Transcript How to write a successful CAREER proposal? Ilona Kretzschmar Associate Professor Chemical Engineering City College of New York NSF CAREER Workshop 2009 03/12/09 NSF CAREER workshop March 12-13, 2009 I.

How to write a successful
CAREER proposal?
Ilona Kretzschmar
Associate Professor
Chemical Engineering
City College of New York
NSF CAREER Workshop 2009
03/12/09
NSF CAREER workshop
March 12-13, 2009
I. Kretzschmar, CCNY
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How to write a successful
CAREER proposal?
Well, I don’t have a good
answer, but I can tell you
my story.
NSF CAREER workshop
March 12-13, 2009
I. Kretzschmar, CCNY
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Academic Career
1996
Technical University of Berlin – Diploma Chemistry
1999 Technical University of Berlin – PhD Chemistry
2000
Harvard University – Fedeor Lynen Postdoctoral
Fellow (AvH) in Surface Science
2002
Yale University – Research Associate in Molecular
Electronics (EE)
2004
CCNY – Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering
2008
CCNY – Promotion & Tenure
NSF CAREER workshop
March 12-13, 2009
I. Kretzschmar, CCNY
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CAREER Proposal Submission
Summer 2004
Title: CAREER: Uniquely functionalized nanoparticles for
hierarchical self-assembly of three-dimensional structures
Process:
1) Read the solicitation carefully.
2) Asked departmental faculty about available outreach programs
at CCNY.
3) Asked for successful proposals – none available.
4) Had departmental mentors (3) read my proposal.
5) Read abstracts from previously successful proposals.
6) Contacted NSF Division Director and Program Director.
7) Submitted the proposal.
NSF Division: Interfacial Processes and Thermodynamics
Submitted: 07/2004
NSF CAREER workshop
March 12-13, 2009
I. Kretzschmar, CCNY
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NSF Career Workshop – October 2004
- learned how exhausting proposal reading and reviewing
is
- got a feeling for how NSF review panel may work
- learned more about educational outreach (video clips
broadcasted during football games)
- learned about broader impact and diversity programs
(LSAMP)
MOST IMPORTANTLY:
made new friends  networked!!!
NSF CAREER workshop
March 12-13, 2009
I. Kretzschmar, CCNY
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News on the CAREER proposal
December 15th, 2004
Title: CAREER: Uniquely functionalized nanoparticles for
hierarchical self-assembly of three-dimensional structures
NSF Division: Interfacial Processes and Thermodynamics
Ratings:
Reviewer #1: good (G)
Reviewer #2: very good (VG)
Reviewer #3: excellent (E)
Reviewer #4: very good (VG)
Funding decision: NOT FUNDED
NSF CAREER workshop
March 12-13, 2009
I. Kretzschmar, CCNY
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Panel Summary – What went wrong?
Intellectual Merit
This proposal generated a significant level of enthusiasm. The idea of asymmetry is
considered novel, as well as much needed for generating 3D structure, and the approach
is unique. The panel regarded the proposed bottom up approach favorably. The work is
potentially revolutionary. The PI has an excellent track record in terms of training and has
built an impressive list of collaborators in a short period of time.
The panel also had some concerns. Primary among these is the lack of any track record at
the PIs current institution. This is understandable, as she has just begun her academic
appointment, but the lack of preliminary data weakens the proposal significantly. Questions
were raised. First, will sintering the particles not destroy them? Can the PI address this?
Second, will a high energy beam not cause rotation, hence negating the asymmetry
achieved by partial coatings? There was concern as to how to achieve arms of controlled
length and rigidity. Can that be controlled? Will there not be aggregation and/or
distributions of 4, 5, 6 particles? If so, then how will this impact the usage of the connected
particle assembly?
Broader Impact
The Education plan did not generate a level of excitement nearly as strong as the research
plan. One of the goals (writing a book) was actually viewed as a negative quality of the
proposal, given the large commitment of time (generally considered not a good idea for
young professors). There is mention of a program involving high school teachers, but no
real plan has been assembled and the proposal lacks details.
NSF CAREER workshop
March 12-13, 2009
I. Kretzschmar, CCNY
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Lessons Learned from 1st Attempt
1) Proposal idea not that bad
2) Preliminary Data VERY important
3) Both Research & Education are important
Important Reviewer Comment: “Rather than belabor the point
here, the PI is encouraged to read Richard Felder's article "So You
Want to Win a CAREER Award," Chemical Engineering
Education, 36(1), 32-33 (Winter 2002).”
