HOW TO WIN RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS AND FUNDING

During my academic career and also in the industry, I applied for grants and fellowships to support research, sometimes successfully. Now, I see submissions for research funding and fellowship support in my current position at CarboHyde.

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Successful submitters usually procure support by meeting several important criteria:?

• Be aware of deadlines. You will not receive funding for a proposal if you do not apply! Schedule space on your calendar to create drafts, request supporting documents, and submit the application package. Do not assume that technology will work 5 minutes before the deadline.?
• Prepare, prepare, and prepare some more. Students start preparing themselves for competitive research proposals by earning good grades; however, do not let the minimal acceptable grade point average deter you from applying. If the minimum grade point average to apply for a fellowship is 3.0 and you have a 3.0, APPLY! Fellowship awards are not decided by grade point average alone. Students also prepare themselves for competitive fellowships through a diversity of experiences that include research and volunteering. Be judicious about your involvement in organizations. Challenge yourself to grow by learning something new and leading others with similar interests.?
• Secure strong recommendations as a student. Establish strong relationships with professors and mentors. This requires consistent communication with them, which may include updates on your current research or academic progress. While you are in school, stopping by (virtually or in real life) to say hello to professors or mentors during office hours is a good way to stay connected. My most memorable students made good use of my office hours, and I remember them decades later! Once you have graduated, an email, handwritten note, or social media direct message informing your professor or research adviser of your activities and whereabouts can help you maintain that relationship. The stronger the connection, the stronger the letter of support you can expect.?
• Read the solicitation criteria well before the deadline. This allows you to request and prepare documents such as transcripts, letters of support, or experimental results and plan your workflow. Do you have to provide proof of need? Do you need to secure a letter of certification from a director or dean? Do you have to write one, two, or three essays? Do you have a question about whether your research area is eligible for support? Reach out to the program manager, who might provide additional insight that strengthens your application. And don’t forget to alert your references that you will be requesting a recommendation.??
• Explain your research clearly and concisely. There is a good chance that the person (or people) reading your application will not be a subject matter expert in your subdiscipline. Explain acronyms, describe why supporting you or your research is important, express the potential impacts of your work, and fully discuss why the funding is critical.??

When writing a grant proposal, several key criteria significantly impact your chances of securing research funding:

Significance: Highlight the value of your proposed research. Address an important problem and demonstrate its relevance to your field or society. Consider the potential impact and follow-on work.

Approach: Describe your methods and techniques. Ensure a well-developed framework, integrated design, and robust analysis. Address problem areas and alternative approaches, covering experimental design, data collection, processing, and ethical considerations.

Innovation: Propose something new and original. Aim for innovative research goals or novel methods and approaches. Challenge existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies.

Investigators: Showcase your qualifications and experience. Funding bodies assess your ability to conduct successful research. A track record of past grants can strengthen your case.

Environment: Consider the scientific context in which your work will occur. Will the research environment contribute to overall success?

Finally, remember that you are the expert about you and your work. Communicate the importance of your work and how it fits into the big picture. Winning proposals takes a bit of luck and a lot of practice.?

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