Summer Research Funding: Writing Successful Proposals
Applying for a fellowship or grant for a summer research project? Read the guidelines below and attend information sessions and workshops to help you write a winning proposal!
Sponsored by the Undergraduate Research Support Office and the Thompson Writing Program.
Guidelines for Writing Research Proposals
- General Proposal Guidelines
- Slides: Writing Successful Research Proposals
- Writing Rubric for Summer Funding Proposals.
- See the Undergraduate Research Grant Writing Support site for examples, advice from students, and other resources.
- Get feedback from the Duke Reader Project or the Writing Studio.
Information Sessions and Workshops
Session 1: What is a successful research grant proposal?
Tues, Feb 2nd, 4:00-5:00 pm, Perkins 218
In order to help you understand how to write a good first draft, we will discuss what’s expected in a proposal. This session will provide answers to these questions: What is a research grant proposal? What are the most essential elements? What makes a proposal likely to get funded? Why are some proposals unlikely to get funded? We will look at some proposals from prior years that got funded, and some that didn't.
Session 2: Revising your proposal to make it successful.
Wed, Feb 24th, 3:30-5:30 pm, Perkins 218
or
Thurs, Feb 25th, 12:30-2:30 pm, Breedlove Meeting Rm (2nd Fl, Rubenstein Library)
If you want a good shot at getting your research funded, you’ll need to get feedback on your draft and then do some serious revision. We will begin by discussing the strengths and weaknesses of sample proposals. Then we’ll break up into guided groups so everyone can get some feedback on 2-3 of the most important aspects of their proposals. Attendees must bring 3 copies of their proposal draft.