Office of Sponsored Programs

from the Petroleum Res. Council

Moving from good/average science to excellent

1. Why are you writing a proposal?

• One of the two ways you relate yourself to your peers (papers and others). - PEERS ARE REVIEWERS
• The process makes you smarter - gives you a better grasp of project after proposal is written
• Outcomes

- Discover unexpected problems

- Find unforeseen insights

-Not just a chore but a creative act.

2. What makes a bad proposal

A) Really bad

• Scientific non-viable
• Does not fit mission
• PI ineligible
• Institution/dept. ineligible
• Proposal violates guidelines: Format, Length, Budget
• Use of out-of-date forms Call the agency - Most interesting part of the day - If you want to get good proposals

B) Bad

• DEAD STUFF WALKING- obsolete topic, approach, bibliography
• Limited significance and impact
• Logical Flaws: nonexclusive hypothesis alternative hypotheses
• Project beyond capabilities of investigators, institution, students

C) Marginal

• Vague language ==> MUST BE CONCRETE
• Poor organization; Rambling ; Number pages (all the pages)
• Ideas that do not illuminate point of the proposal
• Mystery budget (provide summary and detail -Explain costs over 5% )
• Implications of research not spelled out (broad impact or only local impact?)
• Funder's priority not emphasized
• Breezy and informal language
• Impractical in time and money
• Research should lead to other research or some other impact beyond the interests of the researcher

3. Excellent Proposal (Top 15-20% proposals)

A)Significant problem and well organized narrative. ==> readers can have short attention span

• Short sentence
• Short paragraphs
• No extraneous language
• Subheads w/subsection labels or tags
• Approach in a practical and realistic way
• me, here , now
• Support letters if collaborating

• Describe experiments for which any imaginative result can be expected in terms of the hypothesis presented. - MUST HAVE HYPOTHESIS
• Describe impacts of results to be obtained and explain why it is worth achieving - Not: We need $, We need stuff, I need a raise - THIS WHY YOU DO RESEARCH.
• Preliminary Results that support Viability of project and ability and resources of PI to carry out projects

  B) ABSTRACT: Heart and soul of Ideas with all nuts and bolts stripped away to show scientific value.

  1. Program Officer uses Abstracts to direct to the right review, panel/committee for evaluation.

  2. Peer reviewer uses to target themselves at key issues of you proposal - starts understanding of idea.

  3. Panel review uses to establish initial rank and then to base rest of proposal against

Q & A

1. Fine Line

• Capability and beyond capability
• Preliminary and Final results: Quick & Dirty to show
• Giving away the shop

2. Background In Abstract?

• Little to none. Focus on project and implications

3. Potential Reviewers List

• List the God and Goddesses and other folks (younger colleagues) 1 or 2/person/round
• Want 3 or 4, give 5 or 6
• Other reviewers too
• List PUI faculty as well

4. Cost Sharing

• Follow rules if there are rules
• Establish commitment, especially if equipment will be used outside the bounds of the project
• Be realistic and balanced

5. Best Stuff First

• Page 1: Not a mystery novel reader will loose interest. Use pictures, equations
• Page 10 Ten Mistakes - Corrections
• Do homework - show references: show expertise, especially what the funding agency has supported.
• Research: acknowledge obstacles and express alternatives/contingencies
• Write clearly, concisely - avoid jargon
• Customize for each funder you send proposal to
• FOLLOW DIRECTIONS; FORMAT GUIDE
• WRITE SO PROPOSAL CAN BE READ FIRST TIME

  -Get reader to read without making notes and tell you what you said: wrong-start rewriting!

  -Start writing outlines, table-of-contents

  -Write project in one page

  -Create little last - so that it is truly representative

  -Ask for what you need: "Oh my God - What have I done?

  -Find balance between timidity and arrogance about yourself

  -Call The Funders - they will help with the design because they want good proposals

  -Show passion, urgency: This is important NOW. Take proposal beyond the intellectual. · Write for your readers. Establishes writing style.

  -"Expect funders to support your goals, not theirs." WRITE TO THEIR MISSION

  -Match funds according to funder guidelines- do not overmatch. This can be a problem at both ends.

  -Talk to people at or around campus while developing proposal/project. Early and often, get investment/ownership