Presentation Transcript

1. SOME THOUGHTS ON WRITING RESEARCH PROPOSALS

   HENDRIK FERREIRA University of Johannesburg Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment 2012-08-22
2. OVERVIEW AGENERAL CONSIDERATIONS: BEFORE YOU BEGIN COMPETIVE ENVIRONMENT TRACK RECORD AND POTENTIAL FOCUS COMMON FAILURES TYPICAL STEPS OF EVALUATION PRESENTATION FIELD, GOALS AND RESULTS BEXAMPLES: NRF APPLICATION FOR EVALUATION AND RATING: BACGROUND NRF APPLICATION FOR EVALUATION AND RATING: TEMPLATE UJ URC: TEMPLATE ESKOM TESP: TEMPLATE NRF ISL: TEMPLATE NRF COMPETIVE RESEARCH: TEMPLATE SUMMARY
3. BEFORE YOU BEGIN APPROPRIATENESS? DOUBLE CHECK. UP TO DATE INFORMATION: LATEST TEMPLATES ( INTERNET?) OR CONDITIONS FOR APPLICATION OF FUNDING (INTERNET, NETWORKING, ENQUIRY.) HIT THE GROUND RUNNING! PRESTUDY. SCARCE FUNDING: OFTEN PREFERRED TO NURTURE (YOUNG) TREES OVER PLANTING NEW SEEDS. YOUR STRENGTHS: HOW TO EMPHASIZE? YOUR WEAKNESSES: HOW TO COMPENSATE?
4. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT RISK: INVESTMENT TO MAXIMIZE FUNDING AGENCY’S REPORTED OUTPUTS. ACADEMIC OUTPUTS: PAPERS AND POST-GRADUATE DEGREES. INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT: OTHER FACULTIES MAY HAVE LONG ESTABLISHED PUBLICATION CULTURE. EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT: OTHER UNIVERSITIES HAVE ALUMNI AND PRESTIGE. CAREFUL POSITIONING! OWN NICHE? EMPHASIZE POTENTIAL OUTPUTS.
5. TRACK RECORD AND POTENTIAL TRACK RECORD: QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF OUTPUTS. POTENTIAL: MAINLY FOR YOUNG RESEARCHERS. HOW CAN YOU MAKE A CONVINCING CASE? BIAS OF SCIENTIFIC OR ACADEMIC FUNDING SOURCES: POTENTIALVS TRACK RECORD BIAS OF INDUSTRIAL FUNDING SOURCES: USUALLY SHORT TERM APPLICATION VALUE, ALSO DEVELOPMENT OF MAN POWER.
6. FOCUS: VERY IMPORTANT! COMMON COMPLAINT: UNFOCUSED, ATTEMPT TO COVER TOO MANY APPLICATIONS, OR VAGUE. (POSSIBLY RESEARCH TOO MENTION FIELD NARROW WIDER BENEFITS) ↑ FOCUS POINT
7. COMMON FAILURES PRESENTATION: IMPOSSIBLE TO READ OR HARD TO FOLLOW! UNFOCUSED! TOO ALL ENCOMPASSING OR TOO VAGUE. INADEQUATE TRACK RECORD (OR POTENTIAL) OF PROPOSER(S)
8. TYPICAL STEPS OF EVALUATION SUCCESS← ↖ ____ ↖ 7. | IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION: BREAKTHROUGH, APPLICATION. ↑ ___ 6. | PERCEIVED VALUE. GOALS, MANPOWER, EXPERTISE. ↑ ___ ------- 5. | CONTEXT: SCARCE SKILLS, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, INSTITUTION, NETWORK. ↓ ___ 4. | FEASIBILITY: GOALS, WORK PLAN. TIME LINE. ↓ ___ 3. | PROPOSERS: TRACK RECORD OR POTENTIAL. ↓ ___ 2. | DISCIPLINE / FIELD: PERCEIVED IMPORTANCE. ENGINEERING: ADVANTAGE! ↓ ___ 1. | PRESENTATION: LANGUAGE. ORGANIZATION. STYLE. ↓ ↙ FAILURE←
9. PRESENTATION LANGUAGE: GET HELP EARLY! MONEY WELL SPENT. ORGANISE CONTENTS! IF NECESSARY, CREATE YOUR OWN SUBHEADERS, BULLETS, NUMBER SYSTEM. FLOW: TIME LINE (STORY?!) OR: ARGUMENT FLOW! STYLE: PROFESSIONAL AND SCHOLARLY. REFERENCES, etc. TONE AND BALANCE: MODESTY VS ASSERTIVENESS.
