By Megan Sampley Bohn, Ph.D.
For the past several years, the NIAID Office of Research Training and Development (ORTD) has offered a grant course, known as the Grant Writing Training and Mentoring Program, to NIAID fellows who wish not only to learn about grant writing but to also actively write grants or fellowship applications they intend to submit for funding. Receiving feedback in real time from experienced grant writers and reviewers as they write each grant section, this program offers a unique, in-depth opportunity to dig deep into every facet of the grant writing process. The 2022 offering of this program started in March and concluded in September, allowing a cohort of ten NIAID fellows to make remarkable progress in producing a completed grant or fellowship application draft. We share in this article a few insights for fellows embarking on the grant writing journey.
Develop a strategy for success
The starting point to any good grant training is to get the participant to consider why they are thinking about applying for grants or fellowships and to further consider when they will be ready to write one. What is the ultimate career or research goal? A common mistake among young trainees is succumbing to the pressure to start writing a grant or fellowship application as soon as they can, not allowing time to create a well-considered strategy to pursue the right funding mechanism at the right time. Each young scientist needs a tailored strategy that makes the most sense for their unique situation. The key to success is having early conversations with research mentors about career and research goals. Learning about funding mechanisms and eligibility requirements – including crucial training time limits – can help set the timeline for research progress that then leads to readiness to write a grant or fellowship application.
Learn about institutional resources
Most major research institutions (academic, private, or government) have offices and resources dedicated to grants and fellowships, ranging from administrative to training aspects. For instance, in addition to the grant course, NIAID intramural trainees may receive individualized assistance directly from ORTD to help develop grant writing goals and strategies. The NIAID Office of Research Training and Special Programs (ORSTP) can also assist in advising on matters regarding specific grants, eligibility and the submission process, and provides excellent guidance on their Training and Career Development Grant Programs webpage. Even after a fellow makes the transition to faculty, many academic institutions will continue to provide some form of grant writing support—particularly to junior faculty—from offices dedicated to faculty development.
Develop research ideas that match everyone’s goals
The presenters and mentors who run the NIAID grant course spend considerable time working with participants to develop ideas that make sense for their careers and also align with the research priorities of targeted funding agencies. Truly the key to success, developing a research plan in which funding agencies want to invest is a skill few young trainees can develop without some degree of formal training. Typically, careful attention to the elements of good writing and grant construction do not simply come naturally - it takes some work.
Pay attention to the administrative details
Successful grant writers begin preparing grants by making a checklist of administrative and content requirements for their particular grant or fellowship. Follow the instructions for any specific grant mechanism exactly – do not deviate! Grants and fellowships have many component requirements, such as various letters of support, that cannot be left to the last minute. Make sure your mentors and support team are in place well before the grant writing process hits full steam to avoid those terrible last-minute panic attacks.
NIAID trainees who are interested in learning more about future grant writing training opportunities are invited to contact Dr. Megan Bohn.