Workshop Program
The workshop program includes pre-workshop asynchronous assignments, Part 1 (2 days) and Part 2 (6 days), homework, and post-workshop activities including webinars, consultations, feedback on proposal drafts, and more. The workshop will be interactive with multiple opportunities for feedback on proposal ideas and drafts. Sessions will include structured activities in plenary sessions, breakout sessions, and individual reflection and writing time. Workshop days will be four hours; webinars will be one hour.
Pre-workshop assignments (asynchronous)
Participants will submit a self-introduction slide in a collaborative file, read and post questions about selected NSF program solicitations and NSF merit review criteria, and complete a short assignment/set of questions about submitting NSF grant proposals on your campus.
Workshop Part 1: April 17 and 24
Synchronous, two days, 4 hours per day, with homework between days
The April workshop will "set the stage" for the six-day June workshop. Activities will include:
- Introduction of relevant NSF programs and discussion of NSF merit review criteria.
- Short presentations by PIs and invited 2YC presenters who have led successful NSF grant-funded projects and will share "stories" about their projects and proposal writing and how they addressed challenges, followed by breakouts allowing for small group Q&A discussion.
- A process in which teams will refine their initial proposal ideas.
- Participants' reflection on their writing process and discussion of successful collaborative writing.
Work between Part 1 and 2 (asynchronous)
Each team will write a 1-2 page description of their proposed project and will meet with their grants office. Each participant will also identify and annotate 3-4 relevant references.
Workshop Part 2: June 15, 17, 19; June 22, 24, 26
4-hour workshop days with homework & individual writing time between workshop days.
The June workshop will focus on proposal development and writing with opportunities to reflect, share, and get feedback. Each day will include opening and closing plenary sessions, structured writing time, and sessions related to the day's topic, as listed here:
- Day 1 (Monday): Project rationale, goals, and significance, project design overview
- Day 2 (Wednesday): Measurable outcomes and project evaluation, Merit review criteria
- Day 3 (Friday): Developing a budget and project design
- Day 4: (Monday): Timeline, project personnel & project management; leading change
- Day 5 (Wednesday): Dissemination/communication; sustainability; 2YC PI panel
- Day 6 (Friday): Project summary and plans for proposal completion
During this part of the workshop, participants will have structured writing time to work on deliverables and receive verbal and written feedback throughout the proposal development and writing process. In addition to a week 1 consultation with a PI, each team, following work on their two-pager, will meet in week 2 with two mentor reviewers (former NSF-DUE program officers Jeff Ryan and Jill Singer). The writing consultants will provide feedback, and participants can request consultations with PIs and writing consultants.
Participants will leave Part 2 of the workshop with a draft Project Description, Project Summary, and budget. These documents will be the building blocks for the final proposal that will be completed asynchronously with support during post-workshop activities (feedback on drafts at different stages, office hours, consultations, and webinars).
Post-Workshop Activities
- Webinars
- Two consultation meetings to discuss the workshop proposal draft
- Two written reviews (August, October) of project description and project summary drafts
- Monthly office hours to support proposal completion.
- Submission of all components of a complete NSF proposal to workshop leaders by Friday, November 6, 2026