Reflections on the NSF CAREER Proposal Preparation Process Hannah - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Reflections on the NSF CAREER Proposal Preparation Process Hannah Dailey, PhD Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics Lehigh University

Conflict of Interest Disclosures Disclosures Current as of: 25-Mar-2020 1 – Royalties: No 2 – Speakers Bureau: No 3a – Paid Employee: No 3b – Paid Consultant: No 3c – Unpaid Consultant: Yes, OrthoXel, DAC 4 – Stock or Stock Options: Yes, OrthoXel, DAC 5 – Research or Institutional Support: Yes (institutional and former), OrthoXel, DAC 6 – Financial or Material Support from Pharmaceutical or Company: No 7a – Royalties, Financial/Material Support from Pharmaceutical or Company: No 7b – Royalties, Financial/Material Support from Publisher: No 8 – Serve on Editorial or Governing Board: No 9 – Serve on Board of Directors/Committee: Yes, ORS ISFR Communications Committee Chair

Background and Research Interests Dailey Lab Unique Research Value Proposition evidence-based idea: bone fractures heal more innovative structural mechanics approaches to studying quickly with axial bone fracture and healing using rich imaging data sets micromotion with research questions and methods informed by industry experience and clinical partnerships assistant professor of mechanical engineering & post-doc mechanics at focused on Lehigh University orthopaedic (Bethlehem, PA) technology R&D funding: tech development innovation and health research grants 2015 2009 2014 www.orthoxel.com successful first-time FDA 510(k) and CE Mark regulatory clearances for co-founder and chief scientific officer BS-MS-PhD in the Apex Tibial and Femoral Nailing of a company to commercialize trauma mechanical Systems and ongoing human use implants with micromotion technology engineering

About Lehigh University • Private, founded 1865 • Today: 5,000 undergraduate and 2,000 graduate students • Mechanical Engineering is the largest undergrad major, grad program, and faculty at Lehigh

Writing Your CAREER Proposal: A Project Management Perspective Pre-Writing Writing & Rewriting Editing Gate 1 Gate 2 Gate 3 Gate 4 Modified Phase-Gate Model of Phase 1: Phase 2: Feasibility Phase 3: Refinement Phase 4: Phase 5: Project Ideation and Assessment and and Validation Review Launch Scoping Development Management for CAREER Proposals Stakeholder Feedback Submission Funding

My CAREER Proposal Preparation Timeline ? ? phone call with CMMI-BMMB PD Michele Grimm pitched partnership to submitted first-choice outreach on-campus mock organization joined on-campus panel feedback on CAREER proposal revised draft reading and writing group completed first draft, on-campus brainstorming panelist for discussed in writing CAREER workshop standard group proposals February March April May June July solicited advice, lit review focused discussed draft feedback got copies of on outreach, development plans from colleagues successful requested with chair and senior CAREER proposals institutional data colleagues completed budget, biosketch, letters Phase 1: Ideation Phase 2: Development Phase 3: Refinement

What Worked [for me] Translatable strategies by project stage: • Choosing the right project/scope Phase 1: Ideation • Building the unique value proposition and Scoping • Evidence and distinctiveness in outreach Phase 2: Feasibility Assessment and Development Phase 3: Refinement and Validation

Choosing a Project SWOT Analysis (for research proposals) • Why am I passionate about what I’m doing? Strengths • What is the exciting potential payoff? • Weaknesses Limitations as discussed in my published papers (obvious holes) • Limitations I haven’t had to address yet (strategic advantage) • Top down – lit review shows everyone has the same problem(s), Opportunities “solutions” are dated or missing • Bottom up – unique selling points (technical capabilities, data sets, access to distinctive resources, etc.) • Competitive landscape (other researchers, what’s hot) Threats • Time and readiness (Am I ready to do this?)

Brainstorming • Read papers, look for opportunities • One idea per Post-It • Topics / questions • Techniques • Applications • Start unstructured • Organize into themes • Look for connections, sequential steps • Include education/outreach • Vertical and horizontal integration Phase 1 Ideation → Phase 2 Refinement • Cut ideas that don’t integrate well, Narrow the focus (How much can I realistically accomplish in 5 years?) by save for “beyond the CAREER” developing a formal project plan.

