Issue link: https://resources.nanotempertech.com/i/1050653
13 Before you dive in and start writing: Make a detailed plan and assemble an advisory committee If you want to pace yourself, it's highly recommended that you make a detailed plan with action items and deadlines that you've created for yourself. You may want to take a step back and ask yourself if the plan you put together is realistic given all the other commitments you might have. Next, assemble a committee of peers and advisors who are willing and able to provide feedback along the way. Try to find people who have reviewed these grants before and people who have received them in the past. Keep in mind that they won't necessarily work according to your schedule so be sure to allocate enough time for them to read and provide feedback. Include someone with significant experience, someone with only passing familiarity with the research area, and a good writer. Can you figure out who the likely reviewers will be? Grant review panel members are o en listed online. If you don't recognize reviewers' names, look up their publications. This will tell you how general or how technical to be when writing your proposal. If reviewers are familiar with your field, add more details. If they aren't, be more general. Make the reviewers feel smart. Always present the big picture. Imagine having a brief conversation with the reviewers. How would you present your work? How to get experience early in your career To learn more about what study sections and reviewers look for, you may want to watch out for opportunities to participate in study sections (e.g. Early Career Reviewer program at NIH). Getting this hands-on experience will give you an inside look at how experienced investigators write their proposals and what makes a successful proposal stand out. This is also an opportunity to learn about research outside your field, to network, and meet potential future collaborators. EARLY CAREER ADVICE