PERSPECTIVES ON A SUCCESSFUL CAREER PROPOSAL

PERSPECTIVES ON A SUCCESSFUL CAREER PROPOSAL Virginia A. Davis, Ph.D. Department of Chemical Engineering NSF CMMI CAREER WORKSHOP MARCH 2010

BIOGRAPHY: DR. VIRGINIA A. DAVIS • BSE, Chemical Engineering, Tulane University 1990 • Shell Chemicals (1990 – 2001): • Polypropylene and Polyesters • New Orleans, LA, Akron, OH, Brussels, Belgium, Houston, TX • Manufacturing, Technical Service, R&D, Global Marketing Manager • Applications • Baby diapers, carpet fibers, soft drink bottles, pharmaceutical bottles, plastic beer bottles • MSE, Chemical Engineering, Tulane University 1993 (part-time) • Resigned from Industry in May 2001 and went to Grad School • Defended Ph.D. in July 2005 • Advisors: Matteo Pasquali and Richard E. Smalley • Liquid Crystals & Pure Fibers of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes • Potential applications: Space elevator, quantum wires, anti-ballastic clothing • Joined Auburn’s Chemical Engineering Faculty 8/2005 Theme: structure-processing-property relationships Means different things to different people

DISCLAIMER This talk is based on my personal experiences and reflect only my own opinion There are no 100% certain ways to get a CAREER

MY CAREER STORY • Did not apply at the end of my first year – it would have been a waste of everyone’s time • Applied at end of 2nd year for dual consideration form CBET Fluid Dynamics and CMMI Nanomanufacturing • Decided after detailed discussion with PM’s over ~ 2 months • Knew it was “CAREER suicide” • Knew funding on 1st submission unlikely, so thought getting double the reviews would help with the second submission • But – no clear trend except everyone was negative about one of part of the research • Second submission funded by MPM

SUGGESTED SIMPLIFIED FLOW DIAGRAM THINK & DISCUSS DRAFT PROPOSAL Project Description Project Summary All Other Elements DRAFT OBJECTIVE Research & Education WRITE ACTION PLAN Discussions w/ PM’s Where to Submit / What to Include Quotes/Estimates Collab. Letters Literature Search Preliminary Data Who Will Help Read/Advise HAVE OTHERS READ At least 1 nontechnical person Someone in your field Someone not in your field Someone who approaches things like you do Someone who approaches things very differently ITERATE (MANY TIMES)

LESSON 1: YOU NEED A VISION • Before you can begin to write you need to know what “YOU” are all about • A great research idea is not enough • You must have a vision not only for your research, but how you will integrate it into education and have a “broad impact”

THIS IS ABOUT YOU • What do you want to do for the next 5-10 Years? • What do you want to be known for? • Why is your research AND educational work interesting? • Why are you the right person to do it? • It really helps to make it personal - why do you want to do what you want to do? Answering these questions is important for making smart decisions over the next few years, not just writing a proposal THE CAREER IS YOUR VISION STATEMENT COMPILED IN NSF FORMAT THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THE PROPOSAL IS YOUR CLEARLY STATED OBJECTIVE

March to May 2007 – THINKING, TALKING EMAILING…..

CAREER 1 MADE SENSE TO ME CAREER 2 MORE OBVIOUS COHESION MADE SCOPE SEEM MORE REASONABLE Inorganic Nanocylinder LC Assembly and Flow Alignment Inorganic Nanocylinders in Organic Solvents Fundamental Rheology SWNTs in DNA/Enzyme Dispersions SWNT-(traditional) Polymer Nanocomposites Inorganic Nanocylinders in Enzyme Dispersions TO FD 2008 1 Yr Funding TO MPM Still not funded!

KEY DIFFERENCES 1ST AND 2ND SUBMISSION • After research objective, stated what hypotheses I would test • Stated related educational objectives • Better defined what I meant by structure-processing-property • Focused proposal • Did not include everything I want to do • Took out rheology not clearly related to self-assembly & flow alignment • Replaced a “not hot” topic that some felt was not clearly related with a “hot” one that was very clearly related • Discussed educational & broader impacts activities throughout proposal • References on education and broader impact • Better stronger letters • Added international component

LESSON 2: BALANCE IS KEY • Space Allocation (15 pages) • Intellectual Merit, education, broader impacts • “Integrated research and education” means you should be able to integrate your education plans into the research description • Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts • Should be throughout the Proposal • Should ALSO be summarized in separate sections • Make it easy for the reviewer to write the review! • No limit on references – reference a broad time period and range of researchers • Budget justification page limit – make the most of it • Facilities & Equipment – make the most of it

LESSON 2: BALANCE IS KEY • Priorities and timing • No one will believe you want to (or can) do it all • However, you want to hit as many criteria as possible • Many panelists want a GANTT chart - it needs to believable and readily understandable • The “Hot” factor – cool versus boring • Do not write about something just because it is “HOT” • The reviewers will know if you are not knowledgeable or passionate about it. • Do not avoid writing about something you can have a significant impact on just because you perceive because people have lost interest in the subject • However, some topics require very careful writing to overcome preconceptions that it has “all been done already”

LESSON 2: BALANCE IS KEY • Scope: Too narrow vs. too broad • Applies to all aspects of proposal • Make it clear how activities are related • Make timing and priorities clear • YOUR CAREER IS NOT ALL YOUR RESEARCH • Can you really do everything you say in five years??? • Novelty: not ambitious vs. totally nuts • If you can find numerous references you need to be very clear why what you want to do is different • If you can’t find any references you need to be very clear why you think what you want to do is feasible / interesting

LESSON 2: BALANCE IS KEY • Letters of collaboration • Some but not too many • Positive without being fluffy • Read most recent announcement carefully • Cultivate people to write “real letters of collaboration” letters 6 months 1 year in advance • Talk to PM, and sponsored programs well in advance about what is /is not appropriate/how many is too many • Need to provide documentation that you have more than just ideas • Do not make it sound like you are incapable of doing anything on your own

LESSON 3: BROADER IMPACTS MATTER • Not “Fluff” • Not to be written at the last minute • Not a standard statement put in every proposal • Need to be committed to whatever you say! • Why do YOU want to do outreach, mentor undergrads, improve diversity, and/or work internationally? • Be VERY clear about • Your / your institution’s track record • What you will do different in this proposal from what you / your institution are already doing

LESSON 3: BROADER IMPACTS MATTER • Neither education or broader impacts can just be stuck on the end of the proposal • Include how education / outreach / undergraduate research will be assessed • Include references • Why do international research opportunities matter • What is the relationship between undergraduate research and minority retention and advancement in STEM • What does the engineering education literature say about what you want to do (active learning, outreach etc) • Be careful how you handle diversity

LESSON 4: LIFE HAPPENS OR WHY I ALMOST DIDN’T SUBMIT MY FIRST (OR SECOND) CAREER PROPOSALS

LIFE HAPPENS…. • Whether or not you are married • Whether or not you have children • No matter who you are • No matter what you have planned • Be realistic about the time required for writing a CAREER • Be adaptable • Know when/where/how to get help • Remember that inspiration can happen under terrible circumstances, and be grateful if it does

CONCLUSIONS • Thinking and planning are critical • You have taken the first step • Before you get back to campus make an action plan for everything you need to do between now and July • Contingency planning GOOD LUCK!

QUESTIONS Dr. Virginia A. Davis Department of Chemical Engineering davisva@auburn.edu (334) 844-2060 Carbon Nanotube Dispersion Imaged by Cytoviva Microscope

PERSPECTIVES ON A SUCCESSFUL CAREER PROPOSAL