Grantwriting and Scientific Writing & Communication Resources
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Grantwriting Resources
- Interested in finding funding? The Duke Office of Research Initiatives helps members of the Duke research community find grants, fellowships and other funding opportunities and collaborations. Through the Duke Office of Research Initiatives, postdocs can access funding search tools including COS PIVOT. PIVOT maintains a database of grants, fellowships, and other funding information from public and private, domestic and international sources. This service offers a wealth of information on biomedical and hard sciences, as well as social sciences, humanities & community outreach funding. This tool can help you make connections within Duke with its database of our faculty and postdocs.Creating a PIVOT COS email alert is an invaluable tool for researchers investigating funding options. Please note: You must use your Duke email address when creating your COS PIVOT account. ORS also provides help with other funding search tools, including Foundation Directory Online and internal funding opportunities. To search funding by discipline, eligibility (ie postdoc) and more: https://researchfunding.duke.edu/search-results
- The Duke Office of Campus Research Development provides toolkits focusing on either a specific federal funding agency or a specific funding program within a federal funding agency. These toolkits include templates and guidance documents to help write proposals. You can access any of the toolkits with your Duke NetID. OCRD also holds regular grant-writing workshops and info sessions.
- Duke Foundation Relations helps researchers understand how foundations work and how you might work with them, including a Guide to the Funding Process and a Grantwriter's Toolkit.
- Duke myRESEARCHsuite: The Office of Research Initiatives manages or partners on several key resources for researchers across the institution. This includes:
- myRESEARCHhome: Personalized Research Portal: This portal enables members of the research community to manage their research portfolio by consolidating tools and information in one place.
- myRESEARCHpath: Interactive Research Roadmap: This website helps members of the research community navigate the research ecosystem at Duke using an intuitive lifecycle-based interface.
- myRESEARCHnavigators: Expert help when you need it: This team of experts help researchers navigate the research ecosystem at Duke through services such as 1:1 consultations and a research ‘hotline.’
- NIH F Award and K Award resources from myRESEARCHpath
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BWF Career Awards at the Scientific Interface: Postdocs often seek awards providing independent funding and financial support to facilitate the transition to faculty. The NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) is a competitive award that supports postdoctoral researchers through the final years of their postdoctoral work and as they transition to independent scientists. Career Awards at the Scientific Interface (CASI), offered by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF), presents an award that provides $560,000 over five years to bridge advanced postdoctoral training and the first three years of faculty service. Both awards are open to non-US citizens from all countries. In this Zoom session, Tammy Collins, Program Officer at BWF and Duke PhD graduate, gives an overview of the K99/R00 and CASI programs and give tips on when to apply, which center to apply to, an overview of specific aims & other aspects, and finally will compare and contrast the K99/R00 and the CASI award.
- The Duke Office of Research Initiatives hosts Write Winning NIH Grant Proposals and Write Winning NIH Career Development Award Proposals on an annual basis, typically in the summer. These sessions are led by Grant Writers’ Seminars & Workshops. All Duke research personnel involved in writing proposals for funding are invited to attend, though the sessions are geared towards faculty who are writing or planning to write NIH grant applications. Email researchinitiatives@duke.edu for more information.
- Facilities and Research Repository (boilerplate language) from myRESEARCHpath
- Effective Communication Series by Dr Joanna Downer, Duke School of Medicine Associate Dean for Research Development.
- Duke Graduate School Online Scientific Writing Course
- Duke Postdoctoral Services NIH F32 and K99 Grantsmanship Series
- Presenting Clinical and Translational Science (PCATS) Video Series: The PCATS series focuses on principles and techniques for developing and delivering effective scientific presentations.
- I Want To Learn How to Apply for NIH Research Funding. Where Should I Begin? The New to NIH page provides overviews to help you understand the world of NIH grants, including links to allow you to take a deeper dive on topics of interest.
- NIH Grantwriting YouTube Channel, including NIH Fundamentals, Apply for Grant Funding, and Advice for New and Early Career Scientists.
- NIH Samples of funded R01, R03, R15, R21, SBIR/STTR, K, and F applications.
- NIH Grantwriting Resources from NIH NIAID, including sample applications, application tips, and budget planning resources. Useful for anyone writing an NIH grant.
- NIH offers Virtual Grants Conferences each year, with archived sessions from previous conferences.
- NSF offers Virtual Grants Conferences each year, with archived sessions from previous conferences.
Scientific Writing & Communication Resources
- The Science of Scientific Writing by noted Duke professor George Gopen
- Scientific Writing Resources by the Duke Medical Center Library and Archives
- Science Communication Resources from the Duke Graduate School
- Resources for Science Communication Self-Education from NC State University Leadership in Public Science
- Scientific Writing Resources compiled by Duquesne University
- Resources from the National Association of Science Writers
- Wiley Researcher Academy is a free, modular, self-paced online learning program for early career researchers who wish to develop their expertise and understanding of the scientific publishing process. It consists of 14 interactive learning paths that individuals can complete at their own pace. Topics include:
- Funding the research project
- Selecting an appropriate journal
- Best practices in writing scientific articles
- Post publication activities and driving visibility
- Becoming a peer reviewer
- Writing Pedagogy Opportunities for Postdocs: Postdocs across the disciplines are often tasked with assigning, responding to, or grading student writing. And because undergraduate institutions usually include the development of writing skills as a key goal of their undergraduate programs, new faculty are increasingly being expected to help students develop these skills. Because training in writing pedagogy is beneficial on the competitive academic job market, it is useful to have a way to document such training and to be able to speak effectively about one’s experience with and interest in student writing. The Thompson Writing Program Certificate of Accomplishment in Teaching Writing in the Disciplines provides a framework for acquiring basic knowledge of writing pedagogy and demonstrating that knowledge in job applications and during interviews. To allow participants to obtain the certificate in the way that best meets their needs and schedules, core workshops are offered at least once annually. While it will be possible to meet the certificate requirements in a single year, most students will complete the requirements over a two- or three-year period.
- Free Online Courses through Coursera for Duke: Coursera for Duke gives Duke students, staff, and faculty free access to 54 Duke-created Coursera courses and 3 specialization certificates. These co-curricular digital courses include Programming Fundamentals, English Composition, Statistics, Big Data, Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Advertising and Society, Challenges of Global Health, Nanotechnology, and many more. The Duke community can enroll at any time and learn at their own pace, with no grade, and no additional academic pressure.
- Resources on Text Recycling (AKA "Self-Plagiarism") in Research Writing from a multi-institution, NSF-funded initiative investigating text recycling in STEM research led by Cary Moskovitz, PhD (Lead PI), Professor of the Practice and Director of Writing in the Disciplines, Duke University
Office of Postdoctoral Services - Resources