Writing a successful research proposal for grant or fellowship

 

For carrying out a research project, the most important part is acquiring grant or funding. Specifically, in case of scientific research where the work is mostly laboratory oriented, the cost of running a quality research project is generally very high. For application of cutting edge technologies to perform real time experiments and to get accurate results for high quality publication usage of high end equipments are necessary now a day. To get these facilities the only way to get funds by writing grants. Therefore, the most important part of the daily work schedule of the research group leaders is to invest their time and energy in writing grants, since funds are the fuel of a lab to run.

For senior research scholars, who are in the final years of their PhDs, or carrying out postdoctoral researches, it is important to learn to write research proposal for getting individual funds including prestigious fellowships. Therefore, from very early phase of a research carrier it is useful to familiar with research proposals.

Key points that should be remembered to write a research proposal:

·         Be novel in concept: You are not the only one who is writing for grant to the funding agency. There are numbers of other well trained and experienced researchers who are writing at the same time for the grant. Therefore, the competition is high and you need to be unique in writing. Propose something that is novel in concept.

·         Target proper funding agencies: Target specific funding agencies that are compatible with your project and field of work. If you are working in plant science, you should first approach the funding agencies that majorly sponsor plant or crop related projects.

·         Be state-of-the art in proposing: Suggest a proposal which is state-of-the art in your field. Do not propose objectives which are already done in another format many years ago, and you missed it during the literature review. Therefore, finding a research gap should be conducted very carefully by extensive literature survey. Moreover, do assess the most recent publications on the topic to get latest status of the research area on which you are writing the proposal. Also state why your proposal is relevant in the current scenario.

·      Be aware of the mood of the funding agency: Try to get an idea about the requirement of the funding agency. It is always important to understand the exact demand of the funding agency on the particular year you are applying for grant. Your project should correlate to that to increase chance to get the grant. Try to compliment the funding agency’s need.

·    Put straight forward objectives: Your objectives should be very focused and clear to understand. These should also be very specific, realistic and achievable.

·      Do not be over-ambitious: As your proposal is time-bound, your objectives should be fitted in that time duration. Methodology should be robust and high throughput that can be completed within the proposed period. Do not write a very big, time consuming objective which needs five/six years while you are asking for a grant for three years.

·      Draft your budget clearly and smartly: You also need to write a realistic budget. Divide the budget according to the need (Man-power, consumables, instruments, travelling etc.) with proper justification. Ask for a decent amount, which looks reasonable.

·  Reach to the point quickly: During proposing, do not extend the background too much; get to the point of research gap and your main objective quickly, so that reviewer has not to waste his/her time.

·    Make it comprehensible: Do not use jargons or critical phrases in your writing. If you want to get the grant you need to be very simple and clear in language and try to be comprehensible even to a non-expert reviewer.

·       Show your expertise: You should convince the reviewer that you are a real expert in the field you want to work. Cite your previous work on the related field if necessary or briefly state some preliminary data if you have already done some ground works on the proposal.

·        Show the expected impact of your proposal: State the expected impact of the proposal, which should indicate how the scientific field will be enriched with the data you will generate and how those will make the foundation of that field stronger.

·        Methodology should be detailed: Write step by step methodology, and use schematic diagrams if needed to make it more comprehensible.

·      Obey the guidelines: Always follow the proper guidelines of the funding agencies. Do not ask for any privilege beyond the guidelines.

·      Put the references: Always put references at the end. If you have cited your own previous work, you may highlight those.

·    Eye-catching title is a key: Always use a title which is an eye-catcher. It may create an additional impression on the reviewer’s mind. But that title should be concise, informative and understandable and it should reflect the aim of the project.