In conjunction with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) Office for Faculty Affairs and Development, the UW Department of Medicine contracts with Grant Writers’ Seminars and Workshops (GWSW) to provide virtual seminars on grant writing.
The seminar is held the second Thursday and Friday of February. The topic alternates each year:
- Early Career Grant Writing
- Write Winning NIH Grant Proposals
If you have questions about either offering, please contact Monica Jefcoat, office manager for the DOM Office of Research Services, at mjefcoat@medicine.wisc.edu.
Early Career Grant Writing
February 13 and 14, 2025
9:00 am to 12:30 pm
This seminar is designed to demystify the National Institutes of Health (NIH) K and, to a lesser extent, F32 grant writing process for early-career faculty, researchers/scientists (MD/PhD level), research administrators, postdocs primarily involved in research-oriented study, and fellows on T32s or in the Physician-Scientist Training Program (PSTP).
- Topics and Agenda
- How the partnership between applicant, mentor and institution leads to funding and protected time for research training/career development
- Identifying appropriate proposal types
- Using review criteria to inform your grant application
- Understanding the kinds of training and research to propose
- Establishing and getting the most from your mentoring team
- Preparing the Candidate and Research Plan sections
- Obtaining reference letters
- Tips and content ideas for Statements of Mentors and Co-Mentors
View the agenda from 2023. The 2025 agenda will be similar to the 2023 version and will be posted soon.
- Registration
Registration closes January 10, 2025.
- Cost
Compliments of the SMPH’s Office of Faculty Affairs and Development (OFAD), the seminar lecture and slide handout are at no cost for all registrants.
Please see the chart below detailing the seminar’s required workbook and shipping fees by cost category.
Cost Category Cost Information All UW-Madison faculty and non-faculty attendees of the February 2024 “Write Winning NIH Grant Proposals” seminar for UW-Madison No cost, if a workbook was received by the registrant last year. A new workbook is only required every other year for Grant Writers’ Seminars and Workshop programs offered at UW-Madison. SMPH Faculty No cost. The SMPH’s Office of Faculty Affairs and Development covers the workbook cost for all SMPH faculty. UW-Madison faculty outside of SMPH $100 combined workbook and shipping fee. A valid funding string is required upon registration.* All UW-Madison non-faculty (including those who are part of SMPH) $100 combined workbook and shipping fee. A valid funding string is required upon registration.* *If applicable, a funding string for the nonrefundable textbook fee must be provided when registering following this format: Dept ID (6 digits); Program (1 digit); Fund (3 digits); Project Number (7 characters)
- What Past Participants Say
"The book provided is FANTASTIC. The best one that I have seen. Really appreciate the step by step, practical advice for things that other grant-writing groups gloss over (e.g. picking a title)."
"Absolutely outstanding presenter and seminar."
"Highly useful content and that was well presented. Having examples of components of a completed application is particularly helpful."
"Seminar was well done. Lots of great information, the format of the presentation was great. Tools provided were helpful."
"Thoroughly enjoyed the seminar! I had a course during my PhD program that followed a previous version of this book so some large percentage of this was familiar, but the review was appreciated—especially happy to have received updated info. I feel far more prepared to submit a successful grant application today than I did before this seminar."
Write Winning NIH Grant Proposals
February 12 and 13, 2026
9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Focusing on NIH grants, this acclaimed two-day seminar addresses both practical and conceptual aspects that are important to the proposal-writing process. Professors, scientists, research administrators, fellows, students or others with grant writing exposure and are interested in NIH proposal submission will find it beneficial.
- Topics and Agenda
- Methods for idea generation and development
- Identify appropriate granting agencies
- Write with a linear progression of logic for both assigned and non-assigned reviewers
- How to merit a fundable priority score
- Registration
Coming in November 2025.
- What Past Participants Say
“Excellent as always! My 5th year going to this. I learn something new every year.”
“Dr. Robertson is outstanding. His knowledge and expertise are highly appreciated and valued.”
“Really appreciate the handbook and slide handout. These reference materials will be helpful in preparing for future grant applications.”
"This seminar has been so helpful. The guidance is practical and very well organized. The speaker was very engaging."
"The presentation by Dr. Roberston is honest and direct. Concrete examples are extremely helpful. His enthusiasm throughout the presentation makes it enjoyable to view (which, given the topic, is hard to do!)."
About the Presenter
Dr. John Robertson is the managing member of GWSW. He holds a PhD in pharmacology/toxicology and has been the recipient of competitive extramural funding from both the NIH and non-federal sources. He has presented more than 400 grant proposal writing trainings and consulted on over 750 grant applications since joining GWSW, authored 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and three book chapters, served on editorial boards and grant review panels, and is routinely recognized for excellence in teaching.
