The annual Grant Proposal Development Workshop is an intensive and comprehensive hands-on writing program for faculty interested in developing or revising a proposal.
The 2026 series is divided into two parts.
- PART 1: Open to everyone, but material is geared towards early career faculty and postdocs with little grant-writing experience.
- PART 2: Open by application only for a cohort of 10-15 faculty who have identified a funding opportunity and are planning to submit a proposal in the next year. Content is geared towards those who are newer to grant writing and/or those who want a refresher on best practices. Participants will receive personalized support, review, and feedback.
Below is a table summarizing sessions for the 2026 series. You may find details and registration information for Part 1 and Part 2 below.
Please email: RD@uml.edu for any questions.
2026 Series Schedule
| Part | Date and Time | Session |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 Open to everyone All sessions virtual. | Tuesday, February 24
10:30 a.m. - noon | 1.1. Grant Writing Essentials: Getting Started |
| Thursday, February 26
10:30 a.m. - noon | 1.2 Grant Writing Essentials: Preparing to Submit a Proposal | |
| Wednesday, March 25
2 - 4 p.m. | 1.3 Critical First Page | |
| Part 2
Open to faculty by application only. All sessions virtual, except for the Meet-and-Greet and Introductions which will be held in-person. | Week of May 18 30 minutes; scheduled in advance | 2.0 Check-in with an ORD staff member |
| Thursday, May 28
10 - 11 a.m. | 2.1 Meet-and-Greet and Introductions | |
| Tuesday, June 2
10 - 11:30 a.m. | 2.2 Project Summaries and Specific Aims Pages
In small groups by funder or discipline. | |
| Week of June 8
one hour | One-on-one consultations scheduled with Office of Research Development (ORD) staff. | |
Thursday, June 25 10 a.m. - noon | 2.3 Mock Review Panel | |
| Thursday, July 9
10 - 11:30 a.m. | 2.4 Proposal Narratives
In small groups by funder or discipline. | |
| Week of July 13
one hour | One-on-one consultations scheduled with ORD staff. | |
| Tuesday, July 28
10 - 11 a.m. | 2.5 Budgeting Basics with the Office of Sponsored Programs | |
| Tuesday, August 4
10 - 11:30 a.m. | 2.6 Supplementary Documents
In small groups by funder or discipline. | |
| Tuesday, August 11
10 - 11 a.m. | 2.7 Full Group Debrief |
Part-01PART 1 - Open to all UMass Lowell Faculty and Postdocs
Sessions (all virtual)
1.1. Grant Writing Essentials: Getting Started
Tuesday, February 24, 2026: 10:30 a.m. - noon
This first session lays the foundation for anyone interested in applying for extramural funding. Presenters will cover topics such as finding funding opportunities, understanding a funding agency, dissecting a solicitation, identifying agency priorities and review criteria, and the resources on campus available as you get started.
Register for 1.1 Grant Writing Essentials: Getting Started
1.2 Grant Writing Essentials: Preparing to Submit a Proposal
Thursday, February 26, 2026: 10:30 a.m. - noon
You’ve found the right funding opportunity for your project. What’s next? Presenters will share strategies that will set you up for success in proposal development including talking to a program officer, researching prior awardees, finding appropriate collaborators and partners, developing a project management plan agreeable to all team members, and addressing the impact of your research.
Register for 1.2 Grant Writing Essentials Preparing to Submit a Proposal
1.3 Critical First Page
Wednesday, March 25, 2026: 2 - 4 p.m.
Led by Peg AtKisson of the AtKisson Training Group, this session reviews strategies for writing the critical first page of a proposal. From developing and articulating specific aims to effective wordsmithing, participants learn the importance and nuances of crafting a compelling first page.
Register for 1.3 Critical First Page
If you are interested in reviewing Part 1 sessions of the 2025 GPDW series, you may find recordings and slides from the first two sessions on our archive of trainings and workshops.
Part-02PART 2 - By Application Only, Cohort of 10-15 Faculty Members
Part 2 is organized with time in between sessions for participants to complete parts of a proposal with feedback along the way. Participants work with ORD staff to set goals and agree upon completing specific portions of their proposal by the end of the series. ORD staff will continue to work with participants to bring their proposal over the finish line.
