Applying for Research Grants: Enhancing Chances of the Project
Taking advantages of grant programs Every individual researcher as well as Research
Institutes has to solve the problems of financing the research project. It is almost impossible to find sponsors at the beginning of investigation process, when significance of the research results is doubtful yet. Working on the research proposals, scientists try to sell a carefully polished image of their project for attracting the potential sponsors' attention. It is possible to apply for academic grants for research purposes as well. It is important to choose a topical research question and make a plan of the research process beforehand for taking advantages of available grant programs. Applicants should conduct a preliminary investigation and collect as much information concerning the available grant programs as possible. Though it is not easy to receive a grant, researchers should not be afraid of failure. A person should make sure that everything possible was done for enhancing the chances of one's project to receive a grant. Organizing the preliminary investigation 1. The useful information concerning the research grants can be found in science career magazines or at specialized sites. Personal communication with one's colleagues might become a source of information as well. 2. After choosing the most appropriate grant programs, the researchers should continue their investigation and learn the available application options as well as eligibility requirements. It might be helpful to look for the list of the most common applicants' mistakes and try to avoid them. 3. The next step is the application itself. Having chosen a certain type of grant, an applicant should start collecting the necessary documentation, filling the forms, writing an application essay and revising it. Researchers should do everything possible to convince the commission that the project deserves the grant and needs it.
Applying for Research Grants: Enhancing Chances of the Project