Proposal Writing Bootcamp

Co-led by the Diversity Research Network and the Office of Research & Innovation’s (ORI) Research Development and Proposal Services team, this writing cohort is designed to support faculty at Michigan State University as they develop their application for a research grant or fellowship. Weekly meetings focus on writing a concise one-to-three-page summary of a proposed project (e.g., Overview, Executive Summary, Specific Aims, or Project Summary page). These meetings include didactic sessions, dedicated writing time, and peer review sessions. The content of sessions focuses on critical preparation steps to take before writing a proposal, identifying and contacting program officers at funding agencies, tips and tricks for persuasive writing, and a framework for organizing key information in a “one pager”. Participants receive individual feedback and personal attention to help them draft a clear, compelling, and concise description of their proposed project.

Expectations

Participants are expected to commit to attending scheduled virtual meetings, typically held weekly from mid-October to early November. Additionally, a major contributor to the success of this writing group is the element of peer review. Participants will be expected to read and provide feedback on sections of their peers’ proposal drafts. This feedback will be discussed during our group meetings.

Application Process

• Applications for the Fall 2026 cohort are closed. Applications for the Fall 2027 cohort will open in summer/fall 2027.
• An application consists of a digital Qualtrics form, including the following:
  • Biosketch or CV
  • Brief description of their proposal for an external funder
  • Link to the funding opportunity and deadline (if known)
• Participants will be selected based on their availability to participate in most sessions, their target application deadline, and their eligibility to serve as a PI.