2023 Mini Proposal Bootcamp

January 17, 2024-June 30, 2023

9:00 am - 4:00 pm (PST)

Graduate Students
Postdocs

Co-sponsored by the Stanford Biosciences Student Association and the Grant Writing Academy!

Next Offered in Winter 2024.

Sign up (click here) and we will email you when registration is available.

All Stanford graduate students (1st priority), postdocs, instructors, or clinical fellows are welcomed but space is limited. Staff and faculty are not eligible to attend in 2023. Participants committed to join the all-day Mini Proposal Bootcamp have priority but you can sign up for only the Morning or Afternoon sessions.

Submitting a compelling fellowship (e.g., NIH’s NRSA F30, F31, F32) or career development award (e.g., NIH’s K99/R00, K01, K08, etc.) is a time consuming process. This in-person Mini Proposal Bootcamp is designed to springboard the development of your next proposal. Based on the Grant Writing Academy’s Proposal Bootcamps which increased participants’ abilities to secure funding and improved grant writing self-efficacy (check out our PLoS One article!), we will share grant writing fundamentals and simplify the process into doable tasks.

Participants will receive a copy of the All About the NIH K Award Workbook. Over 195 pages, it simplifies the process of writing a proposal into manageable steps. Although written for NIH K Award applicants, it is relevant for most proposals for fellowships or career development awards.

Morning Session (9 am – noon)

9-10:30 am — Writing the Specific Aims & Research Strategy

Grant Writing Academy’s Director Dr. Crystal Botham will provide the fundamentals of writing a 1-page NIH-style Specific Aims document as will as the Research Strategy, which includes the Significance, Innovation, & Approach subsections.

10:30 am – noon — Time to Write!

We are reserving time on your busy calendar to work on your proposal or other writing project. Utilize this time to reflect and apply the grant writing fundamentals you learn at this Mini Proposal Bootcamp. Bring your laptop or writing materials so you can silently work in companionship with others.

10:30 am – noon — Meet with a Grant Coach!

Schedule a 20 minute 1:1 meeting with one of our trained Grant Coaches. Grant Coaches can answer questions, find resources, provide advice, and evaluate draft documents.

Lunch (noon – 12:45 pm)

Tasty lunch from Zareen’s provided to participants.
Eat in the Alway Courtyard with other grant writers or continue writing in Alway M112.
Please bring a drink or reusable water bottle to fill from the drinking fountain.

Afternoon Session (12:45 – 4 pm)

12:45-1:45 pm — Writing the Career Development & Mentoring Plans

Grant Writing Academy’s Director Dr. Crystal Botham will provide a framework to gain needed mentoring, skills, and experiences that build on prior training and/or experiences which is required for compelling Career Development & Mentoring Plans.

1:45-4 pm — Time to Write!

1:45-4 pm — Meet with a Grant Coach!

Schedule a 20 minute 1:1 meeting with one of our trained Grant Coaches. Grant Coaches can answer questions, find resources, provide advice, and evaluate draft documents.

Questions? Please email Crystal Botham (cbotham@stanford.edu)!

This year’s Mini Proposal Bootcamp will not be recorded but see our past Mini Proposal Bootcamps if you can’t attend this in-person event: