Advice for Writing a Competitive Proposal

A good proposal…

Is likely to advance the scientific or technological field and produce impactful publications.
Describes work that can be accomplished in one year and contributes to ongoing research at the user’s home institution.
Takes advantage of unique Foundry capabilities and/or expertise, and justifies the resources requested.
Provides evidence that the researchers have a productive research record and are sufficiently experienced to make productive use of Foundry resources.

Although it is not required, users may wish to contact facility staff before submitting a proposal. The User Office is available to help direct users to the appropriate scientific staff contact. Staff are available to help:

Confirm the feasibility of your project.
Estimate and justify the time and resources required to complete your project.
Identify opportunities for collaboration.
Provide details about the equipment and capabilities available.
Provide constructive feedback on your draft proposal.

Include background information on why the proposed experiment is important, and how it will impact the field.

Clearly articulate the science case; state the problem and its importance.
Place your research plan in the context of what others have done and are doing. Include references to literature where appropriate.

Provide specifics about your project plan and timeline.

Include a precisely defined objective. What constitutes success for your project?
Describe your project deadlines and key milestones.
If you need access to high-demand instruments such as the TEAM microscopes, be specific about the amount of time required.

Address the productivity of your previous Foundry user projects, if applicable.

If you are submitting a follow-on proposal, be sure to describe any results from the prior user project.
Make sure all publications resulting from work you have performed at the Foundry have been entered.
Complete final summary reports for all prior Foundry user projects.