Grant Writing Seminars

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:

1. Write Winning NIH Grant Proposals
2. Early Career Grant Writing

If you have questions about either opportunity, please contact Monica Jefcoat, office manager for the DOM Office of Research Services, at mjefcoat@medicine.wisc.edu.

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

• Learn how to strategically plan your NIH proposal before writing.
• Understand the mindset and expectations of NIH reviewers.
• Use a proven 4-paragraph strategy to write a compelling Specific Aims page.
• Get tips for writing strong Approach, Significance, and Innovation sections.
• Address Rigor, Data Management and Sharing, and Authentication.
• Prepare for peer review and learn how to improve resubmissions. 

View the 2026 seminar overview and agenda (PDFs).

Registration

Register with this form, starting October 30.

Cost

Through the funding generosity of SMPH’s Office for 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 registrants of the February 2025 “Early Career Grant Writing” 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 OFAD covers the workbook cost for all SMPH faculty.
UW-Madison faculty outside of SMPH	$100 combined workbook and shipping fee. Valid worktags are required upon registration.*
All UW-Madison non-faculty (including those who are part of SMPH)

*If applicable, worktags for the nonrefundable textbook fee must be provided when registering following this format: 1) driver worktag (i.e., program, grant, project or gift); 2) cost center; 3) fund; 4) function. Workbooks must be purchased through the Department of Medicine’s registration process.

What Past Participants Say

"The presentation by Dr. Robertson 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!)."

"Very interesting presentation. Tangible strategies that are easy to implement. Good advice for drafting structurally strong proposals. Very actionable strategy."

"As an ESI [early-stage investigator], I found it to be a very informative seminar that clarified many parts of the grants process and also highlighted the importance of specific sections. Highly recommended for ESIs."

"Excellent as always! My 5th year going to this. I learn something new every year."

"Loved this webinar and learned so much!!!"

February 11 and 12, 2027
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 2025 agenda [Box file].

Registration

Coming in November 2026.

What Past Participants Say

"This seminar was incredibly helpful-one of the best I have taken!"

"John is a fabulous presenter. Truly. He was so clear, answered questions thoroughly, and cleanly delivered the information. I was able to follow along every minute of the presentation."

"I really enjoyed this seminar. The information presented was easy to understand and helped increase my confidence in pursuing a career in academia."

"I really liked how explicitly Dr. Robertson laid out the requirements for grants and even how to email an NIH program officer. The main problem I had with navigating the NIH's requirements was how vague the instructions were, so this is exactly what I needed!"

"Excellent, excellent course! I plan to attend the NIH Standards course next year. I have more appropriately re-envisioned my entire timeline to optimize my chances of a successful NIH grant submission."