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K-State Today

January 25, 2012

NIH and NSF seminars offered Feb. 22

Submitted by Caron Berges

Two half-day grant writers’ seminars, Feb. 22, will be presented by Stephen Russell, co-founder and managing member of the Grant Writers’ Seminars and Workshops LLC. Russell is a distinguished professor emeritus and former director of the Cancer Center at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He was continuously funded from the early 1970s by the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture, American Cancer Society, foundations and industry through December 1999, when he was entered emeritus status and concentrated on Grant Writers' Seminars and Workshops full time.

After attending a very informative KINBRE seminar by the seminar and grant group last winter and reviewing the quality of its workbooks, we felt that K-State faculty involved with the NIH or National Science Foundation CAREER awards would benefit from these presentations.

AM - Coping with the Changes at NIH In addition to addressing both practical and conceptual aspects that are important to the proposal writing process, this seminar addresses the “Peer Review Enhancements” that NIH implemented in January 2011. The changes in how NIH grant applications are written and reviewed represent a true paradigm shift and their extensively revised approach to the development of research grant proposals, not only technically, but philosophically. Topics covered in the seminar include: the new 9-point evaluation scale; greater emphasis on content quality, funding new/early stage investigators’ sooner, and faster funding path; standardization and shortening reviews; linkage of specific application sections; and new section inclusion, http://www.grantcentral.com/copying.with.changes.at.NIH.html.

PM - Writing Successful NSF Career Award Proposals The purpose of the NSF’s CAREER Award is to create teacher-scholars – faculty members who will use their research to attract and motivate students to learn better. It is a very prestigious award. Acquisition of a CAREER Award is particularly distinguishing in the developing career of an assistant professor, which is why so many apply for it – most without success.  The principal reason for failure is lack of understanding of what NSF is trying to accomplish with this award, i.e., the purpose of the Award, which is what this seminar teaches, http://www.grantcentral.com/nsf_award.html.

Attendees are required to register through Continuing Education by Feb. 1. An NIH and/or NSF tailored workbook will need to be purchased. Workbooks are $75 each.