Proposal Development Training

This will be an intensive, cohort-based, in-person course targeting early career investigators. Participants will get an overview of NIH and application instructions, engage in peer sharing and group discussions, and come away with their own Specific Aims page, Research Strategy, and other materials for a future grant application.  All sessions will be on Wednesdays, from 2:00-4:00pm, in room 502 of the Margaret I. King Library.

Event registration is capped at 24 and is now closed.

If you are unable to register, please email pdo@uky.edu to be placed on a waiting list.

See the attached flyer for more information

The Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (R35) provides stable, flexible support for researchers whose work advances the mission of the National Institute of

General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). In this session we’ll cover what makes this mechanism different from the NIH R01, who is eligible, and how to successfully apply.

April 17th High-Five Zoom Link

Presented by Barb Duncan

With print sales in decline, more and more academic presses are requesting subventions – contributions from authors and universities to help underwrite publication costs. In this talk, PDO staff will discuss what subventions are, how to position your book for publication, and how to find funds to support your work. This talk will replace the previously-announced “NSF for the Social Sciences” originally scheduled for this time slot.

Patterson Office Tower, 245

Presented by Elizabeth Ford and Jeff Haines

Medical foundations, organizations and professional societies are substantial supporters of biomedical research at universities. This session will give tailored advice for applying to these funders. 

April 24th High-Five Zoom Link

Presented by Chaquenta Neal & Lou Hurst

Have you heard that NSF program officers are strongly encouraging proposal submissions from EPSCoR states, including Kentucky?  Would you like to submit a grant application to NSF but do not know where to start?  This session is for you!

This session will help you navigate the agency and familiarize yourself with proposal requirements so that you are ready to apply to NSF. 

The workshop will address key questions including:

• What is EPSCoR and how does EPSCoR funding at NSF work?
• What are NSF standing programs that often have rolling deadlines? 
• How can you find the best fitting program for your research?
• What are the components of NSF proposals? How can I find samples and templates?
• How are NSF proposals reviewed?

The session will conclude with tips and insights from faculty who have been funded by NSF and have also served as reviewers and rotating program officers. 

NSF Zoom Registration Link.

Presenter: Shana Herron, Proposal Development Office
Faculty panelists: Sean Bailey, Professor of Mechanical Engineering; and, Aardra Kachroo, Professor of Plant Pathology

NIH funds smaller-scale research projects through several mechanisms including the R03, R21, R61/R33, and R18. Presenting examples from successfully funded projects at UK, we’ll discuss how to frame the appropriate scope and aims for these mechanisms, address common misconceptions, and offer tips for success.

April 10th High-Five Zoom Link

Presented by Ben Southworth & Lou Hurst

This session introduces Team Science principles and practical project management tools to help build effective collaborations for grant proposals. Participants will leave with ideas for improving communication, clarifying roles, and keeping any team effort organized and on track.

Presented by Anna Ortynska

April 3rd High-Five Zoom Link

Many federal funders require the use of SciENcv for preparing biosketches and other grant proposal documents. In this session we’ll review how to get started with SciENcv, address common issues, and answer your questions.

Presented by Halley Todd

March 27th Friday High-Five Link

Do you still need to update your NIH biosketch to the new Common form? This workshop/demonstration will walk you through the steps to get an ORCID iD and create a biosketch in SciENcv, pointing out key changes and differences in the new form, with tips for a smooth transition.

Presented by Barbara Duncan, Associate Director, Proposal Development Office

Zoom Meeting Link

This session will focus on the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) and its role in UK’s funding landscape. We’ll also look at other pathways to funding biomedical research through the Department of Defense.

Presented by Lou Hurst

March 13th Friday High-Five Link

Guest Speaker Sarah O’Brien, PhD, is a program director for the National Science Foundation (NSF). Her primary responsibility is the GRANTED initiative, which seeks to address systemic barriers within the nation’s research enterprise by improving research support and service capacity. 

Especially for Research Staff and Administrators.

To register, click Session 1

331 Gatton Student Center

Guest Speaker Sarah O’Brien, PhD, is a program director for the National Science Foundation (NSF). Her primary responsibility is the GRANTED initiative, which seeks to address systemic barriers within the nation’s research enterprise by improving research support and service capacity.

All are welcome. 

To register, click Session 2

331 Gatton Student Center

This session will explore the beauty of community partnerships for grant development. Participants will learn how researchers can turn intentional community partnerships into strategic advantages for Proposal Development and research initiatives. Participants will learn practical ways to identify aligned organizations and stakeholders, engage them early in the process, build trust, and co-create projects that strengthen competitiveness and deepen real-world impacts.

Presented by Chaquenta Neal

March 6th Friday High-Five Link

At PDO, we occasionally come across proposals that do not only meet the guidelines, but are a pleasure to read. What can we all learn from their success? This session will offer tips for making your proposal stand out, no matter your discipline

Presented by Shana Herron

February 27th High Five Zoom Link

PDO offers specialized support to help faculty and graduate students pursue honorifics and prestigious awards—high-profile distinctions that contribute to career advancement, may offer unconditional research funds or prize money, and often involve a nomination process. In this session we will discuss why and how to go for these opportunities and highlight a few that may interest you. We will also detail how PDO can streamline such pursuits for you. 

