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Anne M. Libby, PhD

This course is targeted to early career and novice researchers writing their first major competitive biomedical / health research grant proposals. After the course, you will be able to:

1) Identify key decisions in planning a grant proposal that reflect scope, timeline, expected outcomes, and audience;

2) Describe key parts of a grant proposal, large and small sections, and best practices for each; and

3) Describe effective responses to reviewers and recognize common pitfalls to avoid.

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This course is targeted to early career and novice researchers writing their first major competitive biomedical / health research grant proposals. After the course, you will be able to:

1) Identify key decisions in planning a grant proposal that reflect scope, timeline, expected outcomes, and audience;

2) Describe key parts of a grant proposal, large and small sections, and best practices for each; and

3) Describe effective responses to reviewers and recognize common pitfalls to avoid.

We are faculty at a major research institution with proven experience training others to research career success. Research grant proposal planning, writing, and resubmitting are key skills. This course is part of a larger Specialization called Grant Writing for Health Researchers. Please consider taking the other courses on (1) Biostatistics study design and analysis for grant proposals, and (2) Scientific writing. Together, these have been a recipe for success for researchers at the University of Colorado and beyond. Upon completion, you will earn an e-badge to display your new skills. Please join us!

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What's inside

Syllabus

Key Decisions Before You Write A Grant Proposal
Before you write, you will learn to make key decisions about project scope, outcomes, and mentorship team.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Ideal for learners who want to explore and develop their skills in grant writing for health research, from proposal planning to developing full-fledged research proposals
Well-designed with clear learning objectives, providing a structured approach to grant writing
Taught by experts in health research grant writing, providing learners with access to industry knowledge and best practices
Provides learners with a comprehensive understanding of grant writing for health researchers, covering key sections, resources, and resubmission strategies
Aligned with the needs of early-career researchers, helping them build a strong foundation in grant writing for their research endeavors
Part of a larger specialization on grant writing for health researchers, offering learners a comprehensive pathway for skill development in this area

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Reviews summary

Grant proposal for new researchers

According to learners, this course provides a highly structured and practical guide for navigating the complex process of grant proposal writing, making it ideal for early career and novice researchers. Students widely praise the clarity and conciseness of the instructor's explanations, highlighting how the course demystifies key sections like Specific Aims and Research Strategy. A significant number of students found the module on grant resubmission strategies particularly invaluable, noting its focus on overcoming common pitfalls. While some experienced learners found it too foundational, the majority agree it offers a solid foundation for those new to seeking biomedical/health research funding. The course's emphasis on breaking down daunting tasks into manageable components is a recurrent positive theme.
Perfect for new researchers starting their grant writing journey.
"An excellent foundation for anyone new to grant applications."
"Good course overall, especially for beginners."
"This course is a game-changer for new principal investigators."
Provides unique and vital strategies for grant resubmission.
"I particularly appreciated the focus on resubmission strategies, which is often overlooked."
"The resubmission module alone is worth the price of admission."
"The advice on avoiding common pitfalls in resubmission was practical and insightful."
Instructor effectively explains complex topics and concepts.
"The instructor is highly knowledgeable and presents complex information in an easy-to-understand manner."
"The instructor's explanations are clear and concise."
"I really appreciated how the instructor simplified daunting concepts."
Offers clear, actionable steps for successful grant writing.
"This course truly demystifies the grant writing process... provided clear, actionable advice."
"The course has given me the practical tools I needed to get started."
"I learned how to use practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work."
Best suited for novices, potentially too basic for experts.
"Sometimes, I wished for a bit more advanced material, but as an introductory course, it certainly delivers."
"Decent course, but it felt a bit slow-paced for me... I was hoping for more insights into securing specific types of grants or more advanced strategies."
"I found the course to be too basic. As someone with some prior experience, I didn't gain much new information."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Grant Proposal Plans, Sections, and Resubmission with these activities:
Review basic statistics
Reviewing basic statistics will ensure you can easily move on to more complex concepts related to grant writing.
Browse courses on Statistical Concepts
Show steps
  • Read about descriptive statistics
  • Review methods for drawing conclusions from data
Watch videos on effective grant writing
There are many videos available that can help you to write effective grant proposals.
Show steps
  • Search for videos on grant writing
  • Watch videos and take notes
Read "Grant Writing for Dummies"
This book provides a comprehensive overview of the grant writing process.
Show steps
  • Read the book and take notes
  • Complete the exercises in the book
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Develop a grant proposal outline
Start working on an outline before drafting your grant proposal
Show steps
  • Identify the funding agency and program
  • Write a brief summary of your project
  • Outline each section of the grant proposal
Practice writing grant proposals
The more you practice, the better you will become at writing grant proposals. It is also a great way to fine tune your writing skills.
Show steps
  • Identify the target audience
  • State the problem that you are trying to solve
  • Propose a solution to the problem
  • Evaluate the potential impact of your project
  • Write a budget for your project
Volunteer with a grant writing organization
Volunteer organizations are often great sources for grant writing projects!
Show steps
  • Volunteer your time
  • Find a volunteer organization
  • Contact the organization and inquire about volunteering
Enter a grant writing competition
Participating in a grant writing competition is a great way to get feedback on your work.
Show steps
  • Identify a grant writing competition
  • Submit your proposal
  • Attend the competition
  • Network with other grant writers

