WARNING: This class entails a fair amount of work (see syllabus below) and is pretty interactive -"sitting in" for one or two sessions won't work - you have to commit to meeting the deadlines and to participating in all the steps for the entire semester. ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE TURNED IN ON TIME.
Grant proposals: Each student will write a grant proposal, in four steps: 1 page outline, 3 page pre-proposal, preliminary grant and final grant. There will be feedback at each step in the process - each participant will edit some of the other proposals, and I will edit them all. Some of the scheduled classes will include discussion of the outlines, pre-proposals and preliminary grants, and the last class will be organized as a grant panel, with students assigned as primary and secondary reviewers.
Presentations: As time permits we will also discuss desirable features for presentations, using class presentations and/or departmental seminars as examples.
PLEASE DOUBLE SPACE, it makes editing easier; to save paper, make double-sided copies. OUTLINE (2 double-spaced pages): hypothesis to test, brief description of background information, significance (why it is worth doing), long-range goal of project, specific objectives
PRE-PROPOSAL (4-6 double-spaced pages): expand on outline, add methods section and possible outcomes of experiments designed to test hypothesis
PRELIMINARY AND FINAL GRANTS (Minimum of 14 pages, Maximum of 20 pages): Abstract, Specific aims, Background, Significance, Experimental Design and Methods, References
Class schedule from Spring2002
Jan. 22 I will cover principles of scientific writing and clarity. I will outline how the class will work, how to write an outline, etc. Select the first 8 students for next week's presentations.
Jan. 29 The first 8 students present their 10-15 minute talks (allow a few minutes for questions) on the topic of their grant - maximum of 3 overheads allowed. The point is to provide background information, so that the other members of the class will be informed reviewers of your grant.
Feb. 05 The other 8 people present their 15 minute talks.
Most importantly, everyone's one-page outlines are due. I will edit/review them all, 2 other students will too.
Feb. 12 We discuss the outlines.
Feb. 19 The 3 page pre-proposals are due. I will cover more about grant writing, design of figures, etc.
Feb. 26 We discuss the 3-page pre-proposals.
March 05 I do more on writing - emphasis will depend on how everyone's pre-proposals are coming along.
March 12 Preliminary grants due. I will review them all, one other student will too.
March 19 Preliminary grants discussed.
March 26 no class (spring break)
April 02 no class, I'm in Europe (you are writing your grant)
April 09 no class, I'm still in Europe (keep writing)
April 16 TBA (more discussion of any problems people are having with their grants).
April 23 TBA, more discussion, as needed
April 30 Final grants due. Pick reviewers (I do them all, 2 other students will too). I go over how to review a grant, etc.
May 07 no class
May 14 Grant review panel. Written reviews due.