Presented by Will Boose

February 20th High Five Zoom Link

This session will cover the very basics of grantseeking, including how to find appropriate funding opportunities and how to write a competitive proposal.

Presented by Erik Davidshofer

February 13th High Five Zoom Link

We’ll cover available tools, resources, strategies and helpful tips for finding suitable funding opportunities for your research.

Presented by Lou Hurst

February 6th High Five Zoom Link

This workshop will present a commonly used structure for writing a compelling Specific Aims page for NIH proposals. The structure is advantageous, as it that can be adapted to multiple NIH funding mechanisms.  

Presented by Erik Davidshofer 

MI 704 Course (Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics – Special Topics in Microbiology)

This session is designed to support doctoral students in Arts Administration as they prepare to seek external funding for research, creative projects, and professional development.

Arts administration doctoral colloquium.

Presented by Elizabeth Ford and Ben Southworth

Get to know our office and the array of services and resources we offer to UK investigators seeking grants.

Presented by Lou Hurst and Jeff Haines

January 30th High Five Zoom Link

This session provides NIH-required training on Current and Pending (Other Support) documents. We will walk through how to use UK Tableau reports to gather the required data and how to create and update Current and Pending Support documents in SciENcv for proposals, just-in-time requests, and progress reports (RPPRs). The session will also cover how to add and manage delegates in SciENcv and outline CGS’s review process. 

Presenters: Alla Arnold, CRA, Post-Award Manager, and Jill Thomas, CRA, Pre-Award Assistant Director, Collaborative Grant Services (CGS) 

Current and Pending (Other Support): SciENcv and UK Data Tools Zoom link

This one-hour webinar will help you quickly prepare for the required transition to the NIH Common Forms in SciENcv. We will walk you through the steps to get an ORCID iD and create a biosketch in SciENcv, pointing out key changes and differences in the new form, with tips for adding a delegate who can help you enter data.

Presenter: Barbara Duncan, Associate Director, Proposal Development Office

NIH Common Form Changes & SciENcv Guidance Zoom link

Participants will receive an introduction to the National Institutes of Health and acquire tips for writing and refining this sponsor’s F31 application documents.

Presented by Erik Davidshofer

Toxicology 780 Grant-writing Class

2025 has seen many changes to federal funding opportunities, agency priorities, and administrative rules.  Join us for a panel presentation with multiple PDO staff where we break down the major changes we’ve seen and discuss how UK investigators can prepare for proposal development in 2026.

Presented by a panel of PDO staff

December 12th High-Five Zoom Link

This session will offer strategies for strengthening and resubmitting an unfunded grant application. We will also present alternative pathways for cases where resubmission may not be a viable route. 

Presented by Erik Davidshofer

December 5th High-Five Zoom Link

When it comes to securing grant funding. your relational skills can be just as important as your writing. In this session we’ll describe multiple opportunities and scenarios for communicating with program officers and other personnel at funding agencies, and we’ll offer tips for making sure these exchanges are productive and effective.

Presented by Lou Hurst

November 21st High-Five Zoom Link

We’ll cover recent and upcoming changes for NIH biosketches, including the switch to Common Forms and the mandatory use of SciENcv

Presented by Halley Todd 

November 14th High-Five Zoom Link

This in-person session is for faculty who are committed to writing (or revising) an NSF proposal. The morning will include a presentation and discussion of elements of strong NSF proposals, working time to outline and write, and a one-on-one consultation with PDO officers. Participants should bring their research idea and NSF program of interest.

Led by Shana Herron, with PDO officers

Register Here for the November 14th NSF in-person session

This session will offer writing tips for developing a high-impact Specific Aims page for NIH applications. 

Presented by Erik Davidshofer

DREAM Scholars seminar series

Join us to learn how to effectively use graphics to illustrate your point, enhance your text, and add polish to your proposal.

Presented by Ben Southworth 

November 7th High-Five Zoom Link

This session will offer grant-writing tips that can be adapted to a range of grant sponsors and mechanisms and introduce key concepts in the profession of research development. 

Presented by Erik Davidshofer 

Graduate Studies 650 class 

This virtual session will cover NSF’s organization, programs and funding mechanisms. We will also discuss NSF proposal requirements and review criteria.  Participants will be ready to write a one-page project overview to share with colleagues, collaborators and NSF program officers.

Presented by Shana Herron

Generative AI (GenAI) is a hot topic in proposal development, and guidelines and regulations regarding its use are rapidly evolving. This session will provide a survey of GenAI policies that have been released to date by major funding agencies and examine what they mean for your grant development process.

Presented by Halley Todd and Lou Hurst

October 31st High-Five Zoom Link

The National Science Foundation’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR) program is a dynamic initiative that builds research capacity in targeted jurisdictions, including Kentucky. We’ll discuss how you can leverage EPSCoR investments and partnerships to support your research.

