Catalyst Seminar
BSCI 279C
April 9, 2009

Elements found in most successful proposals

Grant review panels

• Some examples of grant proposal summaries
  • grant proposal evaluation example #1 (play behavior study)
  • grant proposalevaluation example #2 (play behavior study)
  • grant proposal evaluation example #3 (sable antelope study)
  • grant proposal evaluation example #4 (sable antelope study)
  • grant proposal evaluation example #5 (sable antelope study)
• A grant panel summary and evaluation

Readings for proposal review assignment: Ch. 6, pp. 140-3, Ch. 10

Assignment for Apr. 23: Read, evaluate and discuss proposals; make funding recommendations

• You will break up into groups of 4. Sign up on the sheet, with one person on line 'A', one on line 'B', etc. Make a note of your letter!
• Each person will read a packet of four proposals. You can download these in pdf format to print out.
• Each proposal will be designated by a letter (Proposal A, Proposal B, Proposal C, or Proposal D).
• You will be the "primary reader" for the proposal whose letter corresponds to yours. Each person in your group will be primary reader for a different proposal in the group of 4 you have all received. If you are primary reader, this means that you are responsible for understanding the proposal in depth, clearing up any misunderstandings held by the other folks in your group (who may not have read that proposal as carefully as you) and being prepared to take the lead in funding recommendations for that proposal by pointing out its strengths.
• You should read each of the 4 proposals in your packet, but be sure you read the one for which you are primary reader especially carefully.
• After all group members have had a chance to read all proposals, you should meet as a group to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each. Appoint someone in your group to record your discussions.
• At the end of your discussion, your group should prepare a brief summary and critique of each proposal. You should summarize the proposed research in 2-3 sentences, then evaluate the proposal in terms of the criteria found in the assigned readings and discussed in class. Although evaluating the budget is usually a part of the proposal review process, for the purposes of this assignment assume that all the budgets are reasonable.
• Finally, your group must make funding recommendations. Only 2 of the 4 proposals can be funded. Which ones should it be?
• Your report should be written and submitted as a group effort (i.e., one report turned in per group). You can email your report to me as an attachment or deliver a hard copy to my office (1313 Symons Hall).
• Your reports are due Thursday April 23 by 4:30 pm.