By Nicole Haderlein, Summer Intern, Malaria Infection Biology and Immunity Unit, Laboratory of Immunogenetics (LIG)
Applying for funding is a great way to distinguish yourself on your CV in addition to adding a competitive edge to a Ph.D. application. Grant writing is also an important skill to develop as a scientist as it is one that will serve you throughout your career. If you are applying to a Ph.D. program, it may be important to consider applying for a grant. The NIAID Office of Research Training and Development recently hosted a Grant Writing Skill Blitz led by Jennifer West, Ph.D., NIAID Postbac/Summer Intern Program Coordinator, to introduce NIAID postbacs to the grant application process. NIAID summer intern Nicole Haderlein reflects on the workshop and the practical advice shared by Dr. West.
While at the NIH, trainees have numerous resources to help them prepare grant applications for graduate school. NIAID postbacs can use the NIAID Fellows Training SharePoint page for a list of funding opportunities, neatly organized in an Excel spreadsheet. In addition, the NIH has an institutional license for the Grant Forward database, where you can search for grants related to your specific research area of interest or education goals. For feedback, NIAID postbacs can utilize one-on-one meetings with Dr. West as well as submit a draft of their grant applications to the NIH Fellows Editorial Board for review.
After attending this workshop, and having a conversation with Dr. West, I decided that applying to the Department of Defense SMART scholarship was the best option for me. I am interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in biostatistics after I complete my MPH in epidemiology at Brown University. Most biostatistics programs are in a university’s school of public health or medical school. I learned in this workshop that grant funding from the National Science Foundation is not applicable to a school of public health. This summer, I plan to draft my grant application, meet with Dr. West to review the outline and first draft, and submit a draft to the NIH Fellows Editorial Board. If you are considering applying to a Ph.D. program, I would highly recommend that you watch the recording of this informative workshop.