Research Proposals: Preparation and Critical Review

2 credits · Graduate School

An essential skill for scientists in an academic setting is the ability to obtain extramural research funding through peer reviewed grant applications. This course will offer didactic sessions in which the process of preparing and reviewing grant applications is discussed. Each student will write a grant application using the NRSA format for postdoctoral fellowships. The student should propose research in one of the four major emphasis areas of the department: microbial genetics, virology, immunology, or microbial pathogenesis. The initial grant submission will be reviewed by the faculty thesis mentor and a course instructor. The student will amend the application according to the reviewer's comments and submit a final version. Procedures for reviewing grant applications will then be discussed. A student and a faculty member will provide a written review for each of the final grants. The course will conclude with a mock NIH study section in which grants are reviewed orally and scored. SPRING. [2]