The Grant Proposal Development Workshop, offered annually, is an intensive and comprehensive hands-on program for faculty who are interested in developing or revising a proposal. The series is organized with time in between each session for participants to complete components of a proposal step-by-step with feedback along the way. Participants finish the program with a fully-developed, competitive proposal.

Though we recommend attendance at all sessions to deepen understanding of an effective, interconnected planning and writing process, participants may attend sessions independently. Sessions may include pre and post work to ensure participants are engaged with the content.

See below for information about the sessions offered during the 2023 series. Recordings for some of the sessions are also available.

The schedule for the 2024 series will be announced soon.

For questions, please email: RD@uml.edu.

Grant Writing Essentials

Monday, June 26, 2023: 1-4 p.m., Hybrid

This first session reviewed all grant writing essentials and the pre-planning involved with submitting a proposal. Presenters covered topics such as finding and understanding a funding agency, dissecting a solicitation, knowing what reviewers and program managers are looking for, strategies for making your proposal responsive and more.


Critical First Page

Wednesday, July 12, 2023: 10 a.m. – noon, Virtual

Led by Peg AtKisson of the AtKisson Training Group, this second session reviewed strategies for writing the critical first page of a proposal. From developing and articulating specific aims to effective wordsmithing, participants learned the nuances of crafting a compelling first page.


Mock Panel Review

Tuesday, August 1, 2023: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Virtual

In this third session, participants submitted a draft of a first page summary for an opportunity to receive feedback during a mock panel review. A limited number of drafts were selected on a competitive basis and were reviewed during the session. All submitters had the opportunity to participate in the panel which included Peg AtKisson, research development staff and peers. Reviewers provided in-depth feedback on the first page with hopes to influence and provide logic for the project narrative.

Supplementary Documents

Thursday, November 16, 2023: 11 a.m. - noon, Virtual

This fourth session reviewed common supplementary documents and best practices associated with them. The session covered specific documentation related to National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH).

View the recording of the Supplementary Documents session.

Project Narratives and Budgets

Thursday, December 7, 2023: 1 - 2:30 p.m., In-person at Alumni Hall

In this last session, the Office of Research Development highlighted the key characteristics of a compelling proposal narrative, identified the primary goals of proposal narratives, and discussed the role narratives play in the larger proposal package. The Office of Research Administration presented tips for preparing a competitive budget and budget justification. This workshop focused on best practices for narratives and budgets applicable across a wide range of funding agencies, from federal to foundational sponsors.

View the recording of the Project Narratives and Budgets session.