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Biosciences Proposal Bootcamp: Structured peer and faculty feedback improves trainees' proposals and grantsmanship
Crystal M Botham1, Shay Brawn2, Latishya Steele3
1Stanford Biosciences Grant Writing Academy, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States of America.
Plos One
|December 28, 2020
Summary
This study introduces a grant writing program that provides extensive peer and faculty feedback to graduate students and postdocs. Participants
Area of Science:
- Biosciences
- Grant Writing
- Academic Research
Background:
- Grant writing is crucial for academic and career advancement.
- Providing individualized feedback to numerous trainees presents a significant challenge.
- Effective grant proposal development requires structured support and feedback mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a structured grant writing program on proposal funding rates.
- To assess the effectiveness of a multi-level feedback system (peer and faculty) in improving grant proposals.
- To determine if the program enhances participants' confidence in grant writing and submission.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of the Stanford Biosciences Grant Writing Academy, featuring a multi-week Proposal Bootcamp.
- Weekly two-hour meetings incorporating mini-lectures and peer review sessions.
- Inclusion of faculty review workshops facilitated by trained postdoctoral teaching assistants.
Main Results:
- The program provided multi-level feedback to 525 doctoral students and postdocs over six years.
- Proposals from program participants were nearly twice as likely to be funded compared to non-participants.
- Participants reported increased confidence in developing and submitting research proposals.
Conclusions:
- A structured grant writing program with peer and faculty feedback significantly improves proposal funding success.
- The program effectively accommodates a large number of participants while providing valuable feedback opportunities.
- This model offers a scalable solution for enhancing grant writing skills in academic settings.
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