10. FIELD, GOALS AND RESULTS EMPHASIZE WORKING IN A FIELD RATHER THAN ACHIEVING SPECIFIC RESULTS. KEEP IN MIND: SOME FREEDOM OF REDIRECTING RESEARCH AS YOU PROGRESS. WILL FUNDING AGENCY HOLD ME TO SPECIFIC TECHNICAL SCIENTIFIC GOALS? ACADEMIC/ SCIENTIFIC AGENCY: SELDOM OR NEVER! JUST PRODUCE ACADEMIC OUTPUTS! INDUSTRY: CHECK EXPECTATIONS CAREFULLY. HOWEVER, SOMETIMES TRAINING MANPOWER IS SUFFICIENT.
11. TEMPLATES FOR PROPOSALS:SOME EXAMPLES NRF APPLICATION FOR EVALUATION AND RATING UJ URC: APPLICATION FOR A GRANT FROM INTERNAL RESEARCH FUNDS ESKOM TERTIARY EDUCATION SUPPORT PROGRAMME NRF ISL APPLICATION FOR A JOINT RESEARCH GRANT NRF COMPETITIVE PROGRAMME FOR RATED RESEARCHERS
12. NRF APPLICATION FOR EVALUATION AND RATING: BACKGROUND KEY QUESTION: WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE APPLICANT’S RECENT RESEARCH OUTPUTS? EXTERNAL REVIEWEWERS (NOMINATED AND INDEPENDENT) WRITE REPORT ON KEY QUESTION AND APPLICANT’S STANDING. PANEL MEMBERS: ONLY INTERPRET REVIEWERS’ REPORTS. TYPICAL PROGRESS: Ph D → 3 YEARS → Y/P → C,B,A Y 0R P, NOT OLDER THAN 35 YEARS, OR WITHIN 5 YEARS OF Ph D AND NOT OLDER THAN 40 YEARS. LABLES C,B,A SHOULD BE INTERPRETED WITH CARE – PERHAPS UNFORTUNATE CHOICE OF LABLES.
13. NRF APPLICATION FOR EVALUATION AND RATING: TEMPLATE Research outputs during the past 8 years: Books/chapters in books, Refereed/peer-reviewed articles in journals, Conference outputs, Patents, Additional research outputs Best research outputs in the past 8 years Best research outputs of students supervised in last 8 years (Best research outputs prior to last 8 years – Background) Other research-based contributions Brief description of completed research Self-assessment of research outputs Ongoingand planned future research
14. UJ URC: APPLICATION FOR A GRANT FROM INTERNAL RESEARCH FUNDS: Form URC-1: Some Preamble Information Additional Information to URC-1: - Running Cost Motivation: Short Term Personnel Cost, Running Costs, Operating Costs - Travel Costs Motivation (Not conferences!) - Small Research Equipment
15. UJ URC: DETAILED PROPOSALEXAMPLE : SECTIONS CREATED 1 INTRODUCTION 2 VISION 3 STRATEGIC POSITIONING 4 STAFF: DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENT AND LONG TERM SUCCESSION 5 THEME OF RESEARCH 6 FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED RESEARCH 7 POWER LINE COMMUNICATIONS AND SMART GRIDS 8 RESEARCH PROJECTS 9 COOPERATION 10 PERMANENT INFRASTRUCTURE 11 MEASURABLE OUTPUTS 12 EXTERNAL FUND RAISING 13 BUDGET
16. ESKOM TESPEXAMPLE: SECTIONS CREATED 1. PREAMBLE 2.PROJECT 2.1 Title: 2.2 Duration: 3. OBJECTIVES: 3.1 Development of manpower: . 3.2 Alignment of research with Eskom’s scientific and engineering manpower needs: . 3.3 Sustainable development aspects of the research work undertaken: 4. GOVERNANCE OF THE CENTRE 5. COLLABORATIONS, LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL LINKAGES, AND. GLOBAL RELEVANCE 5.1 Industrial: 5.2 South African Universities and Academic 5.3 National Research Foundation: 5.5 Other experts in the field of interest to the centre: 5.6 Industrial partners and industrial relevance to 5.7 Collaboration with communities in rural areas 6. OUTPUTS 6.1 Human Resources 6.1.1 Academic staff development: 6.1.2 Students: Table
17. NRF ISL APPLICATION FOR A JOINT RESEARCH GRANT The following are suggested headings (NRF request, maximum 10 pages): Detailed description of the project. Discussion of the scientific and technological background (including references and the relationship to previous research activities relating to the present proposal). Specific objectives and expected significance of the project. Methodology and plan of work. The respective roles of the co-operating partners in carrying out the proposed project should be indicated. Record of preliminary results relevant to the proposal Detailed account of available resources including all personnel and equipment. Mode of co-operation between the South African and Overseas teams.
