Grant Writing Classes

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Defining Your Next Project on Paper

Nailing Down Details to Shape That Next Project

The goal for this course is for participants to develop a one-page summary of a new research project. The class will focus on identifying and clearly communicating the gap in knowledge, central research question and hypothesis, and the significance of the proposed work.

The objective is to develop a project summary that can be used to discuss the development of the participant's research project with a mentor, or collaborators, and/or program officer.

Stay tuned for 2025-26 course dates!

Crafting a Powerful NIH Specific Aims Page (8-week writing workshop)

The Specific Aims page is the most important—and often the most difficult to write—section of any NIH grant. In just one page, it must convey the significance of your problem, the clarity of your hypothesis, the innovation of your approach, and the feasibility of your plan. Reviewers often form their strongest impressions here, making it the single best predictor of funding success.

This intensive 8-week, hands-on workshop will guide you step-by-step through the process of developing a polished, compelling, and review-ready Specific Aims page. You will learn how to frame a high-impact research problem, articulate persuasive rationale, write aims that are hypothesis-driven and cohesive, and avoid common pitfalls.

You will write on your own. Each class will be devoted to peer feedback, troubleshooting challenges, and tips on writing for clarity.

By the end of the 8 weeks, you will have:

A completed, near-submission-ready NIH-style Specific Aims page with persuasive storytelling elements
Strong narrative elements that communicate significance, innovation, and rigor
Strategies for aligning aims with study design and long-term research trajectory
Peer insight into what makes aims memorable—and likely fundable
A better understanding of what reviewers seek

This course is ideal for researchers preparing their first major NIH application or seeking to strengthen a resubmission. No prior grant writing experience is required—just a strong project idea with refined central hypothesis, a conceptual model, and the willingness to write and rewrite.

Spring 2026

Dates: Thursdays, February 12 - April 2

Times: 4:00 - 5:45pm

Location: This course will be in-person only. Location will be sent to you in a confirmation Outlook calendar item.

Deadline to register is January 31

Please send questions to the course instructor, Audrey Huang, MA, PhD, Director of Science Communication & Science Editor.

Writing an NIH Career Development (K) Award Small Interactive Class

This course is for early-stage faculty or senior postdocs who are preparing to develop an NIH “K” award. In order to participate, faculty should be actively working on a draft of their K award, with the goal of submitting their grant application for the upcoming deadline.

All participants must have the approval of their Chairperson to participate. The course consists of a combination of didactic information and class discussion of participants’ drafts. This class is held every spring and fall.

Spring 2026 Dates:

Wednesdays, March 4th - May 13th
9:00 - 11:00AM

Class will meet over Zoom or in person.

Deadline to register is Friday, February 6.

To learn more or register to participate, please contact Dr. Marey Shriver.

Writing Your First R01 Grant Small Interactive Class

This course provides participants — new/junior faculty — who are actively working on an R01, with the opportunity to learn how to write a competitive R01 grant application in a small group interactive setting.

Participants attend weekly two-hour sessions, during which they learn how to develop the content of each of the following components of an NIH R01: Specific Aims, Significance, Innovation, Approach, Project Summary, Environment, Biosketch, and Budget. This class is held every spring and fall.

Spring 2026 Dates:

Wednesdays, February 25 - April 29
9:00 - 11:00AM

Class will meet over Zoom.

Deadline to register is Monday, February 9^th.

To learn more or register to participate, please contact Dr. Christy Chang.