getting proposal funded
TRANSCRIPT
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
1/22
How to get your proposal funded
Tony Readhead - Astronomy
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
2/22
y y
The Brutal Facts
NSF states that 30% of proposals are fundedBut in typical panels I have served on the number
has been 10%-20%
A typical astronomy or physics panel
may have ~30 proposals of which 10 have been ratedvery good-excellent by mail & panel review, and 5
have been rated poor-fair, so 50% of the proposals are
rated good-very good but these will never be funded.
Of the 10 proposals rated very good-excellent only half
will be funded and the selection of these over the half which
have equal rating is what the panel will spend most of its
time on. The panel gives the NSF a ranked ordering.
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
3/22
How do you get your proposal ranked in the top 10%?
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
4/22
Essentials for a funded proposal:
1) Outstanding Science
3) Care in Presentation
no matter how good the science, if the proposal is badlyorganized, and the presentation is sloppy, containing
spelling errors, etc., you will not be funded because there are
other proposals with equally good science impeccably
presented - dont underestimate the competition
4) Follow Up
2) Preparation
we take this as given or you wouldnt be here
with funding agency and institution
with funding agency - report significant new developments -
you must always appear hungry - dont drop the ball here
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
5/22
Know:
Your Field
Your Competition
Your Funding Agency
is the work fundamental to the field?
does it have broader implications?
does it make use of emerging technologies?
can it be done on time and on budget?
how does your approach differ?
can you get there first?
are many people trying to do the same thing?
have you already
done a significant
fraction of the work?
what are their overall funding prioritiesand how are these decided?
does your proposal fit these?
which program is the best fit to your work?
coordinate with the program officer
visit your funding agency, give presentation
BASICS 1
follow up - papers, press releases
Your competition may reviewyour proposal
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
6/22
Know:
Guidelines
Budget
Your Local Support
due dates
proposal length
required statements
budget constraints/matching funds
leveraged funds
overhead
accurate costs
is any of the work
fabrication or to be
done off campus?
discuss with colleagues
discuss with EO or Division Chair
coordinate with sponsored research
coordinate with co-proposers
roadmap for proposal submission
BASICS 2
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
7/22
Overall Organization
1) Science
2) Management
3) Budget
feasibility & timescale
personnel & other resources. Links with other groups, facilities
justification - aim for complete transparency
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
8/22
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
9/22
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
10/22
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
11/22
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
12/22
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
13/22
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
14/22
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
15/22
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
16/22
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
17/22
i d
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
18/22
10-Point Road Map
1) T-6 months begin discussions with agency, colleagues, collaborators
2) T-2 months begin planning proposal (science, budgets, personnel, facilities)
3) T-6 weeks organize writing proposal: delegate science writing, budgets, management
4) T-3 weeks first draft of proposal due
start weekly telecon
5) T-2 weeks discuss final details with sponsored research
discuss with division chairmandiscuss with sponsored research
7) T-1 week final draft -- submit proposal
6) T-1.5 weeks second draft of proposal due
8) T+ 1-6 months care packages -- updates on progress to agency
10) Following funding -- keep agency fully informed + involved in press releases, etc.
9) FUNDED! Reduced level - remember that program officers are fighting FORyou!!
Th A l W i i
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
19/22
The Actual Writing
T-6 weeks organize writing proposal: delegate science writing, budgets, management
T-3 weeks first draft of proposal due
Begin with an outline showing topics to be covered in prior research and project description
Leave summary to the end - your proposal will evolve
Guidelines on Style:
2) Aim for clarity and be succinct
3) Avoid purple prose - its very irritating
1) Make sure the layout follows a natural logical flow: not the way you developed the ideas
4) Communicate your excitement about the field
5) Make good use of figures, images, plots. These should be aesthetically pleasing and easy to
understand and interpret
6) Avoid meaningless and overused words: very, current, etc. never use utilize
7) Use split infinitives sparingly, if at all. to boldly go etc.
8) Excessive use of the passive voice is boring
9) Polishing: be ruthless in paring down verbiage. Allow enough time to return to review yourwriting after a significant interval. Spend a day away from your work before final editing.
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
20/22
Fowlers Modern English Usage
Williams Style
Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace
Be magnanimous to others - but make clear where you are making a key/uniquecontribution. Be accurate, dont exaggerate. By putting your work correctly into
perspective and emphasizing your unique contribution you will be more convincing.
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
21/22
Response To Referees criticisms - try to relax
Always remember that your program officer is on your side
dont personalize the process - she/he would like to fund you
The criticisms come from your peer reviewersYour job is to give the program officer the ammunition that she/he needs to counter
criticisms either received or anticipated
Distinguish between your errors and the referees errors
Do your best to respond proactively to all the referees pointsBut if you are sure the referee has made a mistake point out where your proposals has
addressed the issue adequately
You will find most of the criticisms absolutely maddening!
Allow at least 2-3 days before you begin to work out your response
One has to wait a whole year before one can resubmit a proposal - so this is generally
not practical. One has to start again and submit a proposal which is significantlydifferent
Remember - in MPS if you are responding to referees you are already winning
- youre in the top 10%!
-
7/28/2019 Getting Proposal Funded
22/22
Good Luck!