Similarities between Writing an NSF Proposal and a Senior Honors Prospectus

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Similarities between Writing an NSF Proposal and
a Senior Honors Prospectus

• Robert Bateman

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Prospectus and Grant Proposal

• Both review the scientific literature and
  identify areas in which more research is needed
• Both propose to accomplish a specific body of
  original research in those areas
• Both have a specific timetable
• Both request resources and support
• Both require approval

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Why do scientists write grant proposals?

• In the sciences, little can be done without
  substantial funding.
• Funding supports student stipends, equipment,
  supplies, travel, faculty salary, etc.
• External funding is a major consideration in
  faculty tenure and promotion

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Start with a good idea

• Innovative, catchy
• Not something the state would fund
• Doable
• High impact
• Visit the NSF awards information page
• Talk to the program officers

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Review criteria

• Intellectual merit
• Broader impacts

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Intellectual merit

• Is it worth doing?
• Are the proposers qualified and capable? (Team
  approach)
• Is it a good investment by NSF?
• Is it based on a current understanding of the
  research area?

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Broader impact

• NSF wants most bang for the buck
• Impact outside the local area
• Include underrepresented groups (diversity)
• Clearly indicate benefits to society

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Basic format of a grant proposal

• Cover page
• Abstract
• Narrative
• References
• Facilities
• Biosketches
• Budget
• Compliance and other forms

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Money

• Goal is to accomplish project, not just get money
• Dont get greedy
• Line up matching funds and institutional
  commitment ahead of time
• NSF views the money as a catalyst
• Need a plan to sustain project

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Dissemination

• Presentations and publications
• Websites and workshops
• Books and manuals
• Software
• Commercial publishers

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Biographical Sketch

• Keep pertinent to the project
• Clearly show expertise necessary for project
• Should complement qualifications section of
  narrative

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Last thoughts on the NSF grant writing process

• Get someone else to read and critique it
• Build on prior NSF success stories (yours and
  others)
• Start brainstorming months ahead of time
• If it doesnt excite you, it wont excite the
  reviewers

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Guide for Writing the Prospectus   The Prospectus
will include (in this order)   A title
page.   An approval page with spaces for the
signatures of the thesis director, the
department chair, and the Dean of the Honors
College.   An outline, in no more than 300 words,
of the subject for investigation.   A brief
statement of the purpose of the project and its
value to the academic discipline chosen. A
preliminary outline of the thesis.   If
appropriate, a description of work already done
in relation to the project.   A preliminary
bibliography.  
From the Honors College handbook
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Page Limits

• Prospectus - 10-20 pages
• Thesis - 40-50 pages
•  
• Answer the research question thoroughly and
  concisely

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Prospectus chapters

• Problem statement
• Literature review
• Methodology

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Problem Statement example

• This research will answer two basic questions
• 1) what is the oxygen consumption of Gopherus
  polyphemus embryos at different temperatures
  across different stages of development,
• and 2) what is the impact of the dead eggs on the
  level of oxygen in the nest?

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Literature review

• More detailed context for the problem statement
• Shows that you understand how your project fits
  in with the state of the art
• References should be complete, including titles.

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Methodology

• Experimental design
• Experimental methods used
• Statistical methods used
• Timetable
• Compliance issues

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Originality

• Frequently undergraduate science majors work on a
  portion of an ongoing faculty research project
• What is your original contribution?