Career center

Learners who complete Grant Proposal Plans, Sections, and Resubmission will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Grant Proposal Plans, Sections, and Resubmission.
This is the foundational text for project management, providing a comprehensive overview of project management principles and practices, including a dedicated section on project scope management. It is essential for gaining a broad understanding of the topic and is widely used as a textbook and reference for professionals seeking project management certifications.
The third edition of the essential guide to data wrangling with pandas, NumPy, and Jupyter in Python. Updated for newer versions of the libraries, this book remains a core resource for anyone performing data analysis in Python. It widely used textbook and reference for its clear explanations and practical examples.
This book, also by Jamal Moustafaev, is another practical guide focused on project scope management. It emphasizes best practices and is relevant for professionals looking to deepen their understanding and refine their approach to managing scope effectively across different project types.
Considered a foundational text in modern epidemiology, this book provides an in-depth treatment of epidemiological principles and methods. It is essential for those seeking to deepen their understanding of this core health research discipline. It classic and widely referenced book in the field.
A comprehensive textbook used widely in academic settings, this book covers all aspects of project management from a systems perspective. It includes detailed sections on scope management, work breakdown structures, and scope control, making it valuable for both broad understanding and deepening knowledge. It serves as a strong reference.
Addressing the crucial ethical considerations in health research, this book delves into the principles, practice, and policies governing ethical conduct. It is essential reading for all levels of researchers to ensure responsible research practices. It provides a framework for analyzing ethical aspects of studies.
This comprehensive book provides practical strategies for effectively discovering, documenting, and managing requirements across different methodologies, including agile. It covers the entire requirements lifecycle, making it a valuable resource for deepening understanding of the foundation of project scope.
Provides a foundational understanding of the fundamental principles of data science and the data-analytic thinking necessary for extracting value from data in a business context. It is highly relevant for undergraduate business analytics programs and working professionals. It serves as a useful reference for understanding the business applications of data analysis and is commonly used as a textbook.
Focused on the crucial process of discovering and specifying requirements, this book is highly relevant to project scope definition. It provides detailed techniques and methodologies for eliciting and documenting clear and complete requirements, essential for preventing scope issues later in the project lifecycle.
This integrated text covers the key areas of epidemiology, biostatistics, and preventive medicine, providing a strong foundation for understanding public health research. It is often used as a textbook and is valuable for students and practitioners in public health and related fields.
Focuses on the crucial skill of communicating insights from data effectively through compelling visualizations. is highly relevant for all levels, emphasizing the importance of clear and impactful data presentation. It is valuable additional reading that complements technical data analysis skills.
This textbook provides a balanced view of project management theory and practical application. It covers essential topics, including project scope management, and is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students seeking a solid academic foundation in the subject.
While focused on software projects, this book offers a definitive guide to defining and managing requirements, with principles applicable to various project types. It delves into best practices for requirements elicitation, analysis, and validation, crucial for establishing a solid project scope.
Delivering an exploration of statistics in applied health science and biostatistics, this book focuses on the correct use and interpretation of statistics. It covers various statistical concepts and methods relevant to health research. It is suitable for upper undergraduate and graduate levels and serves as a reference for practitioners.
Provides a comprehensive introduction to biostatistics as used in the health sciences. It covers fundamental concepts and techniques, essential for understanding the quantitative aspects of health research. It is suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students and can serve as a professional reference.
Bridges the gap between statistical theory and its practical application in data science using R and Python. It focuses on the statistical concepts most relevant to data scientists and provides code examples. It's a useful reference and learning resource for those applying statistics in their work.
Offers a new way of thinking about data science and ethics informed by intersectional feminist thought. It challenges existing power structures within data and explores how data can be used to work towards justice. It's highly relevant for contemporary discussions around fairness and bias in data analysis.
Offers a practical introduction to epidemiology, biostatistics, and research methodology with an emphasis on quantitative methods. It covers a range of contemporary methods and helps develop critical skills for data analysis and interpretation. It's suitable for health professionals and students.
This handbook provides a comprehensive collection of essays on various aspects of project management, including in-depth discussions on scope and requirements management from academic and practitioner perspectives. It is valuable for advanced readers seeking a broad and deep understanding of contemporary research and practices.
Core text for understanding and practicing evidence-based medicine, a critical approach in contemporary health research. It provides guidance on incorporating the best evidence into clinical decision-making. It widely recognized resource in the field.
