Grant Winning
TIPS AND TRICKS
ASSOCIATE PROF DR SITI AISHAH HASBULLAH
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL SCIENCES,
FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, UKM
Research AS our MAIN KPI IN UKM
In UKM;
Component:
E-Education
R-Research (55%)
K-Community Service
P-Management
FRGS – FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH GRANT SCHEME,
MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION OF MALAYSIA
My experience : 2012 (Phase 1 & 2)
Why Rejected?
01 02
Fundamentally No research
unsound track record
Unfocused Lack of original
03 research plan 04 idea & experience
Other common reasons for not
receiving funds
Unacceptable scientific
Not new ideas.
rationale.
Diffuse, superficial or Unrealistically large
unfocused research plan. amount of work.
Insufficient experimental
Lack of knowledge.
detail.
Uncertainty -future Uncritical approach.
directions.
Questionable reasoning in
experimental approach.
What to do ?
• Don’t give up.
• Get reviews.
• Talk to agency contact.
• Re-evaluate, revise & resubmit.
Next
application :
2013
Next
application :
2015
Next
application :
2015
Next application - 2021 ? ? ?
Tips Tricks
Sell your ideas
§ Idea
§ Commitment FIRST
§ Grant writing skills Rewrite, Get feedback
Why accepted? Tips
Share the Share publications-
1
idea/experience to build a good
track record
Mentoring
Research
Co-researchers
Collaboration
My humble mentor…..
Why accepted? Tips
Write a good quality proposal – Do the best
1
General Tips
ü Informative title
ü Convincing executive summary
ü Clear problem statement
ü Scientific background & rationale;
ü Good selection of research methods;
ü Ethical considerations; and
ü Realistic budget & schedule
Title : Avoid using
‘New’, ‘Novel’, ‘Framework’, ‘Characterization’
Specific in nature Brief and reflects the
reflecting fundamental content of the
issues to be resolved proposal.
/ novelty.
TITLE
Title
2013 Effect of Substituents on the Mechanism of the Reaction of Multisubstituted
Benzoyl Compounds with Secondary Amines
2015 Synthesis of New Bisthiourea Derivatives with Olefinic Linkage
2018 Surfactant Based bis-Thiourea Derivatives for Complexation with Mercury (II)
ion (Hg2+)
2021 Enhancement of ionophore performance for Cu(II) binding using SBA-15
functionalized bis-thiourea
Examples
Executive Summary
Well Written
Problem
statement.
Siginificance of output.
Objectives.
Expected of output/
Executive
Summary Methodology
outcome/ implication
Introduction
Problem statement
Objective
Methodology
Output
Research Background
Research background – Grants failed ?
Problem : The grant proposal lacks direction & key details
Solution : Keep proposal organized
How ?
1. Title
2. Problem Statement
3. Objectives
Flows naturally from Titles, Problem Statement
to Research Objectives
Good Research Background
Example
Research Background : Research Statement
§ The most important aspect of a research proposal is the clarity of
the research problem.
§ The problem statement is the focal point of the research.
References – Most recent
§ Up-to-date
§ Highly relevant with the problem
§ Original source
- First Order : High Impact Journals & Books
- Second Order : Indexed Proceeding Publications
T i p s ! : Simple & Concise
Example
T r i c k s ! : Illustration, Schematic diagram, Proposed your own..
Objectives
Specific measurable, Related to problem
achievable, realistic & statement / research
within time frame (SMART). questions.
Objectives
Example
Objectives specify the outcome of the project, the end products(s).
GWs must state the objectives clearly and keep them
“S-M-A-R-T” or “S-I-M-P-L-E”
T i p s ! : FOCUS & SPECIFIC…not general OBJECTIVES
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
• To verify..
• To describe..
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
• To estimate..
• To determine..
• To identify..
• To analyze..
• To examine..
AVOID
• To develop..
X
• To design..
• To implement..
Methodology
Clear & detailed description of methodology (May consist of field work, sampling
techniques, interview sessions, analysis lab work of different phases, experiment
protocol & statistical analysis .
Able to achieve research Include research design, Flow
objectives. chart, Gantt chart, Activities &
Milestones.
Methodology
Problem: The methods section lacks clear measurable objectives.
Many proposal are turned down because the methodology is unsound.
Illustration of The Overall Methodology
Methodology- Tips
Clear & detailed description
of methodology.
Include research design, Flow
chart, Gantt chart, Activities
& Milestones
Budget
must be
reasonable,
acceptable,
and
appropriate
OTHER TIPS & TRICKS
Track Record & Composition of Team
• Evidence of previous successful
research projects.
• Qualification & rank of researchers.
• Well balanced team.
What’s Next…..
FUNDAMENTAL to PROTOTYPE
• Established research > Successful research > FRGS to PRGS
PRGS - 2015 & 2020
Past Research:
TRANSLATE to PROTOTYPE
The Process
Prototype Development Method
Upscale of the synthesis of thiourea
ionophore
Fabrication & optimization of sensor
Product testing with potential users
Packaging of prototype
Finaliztion of commercial prototype
CHEMICAL COMPOUND (FRGS)
TO A SENSOR READER (PRGS)
Finally
Good Proposal
Good Ideas
Good Grantsmanship
Good Presentation
Good Review
Good Luck &
Thank You
ASSOCIATE PROF DR SITI AISHAH HASBULLAH
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL SCIENCES,
FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, UKM
