Advanced topics in Microbial and Molecular Genetics:
Writing a Preliminary Exam and Grant Proposal
16:681:601 Fall 2009
Thurs 3:00 -5:00 PM in Waksman Rm 311
Course Instructor
Andrew Vershon - Waksman Institute,
Note Changes in the Schedule!! (11/12/09)
Description: This course will provide guidance and practice in writing a biological research grant proposal. Topics include funding agencies, types of grants, forms, budgets, proposal format and the review process. Students will be required to write and critique research proposals. This course will serve to help students to begin writing their research proposal as a part of their oral preliminary exam that is required by their Graduate Program. Some of the material on this web site is intended only for students registered in the course and is not for general public use. Access to some of the links is therefore password protected. The material on these pages is provided for educational purposes only. Unauthorized use of this material is prohibited.
Note: Your research advisor will have to read your proposal twice during the semester. Please check with them first before signing up for the course to make sure they have the time to spend on it.
| Week |
Date |
Topic |
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1 |
September 3 | Introductions, Course Organization, Non-Disclosure Agreement, Academic Integrity, |
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2 |
September 10 | Review examples of Specific Aims |
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3 |
September 17 | Due: Proposal Outline and Specific Aims (.5-1 page) |
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4 |
September 24 (No Class) | |||||
5 |
October 1 | Writing Basics - |
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| 6 | October 8 | Forms-
Due: Revised Aims, Background, Significance and Preliminary Results (3-5 pages) |
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7 |
October 15 | Grant Funding Search: Lecture Figures (Figures.ppt) Chaser - RU Resource Center for Graduate Student External Support CRISP - NIH Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects ORSP - RU Resource Center Internal Funding Support |
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8 |
October 22 | Due: Research Design and Methods (5-7 pages) |
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9 |
October 29 (No Class) |
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10 |
November 5 (No Class) |
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11 |
November 12 (No Class) | |||||
12 |
November 19 (No Class) | Due: Second Draft of Complete Proposal, e-mail final version is due by 2:00 PM |
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| November 26 (No Class) | ||||||
13 |
December 3 |
Proposal Reviews are Due by 10:00 AM by e-mail. |
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| December 4-10 | Akintobi, Alcivar, Cruz, Li, Hernandez should set up individual meetings to review work | |||||
14 |
December 10 | Research Presentations - Powerpoint Files due by 11:00 AM Order: Jiang, Jensen, Marshall, Smith, Vaca |
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| December 11-18 | Jiang, Jensen, Marshall, Smith, Vaca should set up individual meetings to review work. Waksman Rm 233 |
Suggested Reading:
Grant Applications Writers Handbook, 4th Ed. by Liane, Reif-Lehrerr, Jones & Barlett Publishers (2005).
The Elements of Style 4th Ed. by Strunk, White & Angell, Longman Publishers (2000)
On Writing Well (30th Anniversary Ed) William Zinsser, Collins Publishers (2006)
The Craft of Scientific Presentations Michael Alley, Springer Publishers (2005)
Writing readable prose: When planning a scientific manuscript, following a few simple rules has a large impact. Amin S Bredan & Frans van Roy, (2006) EMBO Reports, 7: 846-849
Useful Links for Grant Applications:
NIH PHS 398 (R01 Application)
NIH Ruth L Kirschstein National Research Service Award PHS 416-1 (doc) (pdf) (Instructions)
NIH F31 Program Announcement
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships
Grant Application and Review Process: Grant Application Basics NIH Tutorial, Checklists
Oral Preliminary Exam Process (MMG Program)
R01 Sample (NIH)
Writing a Grant Tutorial, (NIH Tutorial)
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Created 8/13/05 Last updated 8/20/09
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