How to write a good HBCU Proposal

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How to write a good HBCU Proposal

• George Seweryniak
• DOE Program Manager
• seweryni_at_ascr.doe.gov
• [phone]

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What is DOE looking for

• Proposals that develop and expand research and
  educational relationships with historically black
  colleges and universities (HBCU) and other
  minority educational institutions
• Partnerships with DOE laboratories
• Discovery, development, and deployment of the
  computational and networking tools that enable
  researchers in the scientific disciplines to
  analyze, model, simulate, and predict complex
  phenomena important to the Department of Energy
• Research into areas of Applied Mathematics,
  Computer Science, and Integrated Network
  Environments

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The Basics

• You need to have a good idea or problem to be
  attacked !
• Look at the DOE mission and other Federal Agency
  HBCU programs
• Submit proposal outline to DOE Program Manager
• Good or bad idea ? that is defined by your
  peers. Take this into account !
• All proposals are reviewed and rated by at least
  3 reviewers
• Before you start to write make sure that your
  proposal fits the mission of DOE ASCR
• http//www.science.doe.gov/Program_Offices/ASCR.ht
  m
• Be optimistic - there are many, many funding
  opportunities
• Search DOE HBCU via your favorite search engine

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The Process

• Find others who successfully applied to DOE for
  funding
• DOE agency people are only partly administrators
  they have experience, contact them with your
  questions
• Proposal abstract via email is highly encouraged
• Describe what you plan to do and how it will fit
  with the DOE mission include funding profile
  and keep it to one page
• Think about external and internal deadlines
• It can take up to 4 months to get the proposal
  submitted and reviewed
• Review the mechanics of how to submit a proposal
  electronically (you may need to register takes
  time)
• http//www.sc.doe.gov/grants/grants.html
• Follow strictly the rules as described on the www
  site for the title page, narrative, abstract,
  budget, signatures etc
• The abstract is important. It serves as a first,
  sometimes also final information about the
  proposal

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Important items

• Proposal writing is a very ritualized process.
• Scientific hypothesis
• Specific aims are important !
• You cannot do everything at the same time
• Be focused
• Current state of knowledge
• Experience of your team
• Your pilot studies
• Methods and tools to attack the problem
• Timetable
• Resource level (manpower, budget, travel etc)
• Identify other funding avenues that are being
  pursued
• Check and double check before you submit it
  electronically

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Sample ProposalBackground

• Proposal is to create a visualization center and
  visualization program of study at Great Education
  University (GEU) a small HBCU university.
• Proposal is requesting 3 year funding prior to
  the fall session in 2008.
• Amount of funds requested in 100k, 200K, 300K

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Sample Table of Contents

• Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  
• I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• II. Great Education University (GEU) Information.
  . . . . . . . . . . .
• A. GEU Computing Center. . . . . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• B. Visualization Center at GEU . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• III. Academic Year Activities . . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• A. Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• 1. Mathematical Modeling/Numerical Methods. . . .
  . .
• 2. Discrete and Computational Geometry . . . . .
  . . . . .
• B. Visiting Scientists Seminar Lecture Series
  
• C. Research Training Workshop . . . . . . . . .
  
• IV. Summer Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• A. Summer Institute in Computational Science . .
  . . . . . .
• B. Summer Research Activities . . . .. . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . .
• V. Coordination of Activities with Department of
  Energy Laboratories
• VI. Management Structure of the Project. . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• VII. Publishing, Review and Evaluation of the
  Project . . . . . . .
• VIII. Budgets and Budget Explanations . . . . . .
  . . . . . . . . . . . . .
• Appendices

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Sample Abstract

• This proposal is to develop and implement a
  research center and research training program in
  computational science scientific visualization.
  The primary goal of this project is to create an
  opportunity for faculty, graduate students and
  upper division undergraduate students of diverse
  ethnicity to learn State-of-The-Art tools,
  techniques and practices and to become more
  involved in research with applications in areas
  of interest to DoE and DoE National Laboratories.
  Year-round academic year activities will include
  conducting research in areas of long-term
  interest to DoE, presenting a monthly seminar -
  lecture series in computational science -
  scientific visualization and conducting a
  Research Training Workshop. A major summer
  activity will be the GEU Summer Research
  Institute in Computational Science Scientific
  Visualization for beginning graduate and upper
  division undergraduate students. This summer
  institute as well as the academic year activities
  in this project will have as their major focus,
  getting more faculty and students at GEU, and
  from several HBCUs, involved with research
  activities of interest to DoE and DoE National
  Laboratories. Each year the project will produce
  one (or more) scholarly activity for presentation
  at a national or international professional
  conference and/or for publication. A www site
  will also be created and updated at least
  quarterly with accomplishments and project
  activities.

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Next Steps

• Submit an email message to me outlining your
  proposed work and how it benefits the HBCU
  community and DOE mission and programs. Keep it
  to one page maximum and include information on
  funding per year. Information on our programs and
  mission is located at http//www.sc.doe.gov/as
  cr/index.html
• Receive response from me as to whether this
  proposal is of interest to our office. Expect
  response within 30 days.
• If encouraged to submit proposal please prepare
  a full proposal and submit through
  http//www.sc.doe.gov/grants/grants.html
• Submit a copy of your proposal to me via email
• You can also submit a copy of your proposal to me
  before you send it through the grants www site
  for review and comment.

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Typical Timelines

• Pre-proposal email and response 30 days
• Formal proposal submission 60 days
• Proposal review 30 days
• Award paperwork preparation 30 days
• Award paperwork must be in Chicago contracting by
  June 30, 2008
• Proposal negotiations and award 90 days

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Where to get additional Information

• The following www sites may be of interest
• http//www.sc.doe.gov/ascr/Accomp/Accomplishments.
  html
• http//www.sc.doe.gov/ascr/WorkshopsConferences/Wo
  rkshopsConferences.html
• http//www.sc.doe.gov/ascr/ProgramDocuments/ProgDo
  cs.html
• http//www.sc.doe.gov/ascr/About/about.html

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• THE END