Research Career Development

Workshop/Class Descriptions

GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP

The "Grant Writing Workshop" is targeted to new/junior faculty. This 1.5 day, examples-driven workshop is designed to help investigators understand how to plan, organize and write a competitive grant application. The focus of the workshop is on writing the research plan of a peer-reviewed NIH grant application, including the Specific Aims and Abstract; Background and Significance; Preliminary Studies and Research Design and Methods. Other relevant subjects that are covered include: Developing a Budget; Identifying Sources of Funding; and Understanding the NIH Peer-Review System.

Instructor: Wendy Sanders, M.A. Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development

Mock Review Sessions (Specific Aims)
The mock review sessions consist of small groups of faculty (no more than 6 participants) who provide each other with feedback on two critical parts of their grant applications: the Specific Aims/Abstract.

Instructor: Wendy Sanders, M.A. Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development

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GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP: SPECIFIC AIM/ABSTRACT & SIGNIFICANCE

This session focuses on how to write three critical parts of a grant application: the Specific Aims, Abstract and Significance. The session covers both the content and presentation of these parts of the application and also identifies common reviewer criticisms.

Instructor: Wendy Sanders, M.A. Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development

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INTENSIVE GRANT WRITING CLASS

The "Intensive Grant Writing Class" is targeted to investigators who have not yet attained an independent peer-reviewed research grant and would like to learn how to develop a grant application by approaching each section sequentially. Thus, the class meets for eight two-hour sessions, during which participants will learn, using examples, how to develop each major component of an NIH research plan (abstract, specific aims, background and significance, preliminary studies and research design and methods). Participants are encouraged to draft the corresponding section of their own grant application following each class session. The instructor reviews and critiques participants’ work. Upon the conclusion of the last class, the class “breaks” for two weeks, during which time participants are asked to complete the drafts of their own applications, using the critiques provided by the instructor.

The class then reconvenes as a "mock study section" for a two week period. During this two week period the class, acting as a “mock study section”, meets three times (see schedule below) in order to provide a critique of each participants’ grant application.

Instructor: Wendy Sanders, M.A. Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development

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PREPARING TO WRITE A GRANT APPLICATION

This “Preparing to Write a Grant Application” seminar is targeted to new/junior faculty who are beginning to prepare a grant application and need advice on when to begin, where to find an appropriate funding mechanism, and how to plan a competitive proposal.

Instructor: Wendy Sanders, M.A. Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development

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DEVELOPING A FUNDABLE RESEARCH PROBLEM

The crux of every funded grant is a significant "Research Problem".  The purpose of this lecture is to identify the steps in developing a competitive research problem, including identifying the qualities reviewers look for in a research problem, as well as common "red flags".

Instructor: Wendy Sanders, M.A. Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development

Mock Review Sessions (Research Problem)
The mock review sessions consist of small groups of faculty (no more than 6 participants) who provide each other with feedback on their ideas for a research grant application (research problem).

Instructor: Wendy Sanders, M.A. Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development

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TIPS ON REVISING AN NIH GRANT APPLICATION

The need to revise a grant application is increasingly common.  This session focuses on tips for responding to the summary statement, as well as pointers for revising an unfunded application.

Instructor: Wendy Sanders, M.A. Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development

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REVISING AN NIH GRANT APPLICATION: WORK SESSION

A critical aspect of revising and resubmitting a grant application is the Introduction to the Revised Application, in which investigators outline how they've addressed the reviewers' critiques. This interactive session is designed to provide participants with the opportunity to receive feedback on their Introductions, including an assessment of how well they responded to the reviewers' critiques.

In order to participate, participants send a copy of their summary statement and accompanied Introduction to the instructor, Wendy Sanders.  Summary statements and participants' responses are shared with the other participants in the session, who provide feedback to each other, as well as receiving a critical analysis of their own work.

Instructor: Wendy Sanders, M.A. Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development

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GIVING A RESEARCH TALK

The "Giving a Research Talk" workshop focuses on the content and delivery of a scientific research presentation. Participants learn how to plan, organize and deliver a scientific research talk that is both accurate and captures the interest of the audience. Participants learn how to conduct an effective question and answer session.

Instructor: Wendy Sanders, M.A. Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development

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WRITING A BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH PAPER

The Writing a Biomedical Research Paper workshop is designed to assist new faculty with writing a publishable research paper. The workshop focuses on writing the text of a biomedical research paper: the Abstract, Introduction, Materials/Methods, Results, and Discussion.

Instructor: Wendy Sanders, M.A. Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development

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BIOMEDICAL COMMUNICATIONS WORKSHOP FOR POST DOCS/JUNIOR FACULTY

This workshop will cover four subjects: Writing a Scientific Paper, Writing a First Grant Application, Giving a Research Talk and Communicating to Get the Job.

Writing a Scientific Paper

This session focuses on the content, structure and writing of a scientific paper, as well as understanding the publication process.

Writing a First Grant Application

The first session covers two important aspects of grant writing: 1) understanding the peer review process; and 2) developing an appropriate research question/problem and “showcasing” your research problem in a compelling Specific Aims, Abstract and Significance statement.

The second session covers the remaining aspects of a standard grant application (Background, Preliminary Studies, Research Design and Methods) and also identifies appropriate sources of funding for postdocs and junior faculty.

Giving a Research Talk and Communicating to Get the Job

This session covers two subjects:

1) the content and organization of a standard research presentation, concluding with specific pointers about a “job talk;”

2) how to prepare for an academic job, including writing a CV and cover letter and interviewing.

Participants will be invited to join a networking reception/luncheon

Instructor: Wendy Sanders, M.A. Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development