Is an excellent starting point for anyone new to data analysis or statistics. It demystifies core statistical concepts without relying heavily on mathematical formulas, making it highly accessible for high school and undergraduate students. It provides a strong foundation in the intuition behind statistical analysis and helps readers understand how data can be used and misused. This is valuable background reading that builds prerequisite knowledge.
Introduces core qualitative methods for data collection and analysis in healthcare research. The latest edition includes newer methods and explores the role of theory and digital data. It's a valuable resource for understanding qualitative approaches in depth and is used in academic courses.
Focuses on applying epidemiological principles to clinical practice research. It's valuable for researchers and clinicians interested in conducting studies in healthcare settings. It well-regarded resource in evidence-based medicine and clinical research.
Provides a guide to creating effective and aesthetically pleasing data visualizations. It delves into the principles behind good visualization design, helping readers make informed choices about how to represent their data. It valuable reference for anyone creating visualizations, from students to professionals.
Aims to make epidemiology accessible, covering both classic and modern concepts. It's a good resource for gaining a broad understanding of epidemiological principles without getting bogged down in complex details. It's suitable for beginners and provides a solid introduction.
Is an excellent starting point for those new to project management. It covers the basics of project scope definition and management in a clear and accessible way, providing foundational knowledge necessary for understanding more advanced concepts.
Teaches probability and statistics using a computational approach with Python. It's ideal for students and professionals with programming experience who want to understand statistical concepts by doing. It helps solidify understanding through hands-on application.
Focuses on linking projects to organizational strategy. Defining project scope in alignment with strategic goals is crucial, and this book provides tools and techniques for ensuring that projects deliver intended value. It's useful for understanding the broader context of project scope.
This introductory textbook covers the fundamentals of traditional project management, including the basics of project scope definition and planning. It aligns with the PMBOK Sixth Edition's process-based approach and is suitable for beginners seeking foundational knowledge.
Focused on the practical skill of writing grant proposals for health research, this book is highly relevant for those seeking funding. It provides a step-by-step guide and tips for crafting competitive proposals. This is particularly useful for graduate students and working professionals.
Considered a classic, this book offers practical advice and insights on managing projects, drawing from the author's experience. While not exclusively about scope, it covers essential aspects of project definition, planning, and dealing with challenges that impact scope. It's valuable for gaining a broad understanding and practical perspective.
This practical guide provides step-by-step instructions for writing successful grant proposals, including tips and templates.
A timeless classic that remains highly relevant today. exposes common ways statistics can be manipulated or misinterpreted, fostering a critical eye essential for anyone working with data. It's valuable for all levels, from high school to professional, as it highlights the importance of data integrity and ethical considerations. This serves as crucial additional reading to develop data literacy.
SQL fundamental skill for data analysis, and this book delves into advanced techniques for working with data in databases. It's essential for anyone who needs to retrieve and manipulate data stored in relational databases. It serves as a valuable reference for more complex data extraction and transformation tasks.
Explores the world of prediction and forecasting across various fields, demonstrating how data analysis and statistical modeling are used in practice. It's particularly engaging for undergraduate and graduate students interested in the application of data analysis in real-world scenarios. It adds breadth by showcasing diverse applications and the challenges involved in making accurate predictions.
A seminal work in software engineering and project management, this book discusses fundamental challenges in managing complex projects, including issues related to scope and requirements. While older, its insights into the human elements and inherent difficulties of large projects remain highly relevant and make it a classic 'must-read' for deepening understanding.
While not solely about scope, this book discusses how to measure and report on project performance, including scope performance. Understanding how to track and control scope is essential for successful project delivery, making thuseful reference for professionals.
Provides a high-level overview of the data science process, from asking questions to interpreting results. It focuses on the principles and concepts rather than specific tools, making it suitable for a broad audience. It helps in gaining a broad understanding of the data analysis workflow.
This undergraduate-level textbook introduces the principles and techniques of grant writing, providing a foundation for further study.
This workbook provides exercises and activities to help grant writers develop their skills and improve their proposals.
A pragmatic guide focusing on qualitative research methods in health, this book is valuable for those seeking to understand this specific approach. It covers the research process for qualitative studies, from design to analysis and reporting. is more valuable as additional reading for those interested in qualitative methods.
Offers a pragmatic approach to project management, focusing on effective techniques to achieve better results with less effort. It touches upon prioritizing and managing scope efficiently, providing a different perspective on optimizing project work and avoiding unnecessary scope expansion.
This guide focuses specifically on the methods for designing and conducting health surveys, a common data collection method in health research. It is valuable for those who need to understand or implement survey-based studies. It serves as a practical reference tool.

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