By Marc R. Masferrer, University Communications and Marketing
Registration is open for the 2023 Summer Grant Writing Workshop, a certificate program designed to help early career faculty and doctoral students craft compelling funding proposals and secure funding.
Those enrolled in the course learn how to frame their research proposals so that they are clear and comprehensive and resonate with funders. Participants are encouraged to identify a grant opportunity early in the program, draft a proposal as part of the course and submit their draft for feedback in mock peer review.
“The Summer Grant Writing Workshops program gets better every year,” said Sandra Justice, associate director for research on the Sarasota-Manatee campus. “Participant feedback has been incredibly positive.”
Christine McGuire-Wolfe, a former firefighter/paramedic, is an assistant professor in USF’s College of Public Health (COPH), leading COPH’s participation in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-led coalition to develop interactive and empowering infection control training. After participating in the Summer Grant Writing Workshops, McGuire-Wolfe, applied for and received two sub-contracts, including one to develop infection control programs for firefighters, paramedics and other emergency responders.
McGuire-Wolfe has been awarded all four grants that she has submitted since participating in the Summer Grant Writing Workshops program.
“I absolutely think that the workshop helped prepare my proposal submissions,” McGuire-Woolf said. “I think the two most helpful pieces of the workshop were one, the direction on how to look for funding and the importance of continually reviewing opportunities.
“And two, hope. By hope, I mean the concept that it is completely possible that you will find funding to support your projects. This attitude can be hard to hold on to, particularly in early stages of your career,” McGuire-Wolfe said.
Writing grants with purpose, McGuire-Wolfe is achieving terrific gains, Justice said. “Her success also reflects yeoman support she receives in the USF College of Public Health.”
The eight-week, virtual summer program, which is open to both USF and non-USF researchers, starts June 5. Each week, the program will consist of a:
- Monday Message email providing participants with a framework for the week ahead, as well as useful resources, templates, and samples.
- Wednesday Workshops presentation. The two-hour long interactive session is recorded and posted for participants.
- Funding Friday, where for up to two hours participants dig deeper into the content using a Training and Activity Guidebook for the course.
Supplementing the course are keynote speakers invited from sponsor agencies.
Registration for this year’s workshops ends May 31.