Fermer

Writing Grant Proposals

13 December 2012 (afternoon)

Lecturer

Dr Philipp Mayer, science-textflow, Winterthur

Philipp Mayer has studied geoecology and received a PhD in forest science. He is trainer for scientific writing and has broad experience both in research and in adult education.

Objectives

The objectives of this workshop are:

  • to understand characteristics of grant proposals
  • to know how to prepare grant proposals.

Content and pre-course assignment

Writing grant proposals is demanding because evaluation committees expect concise and well-structured texts. In addition, grant proposals differ in structure and style from other forms of academic writing.

This workshop covers the basics of proposal writing:

  • Functions of grant proposals: planning, communication, persuasion, contract
  • Refining research ideas, choosing and narrowing topics
  • Section structure of proposals: problem statement, aims and objectives, methodology, timetable, budget, etc.
  • Differences between proposal writing and paper writing
  • Characteristics of high-quality proposals: clarity, correctness, consistency, conciseness, confidence

Pre-course assignment :

  • Define a research question you would like to tackle in your next research project.
  • Describe the problem your research is going to solve (a few sentences are fine).
  • Ask your supervisor or a colleague for a well-prepared grant proposal). Note the section structure of this proposal.

Send your research question, your problem description and the section headings of your sample proposal to Philipp Mayer  before 5 December 2012.

General information

Dates :  13 December 2012

Schedule : 13:00-17:00

Location : University of Neuchâtel, Faculté des sciences, UniMail, building C (Animalerie), room C001

Credit points : 0.5 credit point (Communication)

Evaluation : Active participation

Information : Please contact Dr Philipp Mayer or the doctoral program coordinator Dr Christiane Bobillier

Travel expenses : participants of the  Interuniversity doctoral program in organismal biology are eligible for reimbursement of incurred travel expenses by train (half-fare card, and 2nd class). 

  MAKE SURE you SIGN the ATTENDANCE LIST
and
TAKE your ATTESTATION of ATTENDANCE at the END of the COURSE

Please send the original tickets (no copies) with the reimbursement form  to Dr. Christiane Bobillier.  No reimbursement for bus, taxi or car travel expenses will be paid.

Registration

  • This course is open to all Ph.D. students with priority to "Interuniversity doctoral program in organismal biology" participants until 30 September 2012.
  • This course is free. For information the effective cost is approx. CHF 60.00 per person
  • Minimum number of participants: 8, maximum: 12.
    A waiting list will be prepared to ensure that there are no empty seats.

Registration through the web only:  Course full.

Please note the cancellation policy (CHF 20)

Deadline: 26 November 2012