Grant funding and graduate students

Office of Research Development (ORD)
Grant and Proposal Writing Overview
by
Jeanne Viviani
Director, Research Development

Finding Funding & Writing Proposals
o Research Experience = Research Funding
o Strengthen Your Grant Writing Skills
o Supplement or Provide Income
o Enhance Your Academic Reputation
o Build Your Professional Network
Why do this now?

Funding Sources
Thousands of Funding Opportunities
o Federal Government
o State/Local Government
o Foundations
o Corporate Foundations
o Private Foundations

Funding from Prestigious/National Program
Examples
o Ford Foundation Fellow
o https://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/FordFellowships/ind
ex.htm
o Hertz Foundation
o https://www.hertzfoundation.org/
o Beinecke Scholarship
o https://www.cmu.edu/fso/prestigious-
%20scholarships/national/Beineke/index.html
o Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship
o https://www.pdsoros.org/
… many others but most are not only highly competitive but
require other achievements such academics, volunteering, etc.

Three key paths to funding
Mentor’s grant
(Mentor lists you on
his/her grant to perform
some aspect of the
research)
Your own grant
(Graduate
fellowship or grant)
Institutional
training grant
(Grant award to
college/dept. at a
university to support
student cohort, such
as NIH “T” awards)

Finding Funding
o Grant Forward
FAU subscribes to this online service to help
faculty, staff and students find grants.
o Grants.gov
Repository for all U.S. Govt. grants.
o Web of Science
Available through FAU library.
o Agency Websites

Grant Forward
Log in to www.GrantForward.com. Must be on FAU first to create an
account
Use researcher welcome guide as a reference
Tailor your search:
Enter keywords. Try broad search first, then narrow it down.
Grant Type: Select “Fellowship” and “Research Project”
Applicant Type: Select “Graduate”
Citizenship: Adjust citizenship settings as appropriate
Set desired timing for email digest (daily, weekly, monthly)

Sample Grant Forward Search

The “Formula” for
success is as easy as…
A E I O U
Recommended Qualifications to be
Competitive for High Profile Scholarships

A E I O U
Academic Excellence
 High GPA
 Advanced Classes and Projects
 Independent Research?

A E I O U
External Validation
 Presenting at Academic Conferences
 Posters at Academic Conferences
 Scholarships

A E I O U
Internships and/or International
 Foreign language skills or near fluency
 Internship/Work Experience (in field)

A E I O U
Outreach Activities
 Consistent volunteer activities
 On-Campus or Off-Campus
 Leadership activities, not just “joining” a
group and participating

A E I O U
Uniqueness
 Play an instrument?
 Overcome a challenge?
 Interesting family or personal background?

A E I O U
Academic Excellence
External Validation
Internship and/or Internationalization
Outreach and Volunteer Activities
Uniqueness

National Science Foundation
A Good Fit for Your Future?

National Science Foundation (NSF)
 Nation’s lead basic research agency
(founded in 1950)
 Focuses on fundamental, basic science
in all areas of STEM -- 7 Directorates
with dozens of Divisions.
 Limited medical research funding.
 FY 2019 Annual budget $8.1 billion
 12,000 Awards per year in grants and
fellowships (40,000 proposals)

NSF Graduate Funding
Selected Funding Opportunities
o NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
o Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate
Students (INTERN) Supplemental Funding Opportunity

NSF Funding: GRFP
Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
https://www.nsfgrfp.org/
Each Fellowship consists of three years of support during
a five-year fellowship period. Currently, NSF provides a
stipend of $34,000 to the Fellow and a cost-of-education
allowance of $12,000 to the graduate degree-granting
institution for each Fellow who uses the fellowship support
in a fellowship year.
Total Support up to $138,000

NSF GRFP: Eligibility

NSF GRFP: When Can You Apply?

NSF GRFP: Application
o Two Statements:
o Personal, Relevant Background & Future Goals (3
pages)
o Graduate Research Plan Statement (2 pages)
o Resume (2 pages)
o Transcripts
o Three Letters of Reference (choose wisely)

NSF GRFP: Application Tips
o Be yourself.
o NSF wants to fund future STEM leaders, not just scientists &
engineers.
o Use appropriate scientific form (hypothesis, figures, references).
o Don't get bogged down specific details or be overly technical.
o Develop a consistent theme in both of the statements.

Other Funding Sources to Consider
National Institute of Justice Graduate Research Fellowship
o Research to address challenges of crime and justice in the U.S.
NASA
o STEM research that aligns with NASA’s interests
Foundations /Scientific Associations
o American Psychological Association
o Ford Foundation
o National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, & Medicine

Other Funding Sources to Consider
NOAA Sea Grants
o For graduate student professional development in a variety of marine
topics.
Department of Defense: National Defense Science and
Engineering Graduate Fellowships
o For graduate study in the fields of science and engineering.
Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad
o If you desire to travel abroad or your research has global
implications.

How do I choose a funding agency?
Do your homework:
Review sponsor’s funding priorities and award history
Look for a list of funded awards on the agency’s website
Contact agency program officers or approach them at
conferences.
Find out which agency(ies) fund your current or future
mentor. (*Web of Science, NIH Reporter, NSF Funded Awards list)

Interpreting a funding announcement
 Terminology: “Fellowship” versus “Grant” These terms aren’t
always the same.
 Eligibility: May vary based on type of institution, individual's
status, degree focus, citizenship, and other criteria
 Limits: There may be limits to the number of applications from a
single institution. Institution must select best candidate.
 Seek help from your College’s Research Administrator or your
mentor.

So Why Apply to ANY Grant Program?
You aspire to have a long-term
research career.
You can receive funds to help
cover cost of living (stipend),
tuition, and research supplies.
…and finally, you have to write
much of it anyway for your
thesis!

A Word About Writing
Academic Writing Grant Writing
Scholarly pursuit
Past oriented
Theme-centered
Expository rhetoric
Impersonal tone
Individualistic
Few length constraints
Specialized terminology
Sponsor goals
Future oriented
Project-centered
Persuasive rhetoric
Personal tone
Team-focused
Strict length constraints
Accessible language
Porter, R. (2007). Why academics have a hard time writing good grant proposals. The Journal of Research
Administration, 38, 161-167

To sum up
 Do your homework: What is your
niche? Who funds your mentor?
 Align with a good mentor (s)
 Start early
 Learn to write complex science clearly
and concisely
 Read examples of funded proposals.

Ready to Start? Excellent!
Contact Research Development for:
 Checklists
 Sample Proposals
 Proposal Review & Edits
 Canvas Course with Materials
 https://canvas.fau.edu/courses/80586/pages/graduate
-research-funding-resources-for-students-faculty-and-
administrators?module_item_id=1714222
 www.thegradcafe.com

Questions?
ProposalDevelopment@fau.edu

Grant funding and graduate students

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