Transcript NSF Case Studies: Successes and Pitfalls

Guangzhao Mao
Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
College of Engineering
Institute for Manufacturing Research
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Typical panel process in CBET
How NOT to write a GOOD proposal?
How to convert a VERY GOOD proposal into
an Excellent proposal?
Recommended format by Dr. Stephen Russell
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Panel makeup and proposal assignment
Fastlane review submission
Panel meeting
◦ Proposals ranked according to submitted reviews
◦ Discussion of top proposals
◦ Final recommendations and panel summaries
Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport
Systems (CBET)
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Lack of scientific underpinning/hypotheses
Incremental/work already done
Lack of supporting data
“Bait and switch”
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Example of an excellent proposal
◦ Strong science, strong publication record, new
collaboration, preliminary data, believable
broader impacts
What can you do?
◦ Milestones
◦ Proposal framed as a series of questions and
solutions
◦ Emphasis on originality/uniqueness
◦ Alternative hypotheses and experimental
approaches
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Overview and objectives
Expected significance
Relation to PI’s longer-term goal
Background (Prior NSF support, literature
review, preliminary data)
Relation to other work in progress
Experimental plan (develop each specific
objective, timetable, future directions)
Broader impacts