Enhancing Competitiveness of Research Grants - Natural Sciences and Engineering

1. Enhancing Competitiveness of Research Grants - Natural Sciences and Engineering Dr. Franceso Leri, Department of Psychology Dr. Monica Cojocaru, Department of Mathematics & Statistics  Dr. Cezar Khursigara, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology 

2. BASIC GRANT WRITING: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS GRAHAM TAYLOR SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING and MERRITT TURETSKYBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH HOW TO

3. Getting Ready (Pre-Writing) • Reach out to the program officer. Most of them like to help junior researchers • Read all the guidelines for the solicitation carefully • Look at other people’s grants • Ask peers (if you’re comfortable) to share their grant applications • Participate in review panels (NSERC Discovery, NSF) • Know your audience. Who is likely to review your proposal? • Gather info related to budgeting (specific to U of G) • Especially calculating benefits, etc.

4. Additional Suggestions • Know your due dates • Know the Merit Indicators

6. Excellence of Researcher Assessment based on achievements demonstrated over the past six years • Knowledge, expertise, and experience • Grants, awards, invited talks, review articles, editorial/advisory boards, outreach, etc. • Quality and impact of contributions to natural sciences and engineering (NSE) research • Publications, conference presentations, patents, etc. • Importance of contributions to researchers and end-users • the extent to which the applicant’s work has advanced the field • the extent of contributions to the development of standards or codes of practice

7. Excellence of Researcher In Most Significant Contributions • All types of research contributions (from 2012-2018) including papers, posters, outreach, etc. • Explain your role in collaborative research activities In CCV • Recognitions including honors, prizes and awards, etc. • Activities (international collaborations, administration, editorial, organizational review, KTT, etc.) • Memberships including professional societies and service • Contributions (publications, books, patents, etc.) Samples of research contributions • Up to 4 attached with application

8. Merit of Proposal Know the guidelines and HIT all of them - from NSERC MANUAL • Originality and innovation • Significance and expected contributions to NSE research; - potential for policy- and/or technology-related impact: • Clarity and scope of objectives • Clarity and appropriateness of methodology • Feasibility • Extent to which the scope of the proposal addresses all relevant issues, including the need for varied expertise within or across disciplines: • summary of recent progress in research activities related to the proposal; • framing of the research with appropriate reference(s) to other relevant work in the field; • consideration of relevant areas of knowledge and the applicant’s proposed approach to addressing research questions • Gender and diversity, budget justification, potential overlap with currently held grants

9. Merit of Proposal – my view • Originality and innovation • Extent to which the scope of the proposal addresses all relevant issues, including the need for varied expertise within or across disciplines: • summary of recent progress in research activities related to the proposal; • framing of the research with appropriate reference(s) to other relevant work in the field; • consideration of relevant areas of knowledge and the applicant’s proposed approach to addressing research questions • Clarity and scope of objectives • Clarity and appropriateness of methodology • Feasibility • Significance and expected contributions to NSE research; potential for policy- and/or technology-related impact: • Gender and diversity, budget justification, potential overlap with currently held grants

10. Merit of proposal • The Proposal should read like a paper • Avoid overloading the objectives: Clear, fewer, but longer term ones, better than a cluttered list of many shorter term ones. • Design a research program in your head before writing it on paper – if you could get the funds, it should take you 5 years to complete; • Put your bibliography together first, before you start writing the proposal • A well-designed program has related branches that advance one or two related larger ideas; the trainees’ projects should be woven into the design of objectives • Avoid all typos, phrases that are too long, and overly repeating of certain words such as “novel”, “ exciting” and “extraordinary”

11. Merit of proposal • Fine tune the amount of specialized details vs. writing to a broader scientific audience – YOU NEED BOTH • The starting 2 paragraphs of your proposal should make clear • What subarea you are a specialist in; • What is the main idea(s) of your research plan • Why is it novel • How it contributes to advancing the field • The total of trainees you plan to have over the grant • If appropriate, job skills they gain on this research. • The absolute top contributions you have that directly relate to your proposal. • This gives a good clear foundation for the rest of the content, while optimizing the attention of the reader on the most important details of the proposal. • The Proposal should read like a paper • Avoid overloading the objectives: Clear, fewer, but longer term ones, better than a cluttered list of many shorter term ones. • Design a research program in your head before writing it on paper – if you could get the funds, it should take you 5 years to complete; • Put your bibliography together first, before you start writing the proposal • A well-designed program has related branches that advance one or two related larger ideas; the trainees’ projects should be woven into the design of objectives • Avoid all typos, phrases that are too long, and overly repeating of certain words such as “novel”, “ exciting” and “extraordinary”

12. Training of HQP Assessment is based on training over the past six years both: Past contributions to training • Training environment • HQP awards and research contributions • Outcomes and skills gained by HQP Future plans for training • Training Philosophy • HQP Research Training Plan

13. Past contributions to the training of HQP Training environment • participation and involvement of HQP in science outreach activities, interdisciplinary research, collaborations, and/or interaction with the private and public sectors (e.g., industry, government agencies, etc.) • considerations of equity, diversity and inclusion in the training environment, refer to the Guide for Applicants: Considering equity, diversity and inclusion in your application. http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/_doc/EDI/Guide_for_Applicants_EN.pdf

14. Past contributions to the training of HQP HQP awards and research contributions • HQP collaboration in the applicant’s research contributions • awards, scholarships and fellowships won by HQP Outcomes and skills gained by HQP • progression of HQP into further studies or careers that have impact (in the NSE or not in the NSE) • HQP completion of degree requirements within a reasonable amount of time

15. Future Plans for Training Training philosophy • interactions with research personnel to ensure success • intellectual involvement of HQP • promotion of HQP participation in science outreach activities/professional development workshops, etc. • promoting the participation of a diverse group of HQP HQP research training plan • appropriateness of the level and mix of HQP • how the work will contribute to the development of new skills/knowledge • capacity of the researcher to supervise the proposed number and type of HQP

16. Other Important Considerations Budget justification • Budget requested in DG is for different expenses than the ones supported (or to be supported) by other sources • The DG proposal is distinct conceptually from research supported (or to be supported) by CIHR and/or SSHRC CCV • Important to all sections of DG application Review, review, review • Expert and non-expert