Overview:
The InCHIP NIH Grant Writing Boot Camp provides UConn faculty and students interested in writing an NIH grant (R-, K-, or F-series) with an introduction to the NIH grant writing process through a one-day, in person workshop followed by an optional intensive mentored training program.
- One-day in person workshop provides an introduction to the NIH and core strategies for building a successful NIH grant application. The workshop will be delivered by highly accomplished NIH-funded PIs.
- Post-workshop optional mentored training program will be delivered virtually, in small groups over several months and led by NIH-funded PIs. The post-workshop training is intended for individuals actively writing an NIH grant. The training will provide participants with ongoing structure, accountability, and iterative feedback on their proposals throughout the grant writing process.
One-Day Workshop
RSVP Deadline: January 24, 2025
Structure, When, & Where
The one-day workshop will take place in person on the Storrs campus on February 28, 2025, from 8:30am – 5pm. The workshop involves several 40-minute presentations from NIH-funded PIs with discussion sessions (see below for details). Following the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to sign up for the optional virtual intensive mentored training program.
Who Should Participate?
We invite UConn and UConn Health faculty and students doing health-related research who are either new to NIH grants or have submitted applications to the NIH that have not been funded. Individuals with experience with other funding mechanisms (e.g., NSF) who want to learn more about the NIH grant writing process are also welcome.
Topics Covered
- Introduction to the NIH, finding funding, and building your team.
- Structuring your sales pitch: Writing an NIH-style Specific Aims.
- Communicating your Research Strategy: Significance, Innovation, Approach.
- Budgets, subcontracts, timeline, and biosketches.
- Training plan & candidate sections (Ks and Fs).
Post-Workshop Virtual Intensive Mentored Training (Optional)
Structure
- Virtual Sessions:Participants will meet every other week with Boot Camp Director, Seth Kalichman, to review each section of their proposal. During these meetings they will receive personalized feedback, have opportunities to ask questions, and delve into details.
- Writing Deadlines and Accountability:Participants will be expected to submit drafts of each grant section for review so that, upon completion of the entire Boot Camp, participants will have a near complete draft of their proposal.
- Optional Pre-Submission External Review: ~6 weeks before the NIH deadline, participants will work with Boot Camp leaders to identify appropriate external reviewers, whom InCHIP will then contact to solicit a NIH-style written review.
When are the Meetings?
TBD via Zoom.
Who Should Participate?
We invite UConn and UConn Health faculty and students doing health-related research who are ready to write their proposals to participate. While there is flexibility in timeline, the goal is to have a complete draft at the end of the spring semester or thereabouts.
Time Commitment
Participants should be ready to write their grant proposal during the Spring Semester. Participants are required to attend all 1-hour Review Sessions (held TBD depending on everyone’s availability). During the off weeks, participants will be expected to write and submit drafts of each section so that they can be reviewed by Dr. Kalichman prior to the virtual sessions.