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Jessica Mercer, Ph.D. |
Dr. Mercer, UNMC’s editorial grants associate, has hosted several workshops since August and many have been well-attended.
Below, she talks about what people can learn at the workshops, the services she provides and common problems that hinder grant success.
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My office assists UNMC faculty members with grant editing services, including:
- Copy editing for grammar;
- Word choice;
- Style and consistency;
- Formatting recommendations; and
- Commentary on the content and flow of the proposal.
The turnaround time for these services is approximately five business days and the costs are fully subsidized by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. I prefer that investigators e-mail me the electronic version of their documents along with the request form found on my website.
What kind of information do you cover in your workshops?
The workshops primarily focus on how to write an NIH proposal. I talk about what to address in each section of the proposal and illustrate this with examples written by successful UNMC investigators. Some of my workshops also discuss the most effective writing style and tone to use in a proposal. This week’s talks will highlight the specific skills needed to develop good grantsmanship. I will offer a new workshop in January on the art of scientific writing.
What are some of the common issues you see that hinder a grant’s chances for success?
The biggest issue, in my opinion, is failing to convey why the proposed research is exciting and significant — significant in advancing the field and the goals of the granting agency. A great idea without the right packaging often does not get the attention it deserves. Researchers need to think of their proposal as a marketing document designed to “sell” the proposed research. And of course, clear communication is critical for the success of any proposal, which is why revising and editing are so important in the grant-writing process.