Content is geared towards those who are newer to grant writing and/or those who want a refresher on best practices.
Important Dates
| Deadline | Activity |
|---|---|
| Friday, April 17 | Applications due to ORD |
| Friday, May 8 | Applicants are notified if they have been selected to participate |
| Tuesday, June 16 | Draft of a project summary or specific aims page due to ORD |
| Friday, August 22 | Draft of proposal (sections agreed upon with your ORD staff member) due to ORD
|
| Friday, September 5 | Participants receive feedback on draft proposals from ORD |
Application Information
By April 17, 2026, faculty must submit an application to participate in Part 2. Applicants must:
- Be a faculty member at UMass Lowell (UML) at any career stage
- Identify one target funding opportunity with a proposal deadline between September 1, 2026 and September 1, 2027. (Applicants may identify a funding opportunity that is already announced or expected to be announced within this timeframe).
- Provide a summary of their project idea for the application
- Commit to attend all Part 2 sessions
- Commit to submitting an updated draft of a project summary or specific aims to ORD by June 16, 2026
- Commit to submitting a draft of a proposal (sections agreed upon with your ORD staff member) to ORD by August 21, 2026
- Consider continuing working with your assigned ORD staff to submit the proposal
Please email RD@uml.edu if you have any questions about your eligibility or to discuss potential accommodations for your participation.
Sessions (all virtual)
2.0 Check-in with an ORD Staff Member
Week of May 18, 2026: 30 minutes TBDParticipants will have the opportunity to meet with an ORD staff member to review the workshop schedule, set expectations, and share insights about their needs prior to starting the program.
2.1 Meet-and-Greet and Introductions
Thursday, May 28, 2026: 10 -11 a.m. - location to be determinedMeet in person with the workshop cohort and the ORD team members who will be with you every step of the way. This group will be your network that you can lean on for advice and motivation throughout the series and beyond. We will discuss ways to stay connected and share resources.
2.2 Project Summaries and Specific Aims Pages
Tuesday, June 2, 2026: 10 - 11:30 a.m.Tailored to your specific funding agency, ORD staff will review techniques to craft an effective first page that will hook the reviewer and demonstrate the impact of your project.
ORD Consultations
Week of June 8, 2026: one hour TBDORD staff will schedule a one-on-one consultation with you to provide personalized support. ORD will work with each participant to define individual goals and set expectations for the portions of the proposal to be completed by the end of the workshop.
2.3 Mock Panel Review
Thursday, June 25, 2026: 10 a.m. - noonParticipants will submit an updated draft of their project summary or specific aims page by June 16. In small groups, participants will engage in constructive discussions and provide feedback on one another's drafts.
2.4 Proposal Narratives
Thursday, July 9, 2026: 10 - 11:30 a.m.Tailored to your specific funding agency, ORD staff will highlight key characteristics of a compelling proposal narrative.
ORD Consultations
Week of July 13, 2026: one hour TBDORD staff will schedule a follow-up consultation to answer any questions and support you as you write at your own pace. ORD will help keep you on track towards your goals.
2.5 Budgeting Basics with the Office of Sponsored Programs
Tuesday, July 28, 2026: 10 - 11 a.m.A well-planned budget and persuasive budget justification are critical for convincing reviewers that your proposed project will have the resources to succeed. The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) will explain typical components of proposal budgets, the process for drafting and refining your budget prior to submission, and how to prepare a compelling budget justification.
2.6 Supplementary Documents
Tuesday, August 4, 2026: 10 - 11:30 a.m.Tailored to your specific funding agency, ORD staff will discuss best practices for supplementary documents such as bios-ketches, descriptions of facilities and equipment, data management plans, and more.
2.7 Full Group Debrief
Tuesday, August 11, 2026: 10 - 11 a.m.As we near the end of the workshop, the cohort will gather to discuss wins, challenges, and feedback. The group will discuss ways to continue to support each other even after the workshop.