NSF Career WorkshopStructuring the Proposal

Elisa E. Konofagou, Ph.D.

NSF-Career awarded – NSF-BET

Assistant Professor

Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Radiology

Director, Ultrasound and Elasticity Imaging Laboratory

27 March 2008

A few pieces of advice that worked for me

• Selection of topic

• Structure of the proposal

• Serving on the NSF proposal committee

• Approaching the NSF director

Selection of the topic

• “Hot” in your field

• Broad scope that several people (i.e., reviewers) of different background can grasp

• Do not work on something from scratch

• Work on an (unsuccessful) proposal that you have previously received comments on

• If possible, show that you received awards on this (not large grants though)

My topic – molecular delivery using ultrasound

Choi JJ et al. Phys. Med. Biol. 52: 5509-5530, 2007.

0.67 MPa and 25 uL Optison™90 minutes after sonication

13 minpost-gadolinium

39 minpost-gadolinium

65 minpost-gadolinium

159 minpost-gadolinium

pre-gadolinium

Normalized MRI

IP gadolinium injection

Choi JJ et al. Phys. Med. Biol. 52: 5509-5530, 2007.

Molecular Delivery Using Ultrasound

Structure of the Proposal

• Do NOT write it as a standard NIH or NSF proposal

• It should be a “vision” project, not an incremental of basic science project

• Both “research” and “education” parts should be well developed with underrepresented minorities included.

Proposed structure• A. Objectives And Significance Of Integrated

Research And Education

• B. Career Development Plan– Project A

• Introduction• State of the art• PI’s initial work on the subject• Proposed work

Proposed structure• B. Career Development Plan (continued)

– Project B• Introduction• State of the art• PI’s initial work on the subject• Proposed work

– Project C• Introduction• State of the art• PI’s initial work on the subject• Proposed work

Proposed structureB. Career Development Plan (continued)

– Project D (Education)• Introduction• State of the art• PI’s initial work on the subject• Proposed work

C. Evaluation of Research and Education

Project summary- most important!

• Project summary is the most important part of the proposal - all reviewers will read it.

• Intellectual merit as important as broader impact – NSF instructions to reviewers

• Broader impact- should be read by your mother (or, grandmother!) and she should understand and get excited about funding it!

Serving on the NSF proposal committee

• If you can, volunteer to serve on any NSF committee

• Eye opener for what counts in a proposal – you will be surprised.

Approaching the NSF director

• Very important that the NSF director knows of you and/or your work

• Keep an eye out for NSF workshops as part of conferences you attend

• Invite the NSF director to your university and department for a lecture

• Meet the director during your serving on an NSF panel

Most important!

• Keep positive

• Don’t give up after unsuccessful tries

• Chances of success increase with number of tries

BEST OF LUCK!!!