Skipped 2005 submission to have time to get
some good preliminary data and publications.
NSF CAREER workshop
March 12-13, 2009
I. Kretzschmar, CCNY
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CAREER Submission #2
Preparation basically started after decline of
1st proposal!
1) Networking:
- talked to EVERY visitor coming to the department about
my research
- IDENTIFIED and CONNECTED with people with similar
research interests at conferences and meetings
- asked visitors with research related to my area for their
SUCCESSFUL CAREER proposals
- have an UP-TO-DATE website
Advertised my group, my research, my department,
and my college!
NSF CAREER workshop
March 12-13, 2009
I. Kretzschmar, CCNY
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CAREER Submission #2 (cont’d)
2) Research:
- published 1st paper on asymmetric particle modification
- published 2nd paper on density-functional modeling of
particle assembly in collaboration with Marc Donohue at
Johns Hopkins University
- attracted three PhD students and several undergraduates
to the laboratory to work on CAREER and other related,
proposed research
Established Track Record in My Research Area and
Obtained Preliminary Data!
NSF CAREER workshop
March 12-13, 2009
I. Kretzschmar, CCNY
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CAREER Submission #2 (cont’d)
3) Education and Outreach
- established connection with LSAMP during other proposal
preparations
- accepted one undergraduate student from LSAMP into my lab
- accepted two summer high-school students from the Harlem
Children’s society into my lab
- accepted two summer (2005) students from the Royal Institute
of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm (Sweden) into my lab
- collaborated with Media and Communication Arts Department
on Grove School of Engineering video clip
- accepted any invitation to lecture on my research (REU at
Columbia, invitations to give seminars)
Established Track Record in Education and Outreach!
NSF CAREER workshop
March 12-13, 2009
I. Kretzschmar, CCNY
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2nd CAREER proposal submission
Summer, 2006
Title: CAREER: Molecularly Directed Assembly of “Patchy”
Particles
NSF Division: PARTICULATE & MULTIPHASE PROCESSES
Ratings:
Reviewer #1: Excellent (E)
Reviewer #2: Excellent (E)
Reviewer #3: Very Good (VG)
Reviewer #4: Very Good (VG)
Funding decision: AWARDED
NSF CAREER workshop
March 12-13, 2009
I. Kretzschmar, CCNY
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Lessons Learned from 2nd Round
1) NETWORKING!
- people you meet may be on your CAREER panel
2) Track record in your research area
- people who read/review your papers may be on your
CAREER panel
3) Track record in education and outreach
- a long-term record convinces the panel that you are
serious about education and outreach  you can
propose things that are not yet established
4) Draw from existing outreach programs
5) Come up with something unique and new that you
want to do!
NSF CAREER workshop
March 12-13, 2009
I. Kretzschmar, CCNY
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As a side note: What
happened in between
the two submissions?
NSF CAREER workshop
March 12-13, 2009
I. Kretzschmar, CCNY
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NSF Funding Record: 2 out of 7
07/2004 – 1st CAREER proposal attempt
11/2004 – NER proposal
01/2005 – MRI proposal
02/2005 – unsolicited CBET proposal
03/2005 – Sensors proposal
09/2005 – unsolicited CBET proposal
10/2005 – unsolicited CBET proposal
11/2005 – NER proposal
11/2005 – NIRT proposal (co-PI)
01/2006 – MRI proposal
03/2006 – unsolicited CBET proposal
05/2006 – NUE proposal
07/2006 – 2nd CAREER proposal attempt
09/2006 – unsolicited CBET proposal
NSF CAREER workshop
March 12-13, 2009
I. Kretzschmar, CCNY
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(awarded)
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(awarded)
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General CAREER Proposal Comments
- every division/every panel is different
- propose a doable set of projects for both short and longterm (remember, they know how much a 1st or 2nd
year student can get done)
- be concise – the project summary is the most important
part, it sets the stage
- a timeline is a MUST
- use subheadings to make it easier for the reviewer to find
things during the panel discussion
NSF CAREER workshop
March 12-13, 2009
I. Kretzschmar, CCNY
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General CAREER Proposal Comments (cont’d)
- use italic or underlining strategically, but sparsely
- show your track record
- show that you have the infrastructure
- collaborators (can be used to support proposal, but
should not dominate proposal)
Enjoy what you do!
Good Luck!
NSF CAREER workshop
March 12-13, 2009
I. Kretzschmar, CCNY
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