Tips for students writing CAS internal funding proposals

  1. Write for a broad audience, not just for those within your discipline. Reviewers are from across all CAS units, so keep jargon and highly technical language to a minimum.
  2. Clearly and obviously convey the scientific, artistic, or scholarly significance of the project. Why does this project need to be done. Refer to tip #1.
  3. Pay attention to the workplan – what are you going to do and how are you going to do it? What tasks are needed to meet the project objectives? A project timeline is often a helpful visual for reviewers.
  4. Proofread, proofread, proofread. Enlist colleagues and your faculty advisor or mentor to review the proposal for both content and form.
  5. Write in full prose. Headings and subheadings are fine, but do not submit a proposal consisting of only outline or bullet format.
  6. Be sure that your future plans, schedule, and commitments will enable you to execute the project if funds are awarded.
Illustration of an arm holding a balanced scale with cash on one side and a light bulb on the other.