Presented by Shana Herron

October 24th High Five Zoom Link

Members of the Proposal Development Office will discuss methods for finding and obtaining funding for research, and will field questions from faculty and graduate students within the Psychology department about writing better grant applications

Presented by Ben Southworth and Will Boose

This session will highlight simple, effective project management tools that faculty and research teams can use to streamline proposal preparation. Participants will learn how these tools support collaboration, improve organization, and increase the competitiveness of their submissions. 

Presented by Anna Ortynska

October 17th High Five Zoom Link

In this session we’ll focus on non-federal sources of grant funding—nonprofits, industry, and state and local governments. We’ll offer tips, tools and advice for finding and pursuing these opportunities.

Presented by Chaquenta Neal and Lou Hurst

October 10th High Five Zoom Link

PDO offers specialized support to help faculty and graduate students pursue honorifics and prestigious awards—high-profile distinctions that contribute to career advancement, may offer unconditional research funds or prize money, and often involve a nomination process. In this session we will discuss why and how to go for these opportunities and highlight a few that may interest you. We will also detail how PDO can streamline such pursuits for you.

Presented by Will Boose 

October 3rd High Five Zoom Link

Are you preparing an NIH F-Series fellowship application? This session will provide an overview of key resources, proposal development strategies, and institutional support available to help you submit a strong and competitive application.

Presented by Chaquenta Neal & Lou Hurst

September 26th High Five Zoom Link (no registration required)

This session will discuss key points to consider for resubmitting an NIH application and provide tips for writing effective responses to reviewer critiques in the Introduction component.

Presented by Erik Davidshofer, MA

September 24th NIH R Series Zoom Link

This session will offer practical advice for identifying funding, navigating the proposal process, and securing support for arts and humanities scholarship. 

Presented by Elizabeth Ford & Ben Southworth

September 19th High Five Zoom link (no registration required)

12:00n – 1:00p (closed Zoom session)

We will survey the research funding landscape and offer strategies, tips and tools for diversifying research funding streams. 

Presented by Lou Hurst and Jessica Koenigsknecht-Talboo (Foundation and Corporate Philanthropy).

UK College of Medicine Office of Research 

Part of the College of Nursing’s SCORE Seminar series, this session will cover opportunities for funding from private foundations and highlight special considerations for applying to these funders. 

Presented by Lou Hurst and Jessica Koenigsknecht-Talboo (Foundation and Corporate Philanthropy).

UK College of Nursing

11:00a – 12:00n (closed Zoom session)

PDO will showcase its resources and offerings for faculty in the UK College of Nursing. 

Presented by Lou Hurst and Elizabeth Ford.

UK College of Nursing

This session will introduce structures and writing tips to aid in developing an effective Specific Aims page and Research Strategy section.

Presented by Kathy Grzech, MA

September 12th  NIH R Series Zoom Link

The past several months have brought many changes in NIH application policies and processes. Join us to catch up on recent and announced upcoming changes and learn what they mean for proposal preparation.

Presented by Kathy Grzech and Barb Duncan

September 12th High-Five Zoom Link (no registration required)

This session will demonstrate critical tools and databases, such as Matchmaker, for determining an appropriate study section and institute at NIH, as well as cover new NIH Policies

Presented by Barb Duncan, PhD; Kathy Grzech, MA

September 3rd NIH R Series Zoom Link

11:30a to 12:00p

This session will introduce the range of Proposal Development Office services, highlighting tools to help diversify funding streams; recommend strategies for managing a shifting funding landscape; and provide insights on new NIH policies affecting grant applications.

Presented by Kathy Grzech

Markey Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program Retreat

In FY25 UK researchers set a new record of $496.9 million in extramural grants and contracts. In this session we will look at the tools that you can use to learn more about this track record, including the funders and grant programs with which UK principal investigators hold awards.

Presented by Shana Herron 

September 5th High-Five Zoom link (no registration required)

This session will cover the major elements of the NIH’s Data Sharing Policy and guide writing successful data management and sharing plans

Presented by Isaac Wink, MLS

Register here

This session will walk through the NIH Biosketch format and present advice for crafting each section to tell a compelling, cohesive story about your professional development.

Presented by Lou Hurst, MA, MPA

September 9th NIH R Series Zoom Link

In this session we’ll discuss the importance of accurately describing your institutional environment—available facilities, equipment, and resources, both physical and non-physical—and offer tips for maximizing these sections of a proposal.

Presented by Lou Hurst

August 22nd Zoom Link (no registration required)

PCORI is a leading force in patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research. Join us to learn about PCORI’s mission, funding opportunities, research priorities, and how you can get involved.

Presented by Halley Todd

We’ll look at possibilities for instrumentation and equipment grants from the major federal agencies and discuss key elements for success with these types of proposals. With the internal competition for the NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) coming soon, we’ll spend extra time with this mechanism.

Presented by Shana Herron

Describing your geographical location helps funders understand the unique motivating problems, operational context and potential impact of your project. In this session we’ll explore how you can find and use relevant place-based information from multiple sources to strengthen your proposals.

Presented by Lou Hurst