18. NRF ISL APPLICATION FOR A JOINT RESEARCH GRANT (CONTINUED) Bibliography relevant to the research area. Possible socioeconomic benefits to the country. BIOGRAPHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION Principal Investigator – Abroad Resume (Relevance of the researcher’s professional background to the proposed project). Principal Investigator – South Africa Resume (Relevance of the researcher’s professional background to the proposed project). PLEASE IDENTIFY THE NAMES OF AT LEAST SIX PEER REVIEWERS
19. NRF COMPETITIVE PROGRAMME FOR RATED RESEARCHERS Research Expertise Project Information Details Of Research: Problem Identification, Rationale and Motivation, Research Objectives, Research Methodology/Techniques, Work Plan – Research Activities, Human Resource Development, Equity and Redress, Collaborations, Potential Outcomes, Progress to Date: Summary, Research Outputs, Students, Co-investigator Outputs (if applicable), Ethics, Disability, Data Management and Utilisation
20. NRF COMPETITIVE PROGRAMME FOR RATED RESEARCHERS (CONTINUED) Additional Attachments Participating Members Possible Reviewers Excluded Reviewers Financials: Operating Costs, Other Sources, Student Support
21. SUMMARY BUILD YOUR OWN TRACK RECORD! DEVELOP YOUR LANGUAGE AND PRESENTATION SKILLS. EVALUATE ENVIRONMENT, POSITION YOURSELF AND START! CONSIDER YOUR RESEARCH FOCUS CAREFULLY, FAMILIARIZE WITH FUNDING OPORTUNITIES, PROCEDURES, RULES, CONSTRAINTS. TEMPLATES: DEVELOP YOUR OWN IF NECESSARY. ANYWAY ORGANISE MATERIAL AS YOU PROCEED, CREATE SHORT SUBSECTIONS AND/OR NUMBERED ITEMS AS NECESSARY.
22. RECAP: THE STEPS SUCCESS← ↖ ____ ↖ 7. | IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION: BREAKTHROUGH, APPLICATION. ↑ ___ 6. | PERCEIVED VALUE. GOALS, MANPOWER, EXPERTISE. ↑ ___ ------- 5. | CONTEXT: SCARCE SKILLS, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, INSTITUTION, NETWORK. ↓ ___ 4. | FEASIBILITY: GOALS, WORK PLAN. TIME LINE. ↓ ___ 3. | PROPOSERS: TRACK RECORD OR POTENTIAL. ↓ ___ 2. | DISCIPLINE / FIELD: PERCEIVED IMPORTANCE. ENGINEERING: ADVANTAGE! ↓ ___ 1. | PRESENTATION: LANGUAGE. ORGANIZATION. STYLE. ↓ ↙ FAILURE ←
23. COPY OF THESE SLIDES: WILL BE POSTED ON OUR RESEARCH GROUP’s WEBSITE: http://www.ujtrg.co.za