Proposal Support
ERO offers a variety of services to help turn research ideas into funded projects. ERO works directly with the PI and research team to develop and refine submissions to be responsive and competitive.
Here are a few ways ERO can support your research initiatives:
- Research and identify funding opportunities
- Facilitate the formation of a research team, including identifying internal and external partners
- Develop a proposal schedule and manage development tasks
- Review required proposal sections (e.g. executive summary, data management plan, mentoring plan, biosketches, etc.)
- Draft and coordinate letters (e.g., Research & Innovation, department chairs, CoEN dean, , industry partners, etc.)
- Brainstorm thoughtful broader impacts, broadening participation and societal impact statements
- Coordinate graphics support with Research & Innovation
- Coordinate external review with Research & Innovation
- Ensure the budget aligns with project goals/tasks
- Review the proposal against sponsor merit evaluation criteria
- Interface with Sponsored Projects staff
- Provide value-add services such as project management support or grantsmanship and communication workshops for graduate students and postdocs
- Edit and proofread proposals and auxiliary documents
Please contact ERO to discuss any of these services or inquire about additional support during the proposal development period.
Technical editing assistance is available to all faculty in the College of Engineering for proposals, pre-proposals, letters of intent, publications and other written submissions related to funding. This service includes line-by-line editing and the proofreading of technical narratives, reviewing proposals against solicitation guidelines, editing support letters and facilities descriptions, etc., and identifying resources for proposal narrative sections. ERO also will assist with editing grants for which the University is a subrecipient for an appropriate fee.
For help with the structure and content of your proposal — ensuring that your argument is logical and that your proposal answers the solicitation and is presented as strongly as possible — select “Technical Writing/Proposal Format & Structure” on the ITS.
For help polishing your proposal — proofreading for copy errors and word choice and shortening, if needed — select “Copy Editing” on the ITS.
ERO can assist with postdoc and graduate student mentorship through grantsmanship training, assisting attendees to master topics such as identifying potential sponsors, reading requests for proposals, interpreting requirements, drafting proposals and compiling auxiliary documents. Please consult with ERO team prior to adding a workshop to your plan, as a budget allocation is required.
ERO offers project management services to support PIs from proposal concept to award closeout. The project manager’s (PM) goal is to create a roadmap for successful project completion. Initially, the PM can help PIs structure their research into a seamless project in line with awarding agency requirements. Once funding is secured, the PM works with the PI to create a plan that ensures successful project execution. The PM can even take on the project’s administrative burden to free the PI to focus on their innovative research. The PM is available to serve as the liaison between sub-awardees, sponsors and the research team; monitor ongoing tasks for the life of the project; and assist with project closeout. The PI can expect the PM to offer a support structure that follows the principles of project management: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and close out. Please note: the time the PM can dedicate to project execution will be commensurate with the amount allocated in the project budget for such services. Contact ERO to schedule an initial PM call.
At times, PIs may need additional assistance developing graphics to include within the proposal narrative or appendices. Research & Innovation contracts with a graphic designer to provide this assistance and may be able to partially assist with those costs (up to a predetermined limit). Please contact ERO for additional information regarding graphics support for proposals, reports and/or presentations.
ERO can help facilitate proposal review by coordinating with Research & Innovation. Research & Innovation contracts with a consulting firm that can offer proposal reviews by a subject matter expert. ERO highly recommends a technical editor review your proposal prior to external review. Contact ERO to coordinate.