SURF Proposal Writing Workshop

							     SURF Proposal Writing
     Workshop

Wednesday, February 9, 2011
       12:00 P.M.
       Noyes 153
Proposals are…

 Essential to being a scientist in academe or industry
    Senior thesis
    Dissertation
    Fellowships
    Grant funding
    Day to day working needs

 Persuasive.
    Every time you are asking for something (especially money)
    it is competitive!
             NIH/NSF award rate 20-30%
             SURF award rate 80%
Goals of a research proposal

 Introduce proposed research

 Explain background & rationale

 Describe methodology to be used & rationale

 Propose a timeline

 Anticipate possible outcomes
The purpose of the SURF proposal
    EXPLAIN:

•   What you plan to do in your research

•   Why this work is necessary or desirable

•   Specifically, how you will do it

•   And to persuade, by your preparation and by force of
     argument, that you are the right person for the job
How do you get started?
 - Meet with mentor and/or co-mentors
   -Ask questions
   -Get references
   -Read papers
 - Write draft of proposal
 - Solicit feedback from mentors and/or co-mentors
 - Get feedback from peers or writing tutors
 - Revise
 - Solicit feedback from mentors and/or co-mentors
 - Submit to SURF by February 22
Proposal “Parts”:
Introduction/Background
 - What is the problem that you are trying to solve, and
   how did the problem arise?
 - Why is it’s solution interesting or worthwhile?
 - What has been cited in the literature about this
   problem?
 - What is the status of related work by the professor or
   group that you will be joining, and what will be the
   contribution or significance of your research if it is
   successful?
Proposal “Parts”:
Objectives
 - What do you aim to accomplish in your project?
 - What will you measure, and under what conditions;
   or, what will you calculate, model, or simulate?
 - What are your starting assumptions or conditions, and
   what will be the result or product of a successful
   project?
 - What are the criteria for success? (In other words, how
   will you know when you have accomplished what you
   set out to do?)
Proposal “Parts”:
Approach
- Specifically, how will you accomplish your objective?
  What will you do?
- What are the principal steps or milestones along the
  path? How long will each take?
- What steps promise to be the most difficult, and how
  will you overcome the difficulties?
- What equipment or other resources will you need?
Proposal “Parts”:
Work Plan

 - Propose a schedule of the principal activities
   and milestones
Proposal “Parts”:
References
  List all pertinent papers or reports that you have
consulted to prepare your proposal. Include
remarks or suggestions from your prospective
supervisor, from graduate students, or from other
people with whom you have talked.
Advice from the experts
   Writing tutors
Reviewers will consider:
 - Is the proposal well thought out?
 - Has the student given a clear statement of what s/he
   will do?
 - Does the student have the skills/ knowledge/
   enthusiasm to be successful?
 - Is the student likely to achieve the goals?
 - Is the project plan realistic?
 - Does the research have the potential for publication in
   a referred journal?
Questions?