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A Mixed-Methods Analysis of a Student-Led Near-Peer Mentorship Program for the National Science Foundation Graduate
Courtney Peña-Lima1, Nicole Tanenbaum2, Lily Xu2
1Grant Writing Academy, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
Summary
A student-led mentorship program improved biosciences graduate students' grant writing skills and increased their success rates for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP). This low-cost program offers a sustainable framework for other institutions.
Area of Science:
- Biosciences Graduate Education
- Scientific Communication Training
- Research Funding Competencies
Background:
- Formal grant writing training is often lacking for PhD students due to institutional costs.
- Effective grant writing is crucial for research career advancement.
- The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) is a key funding opportunity for biosciences students.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of a student-led, near-peer mentorship program for NSF GRFP applicants.
- To understand graduate students' experiences and challenges in grant writing.
- To provide an adoptable and sustainable model for grant writing training.
Main Methods:
- A 7-week program matching biosciences graduate students (mentees) with peer mentors.
- Qualitative and quantitative assessments of program survey data.
- Measurement of grant writing competencies before and after the program.
- Comparison of mentee award rates with national benchmarks.
Main Results:
- Qualitative analysis identified challenges in writing cohesion, research essay development, and initiation, with mentorship proving beneficial.
- Mentees reported increased confidence in study conceptualization, design, and funding.
- Mentee award rates (Award or Honorable Mention) exceeded the national average.
Conclusions:
- Near-peer mentorship effectively enhances graduate students' grant writing skills and confidence.
- The implemented program is a low-cost, sustainable model for institutional grant writing support.
- Student-led initiatives can successfully address training gaps in scientific grant writing.
