NEW!
GRANT TRAINING WORKSHOPS 2008
Grants Administration
Creighton University Grants Administration has scheduled Robert Porter, PhD, of Virginia Tech and GrantWinners Seminars to conduct two days of workshops on developing grant proposals. The workshops will take place on Thursday and Friday, April 10 and 11, 2008. Below are brief descriptions of the sessions. You may attend any number of sessions, or just one.
To register, please complete the attached form. You may send the form via email or campus mail to Brandi Tumbleson, Assistant Director, Grants Administration.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
8:30 A.M. – 11:30 A.M.
BUILDING THE NSF GRANT PROPOSAL, Skutt Student Center – Room 105
Competition for NSF grant awards is especially intense, as increasing numbers of proposals have clashed with the agency’s budget constraints. Successful proposals are written by investigators who combine sound principles of grant writing with an understanding of NSF’s overall merit review process. This workshop will focus on critical aspects of interacting with the agency as well as proven techniques for effective writing in each section of the NSF grant proposal. Samples from successful proposals will be cited to illustrate key points.
- Overview of NSF Mission, Structure and Budget
- Characteristics of Successful Proposals
- NSF Merit Review Process
- Critical Steps in Planning and Writing Your Proposal
- Formulating Precise Goals and Objectives
- Using Visual Illustrations
- Building in Quality Education and Diversity Components
1:30 – 4:30 P.M.
BUILDING THE NIH GRANT PROPOSAL, Criss III – Room L57
The complex requirements of an NIH grant proposal place extreme demands on the grant writer. From the tight logic of the Hypothesis/Specific Aims section to the minute details of the Research Design, the exacting format requires precise adherence to guidelines. This workshop will focus on key principles for effective writing in each major component of the proposal. Samples from successful proposals will be cited, with special attention to a model R01 proposal, annotated by NIH staff.
- Overview of NIH Mission, Structure and Budget
- Characteristics of Successful Proposals
- The Abstract: Last written, First Read
- Hypothesis/Specific Aims: Crafting a Solid Foundation
- Tips for Writing: Background & Significance, Preliminary Data, Research Design
- Translational Research: Implications of the NIH Roadmap
- The NIH Grant Review Process
Friday, April 11, 2008
9 A.M. – 12 P.M.
WRITING SUCCESSFUL GRANTS, Criss III– Room L57
For those who are new to the grant game, this introductory workshop covers basic principles of good grant writing, starting with the phrasing of a compelling research theme to the actual construction of the proposal itself. Major differences between traditional "academic prose" and persuasive grant writing are highlighted. Common pitfalls that can lead to early rejection of good ideas are reviewed, matched with practical strategies for better writing. Special attention will be paid to the perspectives of grant reviewers and how to write in ways that will meet their expectations.
- Killer mistakes in grant writing and how to avoid them
- Two critical steps that will double your chances for success
- How to win over the grant reviewer
- Simple keys to a more powerful writing style
- Visualization: Using illustrations to "sell" your project
1:30 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. – Per scheduled reservation
NSF PROPOSAL CONSULTATIONS, Criss III – Room L57
These individualized consultations are designed to enhance researchers’ chances for success by sharpening their writing in areas that are important to NSF reviewers. Dr. Porter will provide feedback to investigators who intend to submit an NSF proposal in the near future, or who intend to revise and resubmit a proposal that has been declined. These sessions will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. To be scheduled for a 30 minute session, PI’s must agree to submit a 1 – 2 page project summary at least one week prior (written comments from previous reviews, if available, are also requested). Each discussion will focus on:
- Responsiveness to the program solicitation
- Significance and creativity of proposed research
- Overall project focus
- Phrasing of project goals and objectives
- Specificity of approach (methodology and work plan)
- Clarity and persuasiveness in the writing
WORKSHOP LEADER
Robert Porter, Ph. D., is Director of the Proposal Development Team at Virginia Tech and President of GrantWinners Seminars. With thirty years' experience as a tenured professor, private consultant and research administrator, his proposals have won more than $5 million in awards from government agencies and private foundations. Dr. Porter has presented papers and workshops on grant writing at national conferences and has published prize-winning articles in the Journal of Research Administration. He has previously taught at Swarthmore College, Susquehanna University and Eastern Washington University. His graduate degrees in Speech Communications are from the University of Michigan.