Preparing a Research Proposal

Research proposals are frequently written in order to obtain either a job or funding for a project. As a student, you might need to write one if you want to apply for admission to the Distinction in Research Program or for a Research Leave of Absence. That means you are in a situation in which you have to convince the reader that what you want to do is important. Learning the art of grantsmanship is very important and takes time. Preparing your first research proposal is step number one. The proposal must be well organized, clearly written, and formulated to make a story. Put yourself in the position of the reviewer. It is to your advantage to make your proposal simple, but interesting. Your advisor or I can help you with any questions you have.

You have to tell the reader what is it you want to do, why it’s important, and specifically how you are going to do it.

Most proposals will have a 2-10 page length, depending upon the situation, e.g., how much time or money is involved. A proposal for admission to the Distinction in Research Program is usually 3-5 pages, while one for one year of full-time research is often about 5 pages. No matter what the length, be succinct, clear and say just what is necessary.

Your proposal should be divided into the following sections:

The Proposal:

1. Abstract – A brief summary, usually 200-250 words, of the goals of your project. Include why it’s important. It’s helpful to begin with a statement about what led up to the project.
2. Hypothesis to be tested – Clear and concise. A couple of sentences.
3. Statement of Importance – Why is it worth spending a year of your life on this?
4. Introduction/Background – What in the literature is known about the general problem and what published studies have led you to formulate your hypothesis? This section should be referenced.
5. Specific Aims – The number of specific aims is based upon how long a period of time the project will take and how complex each aim is. You must not be too ambitious or the proposal won’t be credible. Usually, 1-2 aims for one year is appropriate. Number them and state them concisely.
6. The Research Plan – This is usually the toughest part. You want to describe how you will go about fulfilling the specific aims. You can describe your approach, the experiments that will be carried out, and include which methods you will rely upon. Writing this section often lets you realize where you can expect to encounter difficulties or need to develop an especially creative approach.
7. Data Analysis – It’s not enough to accumulate data. You have to do something with them. You should speculate about the type of data you will obtain and then how you will interpret them. Data are usually numbers or observations and you are trying to conclude something about biology from them. That’s not easy.

This is a wonderful adventure on which you are beginning. You will be contributing new knowledge to the field of medicine. You will have the opportunity to think and reflect and be creative. Good luck.

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