PB 297, Grant writing and research presentations

2 credits, letter grade (one 2-hour meeting every week; time and place to be arranged)

Spring Semesters when enough interest (at least 8 registered students).

Instructor: Sheila McCormick

Course grade will include your grant, presentation, and participation in the discussions.

 

There is room for 16 (minimum of 8 students, postdocs can fill up to 5 slots). Many students (and 15 postdocs) in the department have taken the class (and some have even mailed in their grant and have been funded) - ask around (or ask me) if you want to know if this class is for you.

 

This class is especially useful for students that are studying for their qualifying exam and for those who are about done and need to write postdoc proposals. It is probably most suitable for students who have selected a thesis project, but first year students are certainly welcome.

 

WARNING: This class entails a fair amount of work (see syllabus below) and is pretty interactive -"sitting in" for one or two sessions won't work - you have to commit to meeting the deadlines and to participating in all the steps for the entire semester.

ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE TURNED IN ON TIME.

 

Grant proposal:  Each student will write a grant proposal, in four steps: outline, pre-proposal, a preliminary and a final grant. There will be feedback at each step in the process - each participant will edit some of the other grants, and I will edit them all. Some of the scheduled classes will include discussion of the outlines, pre-proposals, and preliminary grants, and the last class will be organized as a grant panel, with students assigned as primary and secondary reviewers.

Research presentations: Each student will give a short presentation on the topic of their grant. As time permits, we will also discuss desirable features of oral presentations, using the departmental seminars and class presentations as examples.

 

Please double-space, it makes editing easier. To save paper, print double-sided.

Outline (2 double-spaced pages): hypothesis to test, brief description of background information, significance (why it is worth doing), long range goal of project, specific objectives.

Pre-proposal (4-6 double-spaced pages): expand on outline, add methods sections and possible outcomes of experiments designed to test hypothesis.

Preliminary and final grants (minimum of 14 double-spaced pages, maximum of 20 double-spaced pages). Abstract, Specific aims, Background, Significance, Experimental design and methods, References.

 

Class schedule from Spring 2002

Jan 22	I will cover principles of scientific writing and clarity, using good and bad examples from the literature, handouts and worksheets. I will outline how the class will work and how to write an outline. We'll select the first 8 students for next week's presentations.
Jan 29	The first 8 people present their 10-15 minute talks (allow a few minutes for questions) on the topic of their grant -maximum of 3 overheads allowed. The point is to provide background information, so that the other members of the class will be informed reviewers of your grant.
Feb 05	The other 8 people present their 15 minute talks. Most importantly, everyone's outlines are due. I will edit/review them all, 2 other students will too.
Feb 12	We discuss the outlines.
Feb 19	Pre-proposals are due. I edit/review them all, 2 different students do too. I will cover more about grant writing, design of figures.
Feb 26	We discuss the 3-page pre-proposals.
March 05	I do more on writing - emphasis will depend on how everyone's pre-proposals are coming along.
March 12	Preliminary grants are due. I will review them all, one other student will too.
March 19	Preliminary grants discussed.
March 26	No class (Spring recess week)
April 02	No class, I'm in Europe (you are working on your grant)
April 09	No class, I'm still in Europe (keep writing)
April 16	Individual 15 minute appts. with each person in class, to discuss specifics or problems with their grant
April 23	TBA, more discussion, or more 15 minute appts., as needed
April 30	Final grants due, pick reviewers (I do them all, 2 other students will too). I go over how to review grants, etc.
May  07	No class
May 14	Grant review panel. Written reviews due.