Some days, this is just about all you have to cling to
July 5, 2013
“The proposal is extremely well-written and clear.”
DrugMonkey
biomedical research, just another job…
Recent Comments
biomedical research, just another job…
“The proposal is extremely well-written and clear.”
DrugMonkey 
July 5, 2013 at 11:32 am
Two from my recent efforts:
The research plan is very well-written and easy to follow, driven by a clear hypothesis, and with specific aims that are attainable within the five years of support requested
The applicant poses an important biological question in [insert subfield] research, has appropriate hypotheses, and more importantly, the technology and collaborators to test his hypotheses. This is clearly a well-written proposal.
Means F-all to me when it doesn’t get funded and they just read like stock statements to me anyway.
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July 5, 2013 at 12:16 pm
I’m going to cling to my “extremely”, you buzz kill.
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July 5, 2013 at 1:40 pm
I’ve gotten this comment on every grant proposal I’ve ever written (except for the ones where I ran out of time and pushed it through in the last hours). Dave is right: totally irrelevant to funding prognosis. They’re throwing you a bone.
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July 5, 2013 at 2:03 pm
What? Do you want to get banned, killjoy??!!!????
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July 5, 2013 at 2:12 pm
When you’ve read eight muddled proposals, and you’ve had a hard time writing the reviews because you just couldn’t figure out what they wanted to do or why they would want to do that, it is so nice to read a clearly written, well-explained application.
I will admit, however, that I gave a 5 to one of the most clear applications I have ever read, because the research was of little significance.
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July 5, 2013 at 3:00 pm
because the research was of little significance.
Watch it muppethugger……
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July 6, 2013 at 8:45 am
Ignore the killjoys…don’t stop believin’…hold on to that reviewer comment feeling…
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July 6, 2013 at 8:12 pm
I would like to know why NIH sends notifications that summary statements are posted on a Sat night when I’m on vacation. Since I know the application was not scored, I have no desire to let those comments put me in an ugly place. So why do I want to look at the comments? Must resist inflicting pain on myself. Fight the urge…
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July 8, 2013 at 3:13 pm
^You neeeeeeed the comments GAATTC. You cannot resist….evaaaaaaar.
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July 8, 2013 at 3:14 pm
Extremely >>>>> very
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July 8, 2013 at 4:37 pm
Extremely >>>>> very
damn straight!
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July 8, 2013 at 7:18 pm
Dave — Get behind thee Satan.
I’m resisting so far, but am aware that part of my brain is being occupied by the thoughts of looking at those wonderful high numbers and, just maybe, something that will help when I repackage this application as a new submission.
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July 9, 2013 at 8:36 am
Dear NIH Program Manager
This review is as the peace of God, beyond understanding. Please hire better panels.
Best
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