Applying for grants and fellowships can be daunting on top of the typical graduate student workload. It is easy to convince yourself to delay the application process when faced with coursework, teaching, research, and meetings. Here are several motivating factors to consider if you are contemplating postponing your grant application process: Develop perspective on the […]
Welcome to the GradFund Blog
Welcome to the GradFund Blog
Make the Case That Your Project Will Contribute to Your Field
From a funder’s perspective, your passion for your project isn’t enough. Funders want to know that you have designed a project that does more than simply exercise your own intellectual curiosity. Even when it is not explicitly stated among the priorities listed in the program solicitation or guidelines, funders typically want to support a scholar […]
Developing a Relationship with your NSF Program Officer
*This blog is in preparation for GradFund’s upcoming Applying to the NSF workshop The National Science Foundation funds graduate students every year in a wide array of disciplines, from cultural anthropology to biomedical engineering. Awards are available for almost every level of graduate study, whether it be applying for the Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) during […]
The NSF INTERN Program: Supplement Funding for Non-Academic Research Internships
On August 27, 2018, the National Science Foundation published a “Dear Colleagues” letter announcing a supplemental source of funding for principal investigators to help provide non-academic research experience to their graduate students. The INTERN program, as it is called, is geared at increasing the competitiveness of STEM workforce in the US. This program is a […]
Strategies for Revision Series (Part 2)
Have a draft of a research statement or personal narrative for your fellowship application? Feel like it’s in pretty good shape, but not sure how to give it that top-level shine? This post suggests a strategy of revision for seeing each part of your essay in a new light. Unlike my previous post, this one […]
Strategies for Revision Series (Part 1)
Have a draft of a research statement? Sometimes get a sneaking suspicion that it’s not quite hanging together? This post suggests a strategy for revision that’s quick, straightforward, and yet often effective in shedding light on structural problems. I can’t claim credit for the exercise. It was first suggested to me by Emily Bartels, Professor […]
Procrastinating on your Proposal? Recover Your Motivation for Your Project (Post 3)
One thing reviewers look for in an application is your excitement for the project you’re proposing. But sometimes, it’s hard to access your own excitement. Grad school is a long haul, and even the most passionate researcher on the most interesting project will probably find her attention flagging at various points. If giving yourself a […]
Procrastinating on your Proposal? Try These Tips To Jump-Start Your Writing Process (Post 2)
Some applications have so many different parts, each with its own guidelines, that the process can feel overwhelming. But remember: you only have to work on one piece at a time! Research statements and personal statements are required components in most grant applications, and picking one of those can be a good place to start. […]
Procrastinating on your Proposal? Try One of These Tips To Get Started (Post 1)
We all procrastinate from time to time. The high standards and minimal structure of many graduate programs can make procrastination especially likely for even the most capable students, and when we slip into feelings of guilt or shame, it can become even harder to kick-start our motivation. Yet deadlines loom, and in the case of […]
How to Identify What Reviewers Want?
At GradFund we always say “you need to know the funder”. But, why is this important? And how do you do it? Reviewers for graduate grants and fellowships are usually interested in both short-term deliverables (i.e. what training or research you will undertake for the tenure of the grant and why it is significant?), as […]