Grant Writing

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Grant Writing Boot Camp
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Project Conceptualization - A Continual Revision
Process
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Original Goal and Objectives The goal of this
proposal is to provide our undergraduate students
with an approach to biology that incorporates DNA
sequencing and database exploration. This goal
will be achieved through the following
objectives 1. Improve upper division
undergraduate laboratory courses. 2. Improve
undergraduate research and provide upper division
student mentoring in a research setting for lower
division students. Revised Goal and
Objectives The goal of the proposed project is
to integrate DNA sequencing and fragment analysis
into the undergraduate Natural Sciences
curriculum at The College of St. Scholastica
(CSS). This goal will be achieved through the
following objectives 1. To obtain and evaluate
the performance of a Beckman CEQ 8000 DNA
Sequencer in an undergraduate laboratory
setting. 2. To integrate DNA sequencing and
fragment analysis into three undergraduate
Biology courses. 3. To increase the quantity and
quality of undergraduate research opportunities
by initiating two faculty-mentored research
projects that involve DNA sequencing and
analysis.
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Why is this research important? What have other
people done? What have they found?
Research Question - Broad based inquiry
Hypothesis
Hypothesis
Hypothesis
Specific Aims - the steps you are going to take
to test hypothesis
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Is it a fit?
Proposal
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Program Officer

• If youre going to go through all the work of
  writing a proposal, you want to make sure that
  your project at least meets the basic criteria
  for review. Thus, call the program officer and
  ask their opinion.
• Ask if you can you explain your project and get
  his or her take on whether your project fits.
• Ask if your project is missing any essential
  components?
• Ask if theres anything that you should emphasize
  or highlight about your project?

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Preparing to Write

• Print all guidelines, application packages,
  forms, etc. Then, plant a tree.
• What do the guidelines say about formatting?
• What do the guidelines say about project period?
  Length? When can you start your project?
• Are partners required? If so, what kind of
  involvement is required and what kind of
  documentation?
• What do the guidelines say about evaluation? Do
  you need an external evaluator? Is there a
  minimum or maximum that you should pay an
  evaluator?

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Preparing to Write

• Follow the guidelines and use the questions as
  your headers
• Dont worry about length. Its easy to cut once
  youve answered all of the questions.

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Prepare an Outline

• Follow the guidelines
• Use the headings, order and format provided in
  the guidelines
• Make it easy for reviewers to find the critical
  information in your proposal

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Budget

• The budget is your reality check. Dont wait
  until you are done with your narrative to work on
  it.

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Guidelines - Budget

• What are the budget limitations? Total? Per
  Year? What is the average award?
• What are the allowable costs? Are indirect costs
  allowed?
• What are the match requirements? Do they ask you
  do differentiate between cash and in-kind match?
• What do the budget forms look like? What are
  the cost categories?

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Typical Budget Line Items
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Need

• Why are you doing this?
• How do you know theres a need?
• How can you make that need real to the reader?

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Activities
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• Action Plan
• Management Plan
• Why your approach?
• What evidence do you have that your approach is
  effective?
• Why are you qualified to lead this project?
• What will be done, who will do it, and when?