AgentSkillsCN

grant-writing

为NSF、NIH及其他机构起草资助申请书的部分内容。涵盖具体目标、研究意义、创新性、研究方法、时间表以及预算，并依据各机构特有的格式要求进行撰写。

SKILL.md
--- frontmatter
name: grant-writing
description: |
  Draft grant proposal sections for NSF, NIH, and other agencies. Covers
  Specific Aims, Significance, Innovation, Approach, Timeline, and Budget
  Justification with agency-specific formatting requirements.
author: BK
version: 1.0.0
date: 2026-02-20

Grant Writing

Draft grant proposal sections following agency-specific guidelines and formatting requirements. Produces persuasive academic prose for competitive funding applications.

When to Use This Skill

Trigger when user:

  • •Says "write grant", "grant proposal", "funding application"
  • •Mentions "NSF proposal", "NIH grant", "R01", "R21", "CAREER award"
  • •Asks for "specific aims page", "significance section", "budget justification"
  • •Wants help with "broader impacts" or "data management plan"

Workflow

Phase 1: Determine Agency and Program

Use AskUserQuestion to clarify:

  1. •Agency: NSF, NIH, DOE, foundation, other?
  2. •Program/mechanism: NSF SBE directorate, NIH R01/R21/K-series, CAREER, etc.
  3. •Topic: Research area and specific aims
  4. •Stage: Starting from scratch, revising, or responding to reviews?
  5. •Page limits: Confirm current limits (they change)

Phase 2: Draft by Section

NSF Format

SectionTypical LengthNotes
Project Summary1 pageOverview, Intellectual Merit, Broader Impacts (separate paragraphs)
Project Description15 pagesIntroduction, Background, Research Plan, Broader Impacts, Timeline
Data Management Plan2 pagesStorage, access, sharing, preservation
Budget JustificationNo limitLine-item justification
References CitedNo limitOnly cited works

NIH Format

SectionTypical LengthNotes
Specific Aims1 pageThe most important page — hook, gap, aims, impact
Significance2-3 pagesWhy this matters, gaps in knowledge
Innovation1-2 pagesWhat's new about your approach
Approach6-8 pagesMethods, preliminary data, timeline, pitfalls
BibliographyNo limit

Phase 3: Apply Writing Principles

  • •

    Specific Aims page structure (NIH):

    1. •Opening hook (broad problem)
    2. •Gap in knowledge (what we don't know)
    3. •Long-term goal and objective of this proposal
    4. •Central hypothesis
    5. •Specific Aims (2-3, numbered)
    6. •Expected outcomes and impact
  • •

    General principles:

    • •Lead each paragraph with the key point
    • •Use bold or italics for emphasis on critical claims
    • •Include preliminary data references where available
    • •Address potential pitfalls and alternative approaches
    • •Quantify where possible (effect sizes, sample sizes, timelines)
    • •Write for a smart reviewer outside your subfield

Phase 4: Review Checklist

Before finalizing, verify:

  • • Aims are distinct but synergistic
  • • Significance is framed as a gap, not just "this is important"
  • • Innovation is concrete, not just "novel approach"
  • • Timeline is realistic and accounts for delays
  • • Budget matches the proposed work
  • • Broader impacts are specific and actionable
  • • Page limits are respected
  • • No jargon without definition
  • • References are current (within 5 years for most)

Key Principles

  • •Always ask which agency/program before drafting — format requirements differ significantly
  • •The Specific Aims page is the most critical document; draft it first and iterate
  • •Use active voice and confident tone (not "we hope to" but "we will")
  • •Every claim should be supported by a citation or preliminary data
  • •Budget justification should explain why each item is necessary, not just list costs
  • •Broader impacts must be concrete plans, not vague aspirations