In a highly competitive funding landscape, how can researchers stay motivated and strategic in their approach to grant writing?
Securing research funding: tips for success
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A/Prof Deb Mitchison speaking at Research Cafe
At last week’s Research Cafe we were joined by A/Prof Deb Mitchison from the Faculty of Health who shared her tips for securing research funding after having success in winning funding through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Research Data Infrastructure Grant.
Be stubborn
Deb advised that a degree of stubbornness is required in grant writing and to prepare yourself for rejection as it is a normal part of the process for securing grant funds.
“Reframing rejection as “not now” allows you to move more quickly through grief and turn to creativity and determination to hone your application for the next round or for a more appropriate scheme. It also buys you a little more time.”
Take your time
Deb shared another tip: “Good science is slow science and designing something meaningful takes time.”
Taking her time paid off for Deb and her team when developing a proposal for the MRFF Research Data Infrastructure Grant that they were eventually awarded. While working towards the 2023 deadline, Deb was not convinced that the application was ready and made the call to hold off applying until the following year. This enabled the team to develop the proposal further and develop partnerships that were fundamental to the application’s design and success.
Good science is slow science and designing something meaningful takes time.
Prioritise relationship building
Deb highlighted the importance of collegiality in the grant writing process. Throughout the process, she realised she needed time to ensure that grant collaborators and partners were meaningfully consulted rather than just being included in the application.
“While this might save them time, in the long run, it is not respectful nor a good use of their expertise, and the science and outcomes suffer,” she warned.
“Prioritise your relationship building by having many conversations, holding them early in the piece and asking for expert input where it is valuable.”
Deb added that this practice is a good test of what the relationship will be like if the application is successful, as worthwhile collaborators and partners will contribute in meaningful ways when asked.
Balance boldness and meticulousness
Deb said that grant writing and developing pitches calls for the creative and persuasive writing skills you may have suppressed for the sake of scientific restraint. But she cautioned that proposals cannot rely solely on hopes and dreams.
“The boldness needs to be balanced by provision of enough detail to assure reviewers that the ideas and project design are credible. And this can only come through if you have actually done the homework to know that the science is full proof and that minor exceptions have been identified and accounted for.”
The boldness needs to be balanced by provision of enough detail to assure reviewers that the ideas and project design are credible.
Practise self-compassion
Deb said it is important to be kind to yourself when applying for grants. She reflected on how researchers must apply for grants while knowing their chances of success are slim because they are not always given resources to do their jobs.
“This is often a systemic and resource problem, rather than a problem with you or your ideas, so self-compassion is non-negotiable in this gig.”
“Kindness to those who support us is also important, and this includes the amazing staff in the research office who go above and beyond for every successful and unsuccessful application. And they are never the ones to receive credit, even when we do get the money!”