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Developing Your Research Ideas

Developing Your Research Ideas

Developing a successful research grant proposal can be a long but transformative process that takes a compelling research idea and turns it into a fundable project. As such, it requires a blend of disciplinary insight, strategy, and concise and persuasive writing.

Define Your Research Question

Your research question will form the heart of your proposal.  You want this question to be: This is the heart of your proposal. You can use the SMART goals framework, a best practice that will help you create a clear, focused, and fundable application. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.  

Your question must be: 

  • Specific: Clearly defined and focused. 
  • Measurable: You must be able to quantify or observe the results.  
  • Achievable: Feasible within the proposed timeframe and with the resources you're requesting. 
  • Relevant: Aligned with your field and the funder's mission. 
  • Time-bound: Has a clear start and end point. 

A weak or poorly defined question will undermine the entire proposal. Our external consultants can assist with your research questions and goals.

Conduct a Thorough Literature Review

You must demonstrate mastery and knowledge of your field and discipline. The literature review will support your research plan and ensure that it: 

  • Addresses a critical gap: Show what is known and, more importantly, what is not known. 
  • Is innovative: Explain how your work is a logical next step and not just a minor variation of existing research. 
  • Builds on existing knowledge: Situate your project within a broader scientific conversation. 

If you need support with finding literature or gaining access to publications, please consider connecting with our librarians. This is a great way to engage students in your research as well. And better still a good literature review can be the basis of a manuscript.