Proposal development

What is the main goal of a research proposal?

• To secure funding for your research

• To entertain the reviewers

• To publish your paper

• To summarize past work

How will your research change or challenge current thinking in your field?

Which of the following best improves clarity in proposals?

• Using passive voice

• Using complex vocabulary

• Adding complex vocabulary

• Avoiding jargon

The rationale typically outlines the gap in knowledge your project will address.

• True

• False

Choose the sentence that's more reviewer-friendly:

• Elucidating the biochemical ramifications of perturbations in metabolism

• We aim to change the world

• We aim to study how changes in metabolism affect cell function.

• None of the above

The methods section of the proposal is always in past tense

• True

• False

A good objective is specific, testable and measurable

• True

• False

What’s wrong with this specific aim?Aim 1: To use cutting-edge methods to study cancer.

• Too vague

• Not testable

• Lacks measurable outcome

• All of the above

What’s the hardest part of writing a proposal for you?

• Starting

• Condensing ideas

• Making up a budget

• Formulating a rationale

Which order makes the most sense for a typical research proposal?

• Methods → Abstract → References → Budget

• Abstract → Data → Results → Future work

• Background → Significance → Aims → Methods

• Aims → Budget → Background → Methods