1 writing a successful career proposal - my personal experience hong liang jordan career development...
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Writing a Successful CAREER Writing a Successful CAREER ProposalProposal
- my personal experience- my personal experience
Hong LiangJordan Career Development Associate Professor
Mechanical EngineeringTexas A&M University
NSF CAREER WorkshopFairbanks, AK
Aug. 22-23, 2007
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At the Starting LineAt the Starting Line
Start from the day oneManage time – teaching,
research, and proposal writing…Generate preliminary results
◦ Student training◦ Journal paper publication
There are three years till midterm tenure review…
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Career PreparationCareer Preparation
What is the research focus?◦Unique and exciting◦Needs to be different from Ph.D. thesis◦Align with department and college
mission◦Have local infrastructure support◦Lifelong research and learning
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Proposal PreparationProposal PreparationDiscuss your career plan with the
department head and obtain support
Do a thorough literature search◦ Explore new ideas◦ The literature review can be used for future
publications
Compare your idea with prior art◦ Put in the format of tables or charts◦ Potential impact should be clear at this stage◦ Discuss with mentors
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Education PlanEducation PlanSet goals - don’t make a laundry list
Be innovative but stay focused on achieving goals - Be unique and achievable
Curriculum development◦ Does your department need it?◦ Will the school be better ranked because of it?
Students◦ Would they be better prepared for future?
Community◦ Will more people benefit from your effort?
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Writing the ProposalWriting the ProposalRead and follow NSF guidelines carefully
◦ Any sign of carelessness will cost the proposal…
Objectives should be clearly stated and easy to find ◦ 1st line in the summery, subtitles, or starting
paragraphs
Use figures and tables
Be your own reviewer: what, why, how, and outcome
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Writing the ProposalWriting the Proposal
Collaboration◦ establish a strong connection but make
sure to be independent
Propose the exact budget
Get help from local proposal office
Have it reviewed by peers and senior colleagues
Which program to submit?◦ read winning award abstracts◦ ask program managers
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Improving the ProposalImproving the Proposal
Don’t take panel review comments personally◦ You might have written the best proposal, but
someone else wrote a better one
Panel is formed of researchers from different areas◦ Everyone should be able to grasp your ideas◦ Consult popular science magazines
Submit regular proposals
Proposal writing skill is important for a successful academic career, so might as well enjoy doing it
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• Be innovative• Be persistent• Be resourceful
State Web
Final WordsFinal Words
Disney
S.F. tour
UAF Web