate students have to write grant proposals sometime in their professional life. Most students are unprepared to step up to this challenge. Prospective employers would be impressed (hopefully!) to see Grants Writing Workshop in your curriculum vitae and transcripts. No such course was regularly offered at MTU

6. Little background.. I have been writing proposals for > 20 years I also have served on review panels for NSF and DOE (USDA soon) Why not to share this knowledge with Grad students? In 2004, I decided to offer this class I expected about 4-5 forestry grad students will show up..

7. First year the response was amazing (2004)!! 45+ students registered for this course. They came from everywhere on campus (engineering, biology, forestry, chemistry, physics and biomedical engineering). Only one undergrad senior came in! So, I had to deliver what was promised.

8. Many things changed since then.. Our Dean made this class required for all forestry graduate students Many past students requested to increase the credits to 3 from 1. Thursday 1 credit lecture class and Tuesdays discussion class (2 credits) was added. In 2005, 15 students enrolled “Boon in disguise”: This was a manageable class size

9. In 2006, again new situation… About 28 students registered for the class We started meeting for lecture on Tuesdays and discussion on Thursdays between 2-3 pm They evaluated proposals from other Faculty members.

10. In 2008, another change Class moved to Spring Not required for MS forestry students Required only for PhD in Forestry 18 students registered of which only 4 from forestry Classes moved to Mondays and Wednesdays between 2-3 pm

11. Who is your instructor? Shekhar Joshi (Chandrashekhar P. Joshi) Associate Professor, SFRES Over 20 years of grants writing experience Received NSF CAREER grant in 2003 PI/Co-PI on ~$6 million grants (NSF, USDA, DOE, CPBR) Have been involved in ~$8 million at MTU But have written worth $25 million grants Practice makes a man (or woman) perfect!

12. Where and when can you find me? Room # 167, Forestry Building I am available between 9 am to 6 pm on all weekdays except Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9 am to 12 noon when I teach other class Office hours: 3 to 4 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays after the class Phone: 906-487-3480 Email: cpjoshi@mtu.educpjoshi@mtu.edu Web site: http://forest.mtu.edu/faculty/joshi/ For those who walk up from the main campus: Do call me or email me before walking up the hill! It is better to take my appointment.

13. Main Course objective! To prepare a complete research grant application in the NSF or any other suitable format. –Choose a topic of your choice –Research the idea that you want to propose –Develop background information –Write project description and summary –Do all the paperwork including budgets! –Submit rough draft by week 8 (March 5 th, 2008) –I will return it with comments by March 19 th 2008 –Submit complete proposal by week 12 (April 9 th 2008) –Help me in evaluating your peers (more later!)

14. Why only NSF will be covered in the class? Gold standard in research Basic research with applied outlook Fastlane: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp Virtually all science areas are included as program areas –Find out which programs could fund your proposal. http://www.nsf.gov This is the first year when you can choose any other federal agency such as USDA, DOE, NASA, DOT, NIH etc

15. How your final proposals will be evaluated? Group of 4-5 students from the same discipline They will evaluate proposals from their group One will be selected as the primary reviewer One will be secondary reviewer who will also be a scribe Your professors will be invited to review it You will present final proposal in the class (April 9 th, 14 th, 16 th, 2008) Panel meetings will be on April 21 st and April 23 rd 2008 You will not evaluate your own proposal!

16. Grading system Two major categories –20% Class attendance, participation, assignment submissions –40% Quality and preparation of rough draft: Joshi –40% Your peers and Professors A95-100%Outstanding: must fund AB90-94Excellent: high priority B85-89Very Good: medium priority BC80-84Good: low priority C75-79OK: Some merit CD70-74BAD: Why did you waste my time? D65-69Very BAD: Do not fund!

17. Textbook? No textbook is necessary! Tons of material on the World Wide Web! But most of it is for public service projects and not suitable for research projects! Grants writing for Dummies: B. Browning Grant writing Book: E. Karsh and A. Fox Guide to Grant Success: C. Knowles Experience is a best teacher!

18. How does a final proposal look like? Title page Summary 15 pages of project background, objectives & description References CVs Budget and budget justification Facilities and equipment

19. Syllabus Week 1: Overview of course objectives Week 2: Selection of research topics and ethics in research Week 3: Defining Project aims, proposal preparation Week 4: Project description Week 5: Methodology and summary Week 6: CV and other supporting docs Week 7: Successful Grant Writers meeting

20. Syllabus (..continued) Week 8: Q and A with Grad school/RS Week 9: No class. Spring break Week 10: Budget preparation, paperwork Week 11: Other federal agencies Week 12: Foundations and Industries Week 13: Review process Week 14: Panel Reviews

21. Assignments Even though this class has only 1 lecture credit and we will meet only twice per week, you may have to work at least 2-3 hours extra on your own. It will start slowly but will be overwhelming very soon. Please give me your completed survey forms by Wednesday! Also return the advisor consent form as soon as you can. No quizzes, tests, midterm, finals, textbook but there will be regular assignments as follows

22. All assignments are due on the Wednesday class of each week. Please bring a print out with your name and submission date on it. Week 1: No assignment. Introductions Week 2: Decide the agency, program area and the topic of research. What will be the title of your proposal? What is the name of the program manager and what are his/her contact details? Week 3: Obtain and study the guidelines and prepare a checklist for submitting a proposal to agency of your choice Week 4: Define research problem, objectives, and approaches that you plan to take Week 5: Start on summary and submit a rough draft of summary (one page) Week 6: Collect and prepare a list of references and write a one-page description of research facilities and equipment needed and available to your research Week 7: Collect research methods to be used in your proposal Week 8: Prepare and submit the rough draft of your proposal Week 9: Spring break no class and no assignment Week 10: Prepare and submit your cv and your advisor’s cv in the suggested format by the agency Week 11: Submit completed budget and budget justification on MTU transmittal forms Week 12: Submit final draft of the proposal Week 13: Read and prepare proposal reviews assigned to you (about 4) Week 14: No assignments. You will meet for the panel meeting

23. Who gives you the grant? Public Government Funding agency Program manager Panel manager Review Panel Peers

24. Who gets the grant? Your institution You as a caretaker person (10-20% Success rate) You build reputation for your institute Success follows success and failure.. Only established people? No, young investigators have a better shot!