Develop Proposal Content

Does the abstract:

• State the overall objective of the research?
• Succinctly state the specific aims?
• Briefly describe the methods?
• Indicate the long-term goal of the research?
• Give a snapshot of the whole proposal?

Do the specific aims:

• Address your research goals in specific terms (defined objectives that can be reached) rather than generalizations?
• Avoid vague terms such as "describe the process of . ." , "characterize the phenomenon of . . ." , or "elucidate mechanisms for . . ."
• State hypotheses where appropriate?
• Begin with an introductory statement that provides a mini-background?
• Seem clearly related to each other?
• Avoid being a fishing expedition (collecting data with no clear indication of how it will be used)?
• Present a doable body of work, rather than being too broad or ambitious?

Does the background:

• Begin with a clear statement of the general problem you will address?
• Compare, contrast and critique what others have done (not just catalog it)?
• Show how existing work (literature and/or preliminary data) lays the groundwork for your proposal?
• Cite original literature rather than reviews whenever possible?
• Avoid citing so many papers that you come across as unselective?
• Explain how your studies will fill a gap or solve a problem?
• Raise questions the reviewers might pose, then answer them immediately?
• End with a summary of your main points?

• Include only data pertinent to your proposal?
• Demonstrate expertise with the techniques and methods you are going to use?
• Use clear, readable graphs or charts instead of tables or text whenever feasible?
• Avoid putting too many curves on one graph?
• Assure that curves on graphs are distinguishable from each other after photocopying?
• Provide graphs with legends and labels that make understandable separate from adjacent text?
• Use appropriate statistics?
• Summarize your findings at the end of each section and state their importance?
• End with an overall summary?

Does the experimental design/methods section:

• First give an overview of the experimental design , then give the details of the methods?
• Relate the design and methods back to each specific aim?
• Use diagrams or flow charts to explain complex protocols?
• Give enough detail to demonstrate that you know what you are talking about, without crowding page limits? (This is an art form; get help if needed.)
• Make good use of space by referring to standard methods papers or protocol books where appropriate ?
• Make good use of space by referring to the preliminary data section when methods were described there?
• Give examples of the results you expect and how you will interpret them?
• Anticipate pitfalls you might face and explain how to deal with them?
• Provide a time line that shows you have not designed an overly ambitious project?