1. Women into Research Successful Proposals Lisa M. Collins

2. What makes a successful proposal? A good idea Clear hypotheses Pilot data Cutting edge, exciting approaches A fantastic team of collaborators Support from key stakeholders (in kind/financial) Impact that goes beyond run-of-the-mill dissemination Value for money

3. Paving the way Having a great idea and writing the proposal is not enough Networking – talk about your proposal External review (brutally honest feedback) Reviews from academics outside your specific area of expertise (how does it read to a non- specialist?) Contact the funding body and talk about the proposal. What advice can they provide?

4. Areas of strategic priority Some funding bodies have designated areas that are considered to be strategic priorities or foci, which they wish to invest in. Don’t try to fit a square peg in a round hole. If your idea does not fit in a strategic priority area, don’t try to make it sound like it does. Instead, really emphasise the importance/exciting aspects of the question. If your proposal DOES fit into a priority area, you need to push this strongly through the proposal.

5. 1)What is stopping women from pursuing writing research proposals? 2)How do women view writing research proposals as part of their role within the university? 3)Are women choosing other areas of university life to fill in their time, rather than writing proposals?

6. 4) What barriers are perceived/actual surrounding research funding/other forms of non-funded research/small grant research proposal writing? 5) What forms of writing research proposal support are required?