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 2025 series is divided into two parts.
- PART 1: Open to all faculty and postdocs, 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 at any career stage and any level of grant-writing experience who have identified a funding opportunity and are planning to submit a proposal in the next year. Participants will receive personalized support, review, and feedback.
Below is a table summarizing sessions for the 2025 series. You may find details and registration information for Part 1 and Part 2 below.
Please email: RD@uml.edu for any questions.
Series Schedule
| Part | Date and Time | Session |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 Open to all faculty and postdocs. All sessions virtual. | Thursday April 10
10:30 a.m. - noon | 1.1. Grant Writing Essentials: Getting Started |
| Tuesday April 15
10:30 a.m. - noon | 1.2 Grant Writing Essentials: Preparing to Submit a Proposal | |
| Thursday, April 17
10 a.m. - noon | 1.3 Critical First Page | |
| Part 2 Open to faculty by application only. All sessions virtual. | Tuesday, June 3
10 - 11 a.m. | 2.1 Meet-and-Greet and Introductions |
| Thursday, June 5
10 - 11:30 a.m. | 2.2 Project Summaries and Specific Aims Pages
In small groups by funder or discipline | |
| Week of June 16
one hour | One-on-one consultations scheduled with Office of Research Development (ORD) staff | |
| Tuesday, July 8
10 - 11:30 a.m. | 2.3 Proposal Narratives
In small groups by funder or discipline | |
| Week of July 14
one hour | One-on-one consultations scheduled with ORD staff | |
| Tuesday, July 22
10 - 11 a.m. | 2.4 Mid-series Check-in | |
| Tuesday, July 29
10 - 11 a.m. | 2.5 Budgeting Basics with the Office of Sponsored Programs | |
| Tuesday, August 5
10 - 11:30 a.m. | 2.6 Supplementary Documents
In small groups by funder or discipline | |
| Tuesday, August 12
10 - 11 a.m. | 2.7 Full Group Debrief |
Part-01PART 1 - Open to all UMass Lowell Faculty and Postdocs
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Part 1 of the 2025 GPDW series. You may find recordings and slides from the first two sessions on our archive of trainings and workshops.
Sessions (all virtual)
1.1. Grant Writing Essentials: Getting Started
Thursday, April 10: 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.
Recording of 1.1 Grant Writing Essentials: Getting Started
1.2 Grant Writing Essentials: Preparing to Submit a Proposal
Tuesday, April 15, 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.
Recording of 1.2 Grant Writing Essentials Preparing to Submit a Proposal
1.3 Critical First Page
Thursday, April 17, 2025: 10 a.m. – noon
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.
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.
Important Dates
| Deadline | Activity |
|---|---|
| Monday, May 12 (original deadline was Friday, May 2) | Applications due to ORD |
| Friday, May 16 | Applicants are notified if they have been selected to participate |
| Friday, August 22 | Drafts of proposals due to ORD |
| Friday, September 5 | Participants receive feedback on draft proposals from ORD |
Application Information
By May 12, faculty must submit an application to participate in Part 2. Please check back for the link to the application submission form. Applicants must:
- Be a faculty member at UMass Lowell (UML) at any career stage
- Identify one target funding opportunity with a proposal deadline between October 1, 2025 and October 1, 2026. (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
- Commit to attend all Part 2 sessions
- Commit to submitting a draft of a proposal (sections agreed upon with your ORD staff member) to ORD by August 22
- Consider continuing working with your assigned ORD staff to submit the proposal
Please submit your application for Part 2 by May 12.
Sessions (all virtual)
2.1 Meet-and-Greet and Introductions
Tuesday, June 3, 2025: 10 -11 a.m.
Meet 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
Thursday, June 5, 2025: 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 16, 2025: one hour TBD
ORD 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 Proposal Narratives
Tuesday, July 8, 2025: 10 a.m. - noon
Tailored to your specific funding agency, ORD staff will highlight key characteristics of a compelling proposal narrative.
ORD Consultations
Week of July 14, 2025: 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.
2.4 Mid-series Check-in
Tuesday, July 22, 2025: 10 - 11 a.m.
Gather as a group to share progress. ORD will host an informal discussion and activity to keep the momentum going.
2.5 Budgeting Basics with the Office of Sponsored Programs
Tuesday, July 29, 2025: 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 5, 2025: 10 - 11:30 a.m.
Tailored to your specific funding agency, ORD staff will discuss best practices for supplementary documents such as biosketches, descriptions of facilities and equipment, data management plans, and more.
2.7 Full Group Debrief
Tuesday, August 12, 2025: 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.