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University of Utah Grant Writing Coaching Research Study

Designed to help researchers write successful NIH proposals

Are You Writing a New or Revised NIH or Similar Proposal?
Get expert advice, feedback, and support from an intensive grant writing coaching group! 
The NRMN MISSION is to provide researchers across all career stages in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical and social sciences with the evidence-based mentorship and professional development programming that emphasizes the benefits and challenges of diversity, inclusivity and culture.
SIGN UP HERE to become a part of this amazing community.

  • Are you finding it challenging to learn the intricacies of writing NIH-style research proposals?
  • Do you struggle with making a compelling case to reviewers for the importance of your research project?
  • Are you having trouble getting consistent feedback from experts as you write research proposals?
If any or all of these apply to you, then consider applying for entry into the University of Utah Grant Writing Coaching Research Study funded by the NIH Common Fund (grant U01 GM132366; administered by the NIGMS). This research study will test an intervention designed to help researchers write successful NIH proposals. This study is funded by the National Institutes of Health (grant number #U01GM132366) and is recruiting participants (junior faculty, senior postdoctoral fellows) for this research study.  Participants will be assigned to one of 4 study arms to test the effectiveness of this intervention.  
 
This intervention has been reviewed and approved by the University of Utah IRB 
(approval #00113440).
 
This grant writing coaching group model used in this research study has been developed and used for over 10 years and expanded to national groups since 2014 through the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN)  Writing groups are led by an accomplished, NIH-funded scientist who has been specially trained in the coaching group model.

To be eligible you must be:
  • A postdoctoral fellow or faculty member who has never been Principal Investigator for an R01-level research grant.
  • Actively writing an NIH K or R proposal, or a similar national grant application, as of January, 2020.
  • Able to identify a scientific advisor (mentor or near-peer in your field) who can offer scientific feedback on your proposal and engage with the coaching process as part of the study.   
  • A U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident
What does the study involve?
Upon selection, participants will be randomized into an intervention using a 2x2 factorial design to independently assess the influence of intervention dose and mode of institutional (i.e. local mentor) engagement with the coaching group.  Interviews with participants will be conducted to determine dyad eligibility and then they will be assigned into an arm.  The 4 research arms include: 

1. regular coaching intervention with unstructured mentor engagement 
2. regular coaching intervention with structured mentor engagement
3. regular and extended coaching intervention with unstructured mentor engagement
4. regular and extended coaching intervention with structured mentor engagement  

Regular coaching is 5-6 months of meetings to review and revise grant proposal drafts.  Extended coaching is 5-6 months of the regular coaching plus 6 months of additional coaching.  For unstructured coaching, the research study team will provide participants and their local mentors with a brief written set of recommendations for sharing and utilizing the coaching feedback that will be provided by the research study team. For structured coaching, the research study team will supplement the "unstructured engagement[2] " protocol with a more comprehensive set of activities provided by the research study team; these activities will engage the local mentor more directly and in an ongoing fashion into the coaching group experience. Individuals will receive assessments at the following intervals: pre-study, post-study, and 6, 12, and 18-months after the study.  
The expected time commitment for every participant includes a one-day workshop to be held at the University of Utah plus eight 2 hour online meetings held biweekly, in addition to the time spent by each participant to write their proposal.  In addition, participants will be asked to respond to 5 surveys; each survey should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.  For those participants assigned to arms 3 or 4, the additional time commitment is to be determined. 
 
Participants will receive a $500 payment to offset travel and hotel expenses for the one-day workshop in Salt Lake City.

This cohort will kickoff August 10-12, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  

For more information about this study, and to apply before March 31, 2020, visit the website HERE. The study team can also be reached at NRMNUtah@utah.edu.
Application deadline: March 31, 2020 11:59 PM MT
Email: NRMNUtah@utah.edu |  Website: www.NRMNet.net

Posted: March 10, 2020, 10:10 PM

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