Unique Value Proposition (UVP) I am uniquely well-qualified to carry out this work because _______________________. Person Project Environment What is my story? Why does this problem What resources do I have How did I get here? urgently need to be solved? that nobody else does? skills / knowledge Is the potential payoff Can I show that I am perspective / experience transformative? ready to pull this off? What makes me different, How will success lead to track record – publications, surprising, believable? what comes next? preliminary data

Vetting Education & Outreach Ideas Clear Deliverables • Partner with an established Step 1: Use data to define Measurable Outcomes outreach organization the problem • Leverage your unique skills/ Step 2: Read the literature knowledge/perspective/ Evidence-Based and Measurable before you try to propose a identity Flip Your • Align assessment with ABET solution Classroom • Don’t propose too much! Step 3: Look for translation from your research themes Distinctive/Impactful Step 4: Think about how an intervention addresses the problem and how you will This is Already Only You Can assess whether it worked Your Job Do This Develop a New Graduate Seminar Course

Vetting Education & Outreach Ideas Step 1: Use data to define the problem Problem: Evidence-based drivers of persistent under- representation of women in mechanical engineering: Step 2: Read the literature Evidence-Based and Measurable before you try to propose a • Masculine cultures that lower the sense of belonging solution • Lack of early experiences and role models • Gender gaps in self-efficacy Step 3: Look for translation from your research themes Distinctive/Impactful Evidence-Based Solutions: Step 4: Think about how an intervention addresses the • Hands-on experiences (freshman, ME ugrad) • Uniquely me problem and how you will This is Already clearly connected to the research • Evidence-based assess whether it worked • Partnership to design orthopaedic implants Your Job • Integrated for the Perry Initiative • Nationwide reach • Curriculum planning leadership: medical • Career trajectory device concentration for MEs

What Worked [for me] Translatable strategies by project stage: Phase 2: Feasibility • Formal project planning Assessment and • Long-term vision Development Phase 3: Refinement and Validation

Formal Project Planning Process Overview Pros Cons • Rough timeline from Post-Its Assurance that the Can be perceived as • Identify smaller projects work is doable for N pedantic, measured, (Technical Objectives) within student(s) over 5 years less “Visionary” the overall CAREER program • Describe: Less flexible, locked-in Defining tasks helps ✓ Tasks (bodies of work) writing process with resource planning and output pacing ✓ Milestones (status goals) Time consuming (conferences, papers) ✓ Dependencies, critical path • Lateral connections and Defining milestones Harder for earlier-stage temporal synergy – pacing the helps identify and faculty with less mitigate risks preliminary data research/education/outreach

My Formal Project Plan (GANTT Chart)

Long-Term Vision Beyond the CAREER If I/we can answer/solve _________, that will unlock _________, _________, and _________ exciting payoffs or new directions for this research. Can you convince the reviewer that successful completion of the proposed CAREER program will set you up for success in the next 5 years beyond the award?

What Worked [for me] Translatable strategies by project stage: • Critical first/last pages: write Picasso’s bull • Visual design for the reader, not yourself Phase 3: Refinement • Coco Chanel Rule and Validation • Mindset matters – banish the imposter

Anatomy of My CAREER Proposal Up to two pages INTRODUCTION Include a large- format “Proposal in a Figure” O VERVIEW OF CAREER D EVELOPMENT P LAN Clear paragraph on Intellectual Merit M OTIVATION FOR THE P ROPOSED R ESEARCH P ROGRAM BACKGROUND & PRELIMINARY DATA Opening Argument Closing Argument PROPOSED RESEARCH STRATEGY O PPORTUNITIES FOR I NNOVATION Length in Main Body (12-13 pages) Lots of Variation! RESEARCH PLAN Pages T ECHNICAL O BJECTIVES First Draft Hypotheses Writing Tasks (including outputs: planned papers) Time Expected Results & Criteria for Success Feasibility, Potential Pitfalls, Alternative Approaches Revision First Two Pages Last Page INTEGRATED EDUCATIONAL & OUTREACH ACTIVITIES Time M OTIVATION FOR THE E DUCATION & O UTREACH P LAN E DUCATIONAL & O UTREACH O BJECTIVES Last page PROJECT MANAGEMENT & LONG-TERM CAREER VISION Closing argument for yourself BROADER IMPACTS RESULTS FROM PRIOR NSF SUPPORT (if applicable)