The Department of Neurological Sciences and the Center for Clinical & Translational Research will host a half-day skills seminar with presenter Paul Casella, MFA.
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Check-in begins at: 8:00 AM
Opening Remarks at: 8:30 AM
Sessions are open to all faculty, students, and staff; however pre-registration is required, see the link at right. Contact Josh Russo (2-2921 or email) for questions.
Sessions will be held in the Michael F Sorrell Center (Rom 2010.) Contact Josh Russo if you require parking accommodations.
Writing for Publication
Session 1 (9:00 AM)
A clear and reasoned presentation of ideas is critical to the success of a scientific manuscript. This seminar examines the structures and positions of emphasis in the sentence, paragraph, and sections of the formal study to help authors authorize their claims. Addresses how to deconstruct an article and use it as a guide to inform your writing in manuscripts for submission. Includes a test of reasoning that authors can apply to the articles they read and the papers they write.
The session also addresses how authors can use writing as a tool for thinking, as well as how to implement a systematic approach to the writing process to improve the content and presentation of data and ideas. Includes suggestions about how to address the needs of the reviewers, editors, and readers of a journal to maximize your chances of publication.
Writing Effective Grant Applications to the NIH
Session 2 (10:30 AM)
This course reviews the principles of good grant writing to produce clear, direct, and compelling proposals. Focuses on understanding the psychology of reviewers and the review process, how to engage readers and facilitate understanding, and how to manage the proposal writing process. Suggests proposal templates. Includes exercises related to specific elements of a proposal, particularly the Specific Aims page.
Provides specific direction on how to best organize and format NIH applications for reader accessibility and impact, including information on
- Assessing an institute or grantor’s priorities
- Deconstructing RFAs, application instructions, project descriptions, model grant applications
- Emphasizing the significance, innovation, and health-relatedness of your project
- Facilitating reader accessibility
- Taking advantage of the natural positions of emphasis in the sentence and paragraph
- Designing and integrating clear and purposeful tables and figures
- Using subheadings, numbering systems, and figure legends effectively
- Telling the story and using other journalistic conventions
- Selling the idea in an objective way in order to establish and maintain scientific integrity
- Networking with colleagues, collaborators, consultants, mentors, and NIH program officers
- Using the reviewer critique criteria as “sentence starters” for the information you need to include
- Writing an effective and integrated Biographical Sketch that will accompany your application
Paul Casella, MFA
Paul Casella, MFA, is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Since 1988 Paul has worked with academic and health care professionals to improve the clarity and effectiveness of their manuscripts for publication, formal presentations, grant applications, and visual aids. Since 1993 he has led over 2500 seminars on scientific writing and communication at universities and meetings across North America and Europe. A founding member of the Health Care Communications Group, Paul is the author of two chapters of their award-winning book Writing, Speaking, and Communication Skills for Health Professionals (Yale University Press 2001).