Is this course right for me?

Target Audience: SBS Academic staff at all levels who have identified a potential funder for a proposed grant application and would like additional in-depth support to enhance their chances of success

Following the success of our first Grant Writing Challenge in Semester 1, we are offering a shorter Spring Challenge to run from 22 May to 19 June 2024. This will be coordinated by our SBS Research and Innovation Office, and Prof John Quigley (Vice Dean Research) and Prof Dora Scholarios (Associate Dean Research). 

The Programme:

The Challenge will offer a structured programme of workshops and preparatory work designed to enhance participants’ grant writing skills and help them develop a proposal by the end of the programme. Starting on Wednesday 22 May 2024, the Challenge provides 5 in-person workshops to run in consecutive weeks which will offer expert advice from successful Strathclyde academics; provide milestones towards submission; and offer peer support and feedback from fellow grant writers throughout.  In addition, participants will be supported by a Departmental or Faculty Mentor and RKES colleagues during the program. Participants must be working on a funding proposal during the Challenge and must have secured the support of their department to participate by seeking approval from their Director of Research 

The programme is designed for in-person/on-campus sessions only. Participants should ensure they can attend all five sessions. The session dates and times are as follows:  

• Session 1 – Wednesday 22nd May 2024 1-4 pm – Introduction to the SBS Grant Writing Challenge (GWC) & the Funding Landscape
• Session 2 – Thursday 23rd May 2024 1-4 pm – Work Packages, KE & Impact
• Session 3 – Wednesday 5th June 2024 1-4pm – Writing the Case for Support, Meeting Funder Expectations
• Session 4 – Wednesday 12th June 2024 1-3pm – Costing/Justification of Resources 
• Session 5 – Wednesday 19th June 2024 1-3pm – How Panels Work 

Applying for the Challenge: If you are interested in participating in the Challenge, you should contact the Director of Research (DoR) in your Department and make sure you receive an acceptance confirmation from the DoR. You should then prepare a one page introductory summary which includes the following:

• A funding scheme you wish to aim at [deadlines do not need to align with the period of the Challenge]
• An outline in broad terms of your topic area – provide a summary of the importance and nature of the general area
• State of the art in your chosen topic area and its limitations
• How your proposal will overcome these deficiencies
• Emphasis on the scientific quality of the proposed research
• Why this proposal is likely to be better than similar proposals
• The name of a mentor who has agreed to work with you throughout the challenge (if you are unsure of a mentor, consult with your DoR in the first instance; please indicate if you have not identified anyone).

Submit your summary to sbs-rke@strath.ac.uk using the subject line ‘SBS Grant Writing Challenge’ by Monday 13th May 2024, 12:00pm.   We will confirm participation within 2 days.

If you require any further information please get in touch with d.scholarios@strath.ac.uk  

Prerequisites