Dissertation Funding: A Workshop

1. CLA GRANTS Alexandra Brown, Ph.D., Grants Coordinator for Arts and Humanities (akbrown@umn.edu) Gayle Anderson, Fiscal Administration (ander104@umn.edu) Dissertation Funding: A Workshop Dissertation Funding, Oct. 21, 2011

2. Work with your dissertation Advisor to determine that your Idea is: • Interesting • Innovative • Intellectually sound • Feasible • It must also be fundable Developing a Grant Proposal Requires a Strategy

3. All this takes time… Plan accordingly

4. We can help!! Look for the Right Funders

5. Grants team Website: Graduate REsources • http://grants.cla.umn.edu/resources/ • Databases • Navigate • https://apps.cla.umn.edu/cla_grants • Proposal preparation • Writing Tips

6. Register for a workshop • http://www.lib.umn.edu/services/workshops/registration • Databases they cover • COS • IRIS • SPIN • Foundation Directory online • More may be available through your department UMN Library Funding Search Workshops

7. COS: US, Commonwealth, Foundations SPIN: mainly US & Federal Funders The IRIS database Grants.gov: US federal funding NSF, NIH, FIPSE Searchable databases

8. Graduate School’s Fellowship Office http://www.grad.umn.edu/fellowships/ External Funding: http://www.grad.umn.edu/prospective_students/Financing/other.html University Resources

9. The funder’s mission must be compatible with your project. Read the guidelines, objectives, & Grant Proposal Guide. Read the review criteria Look at the funded grants Develop a list of possible funders Keys to success

10. Prepare a one-page overview – explain why your project is important • Known background • Gap in knowledge/understanding/problem • Hypothesis/research question/project • Significance for your field & for society • Run it past colleagues—listen to critiques. • Refine your message. Prepare to Approach Funders

11. Federal Agencies: list program officers & their contact information. Professional Organizations: if no program officer, stick to the guidelines. Consult with your dissertation advisor, other faculty, and other grad students. Foundations: program officers? Or letters of inquiry? Approaching funders

12. Tells reviewers… • Your idea is significant • You’ve researched it thoroughly • You’re the right investigator • Your methods are sound • The project is feasible • You will publish & disseminate your results • Is clear & easy to read! A strategic grant proposal

13. The Program Officer • The Review Panel General Scholarly Audience Not all in your area of expertise Consider your audience

14. Descriptive title • Abstract or summary • Budget • Applicant’s credentials (CV & publications) • Narrative • Introduction: Key conceptual contributions upfront • Goals & Objectives • Background • Methods/Timetable/Work plan • Discussion/Significance • Bibliography What does a proposal look like? Depends on the Funders Guidelines

15. Be Realistic • Make cost estimates COMPLETE and ACCURATE • Write a complete and DETAILED budget justification Preparing the budget

16. Keep your audience in mind • Write clearly and simply • Avoid jargon • Use active voice • Simplify text • Structure proposal clearly • Grab the readers attention at the outset Writing an Effective Proposal

17. Modesty is not a virtue in proposal writing • Stress the contributions of your work • Use the grant guidelines as a tool • Proofread, eliminate unnecessary words • Resources: University Writing Center http://writing.umn.edu/sws/index.html • Collaborate Colleagues Professors Writing An Effective Proposal

18. www.irb.umn.edu • Required for research on human subjects • Living people • Survey data • Human tissue samples • Categories of review • Exempt • Expedited • Full review Institutional Review boards

19. Thank you.