What is ‘grantsmanship’? How strategic thinking improves your chances of success in the grant application process

Sheila Cherry, PhDgrant funding, research success, scientific writingLeave a Comment

In sectors where grant funding provides key support to the research enterprise, grant writing is a valued skill. In fact, training and support for grant writing represents the top service demand for our team at CareerVolt. In the context of these services, we often emphasize the equal value of “grantsmanship” (which we sometimes refer to as grant crafting or grant … Read More

Averting an Energy Crisis

Sheila Cherry, PhDcareer success, research leadership, research success, strategic vision, time managementLeave a Comment

The laws of thermodynamics describe the behaviors of energy in systems. Famously, the 1st law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed; energy can only change forms. This change in form is more specifically captured in the 2nd law of thermodynamics, which in part indicates that every energy transfer will result in some amount of energy becoming less useful … Read More

Preparing a Compelling Scientific Grant Application

Sheila Cherry, PhDgrant funding, research success, scientific writing, strategic vision, time managementLeave a Comment

Grants, especially from federal funders, provide an important source of support for advancing scientific and public health research. For example, within the US, federal grants are the second-largest source of research and development dollars, after private businesses (before the 1980s, federal funds were the largest share). Yet, you are probably also intensely aware that there is a lot of competition … Read More

Cultivating Thought Partners to Enhance Your Research

Sheila Cherry, PhDcollaboration, research success, scientific writing, strategic visionLeave a Comment

two individuals sitting together at a table with one holding out a lightbulb as if to share an idea

Research is an intellectual pursuit in which discovery arises from asking questions and thinking deeply about where to go next. We often assume that we must have our ideas all worked out before we verbalize them to someone else, especially in the professional setting where we might be concerned about the way our ideas are received (i.e., looking like we … Read More