Hello GradFund readers! This post will discuss the etiquette involved in professional communication. If you are anything like me, you obsess over every little detail within the simplest communications. Email drafts sit in my inbox for days, weeks, or even months and make it through several rounds of revision before being sent. What? Nobody else? […]
Proposal Writing Advice
Proposal Writing Advice
Advice from the Archives: Improvement: The “I” in the NSF DD(R)IG
Advice from the Archives Series Note: Occasionally, we dig into the archives to uncover a post we feel holds relevant and timely information worthy of a repost. If you are interested in learning more about research grants and fellowships to support your graduate study, be sure to visit the GradFund Database. Improvement: The “I” in the NSF DD(R)IG […]
Dealing with Rejection
Facing rejection is never easy. After months spent working on an application, it can be very disheartening to receive a notification that begins “Dear Jane Doe, Thank you for your application. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer you a fellowship this year…” In this post you’ll learn some tips on how to deal with rejection in […]
Writing for Multiple Audiences
One of the most challenging aspects of applying for funding is the need to write for multiple audience. How do you balance demonstrating your expertise in a particular field with the fact that, at some stage in the review process, your application will be read by an interdisciplinary audience? How can you speak to both experts […]
Commitment to Community: It’s a Frame of Mind
Many fellowship and grant funders want to see a commitment to community. In fact, many different permutations of this concept exist within the graduate funding world. The AAUW wants to see a commitment to the issues facing women and girls. The Ford Foundation wants to see a commitment to diverse communities. Even the NSF and […]
Responding to Short Answer Questions Effectively
Short answer questions are an important part of the external fellowship application, therefore, you should put a significant amount of effort into crafting your answers. While presenting a thoughtful and concise response, be sure to demonstrate experiences that support your understanding of and commitment to the goals of the program. Answer the exact question being […]
The Power of Small Grants (Throwback Thursday)
Series note: The following post is part of the GradFund Throwback Thursday blog series. Each week we will repost one of our most popular blog posts from years past. If you are interested in learning more about research grants and fellowships to support your graduate study, be sure to visit the GradFund Database. Nearly every graduate student seeking […]
Commitment to Enhancing Diversity
Several grants, fellowships, and postdoctoral fellowships now explicitly ask applicants to express their commitment to enhancing diversity. The Ford Foundation in particular has among its core goals to increase diversity in the professoriate by supporting not only graduate students who are themselves from underrepresented groups, but also those who can demonstrate an ongoing commitment to […]
Funding Archival Research (Throwback Thursday)
Series note: The following post is part of the GradFund Throwback Thursday blog series. Each week we will repost one of our most popular blog posts from years past. If you are interested in learning more about research grants and fellowships to support your graduate study, be sure to visit the GradFund Database. Will your thesis or dissertation […]
Revision Roundup: Advice from our Archives
With the fall fellowship and grant application season in full swing, today we bring you a roundup of some of our most useful advice on how to solicit and respond to feedback as you complete those final revisions on your application. Are you reapplying for an award this season? If so, be sure to consult reviewer […]