nsf career workshop structuring the proposal elisa e. konofagou, ph.d. nsf-career awarded –...
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NSF Career WorkshopStructuring the Proposal
Elisa E. Konofagou, Ph.D.
NSF-Career awarded – NSF-BET
Assistant Professor
Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Radiology
Director, Ultrasound and Elasticity Imaging Laboratory
27 March 2008
A few pieces of advice that worked for me
• Selection of topic
• Structure of the proposal
• Serving on the NSF proposal committee
• Approaching the NSF director
Selection of the topic
• “Hot” in your field
• Broad scope that several people (i.e., reviewers) of different background can grasp
• Do not work on something from scratch
• Work on an (unsuccessful) proposal that you have previously received comments on
• If possible, show that you received awards on this (not large grants though)
My topic – molecular delivery using ultrasound
Choi JJ et al. Phys. Med. Biol. 52: 5509-5530, 2007.
0.67 MPa and 25 uL Optison™90 minutes after sonication
13 minpost-gadolinium
39 minpost-gadolinium
65 minpost-gadolinium
159 minpost-gadolinium
pre-gadolinium
Normalized MRI
IP gadolinium injection
Choi JJ et al. Phys. Med. Biol. 52: 5509-5530, 2007.
Molecular Delivery Using Ultrasound
Structure of the Proposal
• Do NOT write it as a standard NIH or NSF proposal
• It should be a “vision” project, not an incremental of basic science project
• Both “research” and “education” parts should be well developed with underrepresented minorities included.
Proposed structure• A. Objectives And Significance Of Integrated
Research And Education
• B. Career Development Plan– Project A
• Introduction• State of the art• PI’s initial work on the subject• Proposed work
Proposed structure• B. Career Development Plan (continued)
– Project B• Introduction• State of the art• PI’s initial work on the subject• Proposed work
– Project C• Introduction• State of the art• PI’s initial work on the subject• Proposed work
Proposed structureB. Career Development Plan (continued)
– Project D (Education)• Introduction• State of the art• PI’s initial work on the subject• Proposed work
C. Evaluation of Research and Education
Project summary- most important!
• Project summary is the most important part of the proposal - all reviewers will read it.
• Intellectual merit as important as broader impact – NSF instructions to reviewers
• Broader impact- should be read by your mother (or, grandmother!) and she should understand and get excited about funding it!
Serving on the NSF proposal committee
• If you can, volunteer to serve on any NSF committee
• Eye opener for what counts in a proposal – you will be surprised.
Approaching the NSF director
• Very important that the NSF director knows of you and/or your work
• Keep an eye out for NSF workshops as part of conferences you attend
• Invite the NSF director to your university and department for a lecture
• Meet the director during your serving on an NSF panel
Most important!
• Keep positive
• Don’t give up after unsuccessful tries
• Chances of success increase with number of tries
BEST OF LUCK!!!