This workshop welcomes first-time grant applicants and those who have not been successful with grant submissions. The “Advanced Grant Writing: Specific Aims Workshop” is tailored for anyone preparing to submit an NIH or NSF grant, including SBIR and other translational grants. For those who are submitting NSF Career awards, there will be special workshops for these submissions during the spring term.
This advanced grant writing workshop is not a typical grant writing workshop. The faculty work closely with participants on their specific proposal draft to help improve it. The main focus is on the “Specific Aims” section of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the “Vision and Goals” section of a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. These sections are the cornerstone of a successful NIH or NSF grant application and sets the stage for how to write a successful research approach section. After completing this workshop, participants will also understand how to effectively approach and write a compelling full proposal.
In this workshop, participants preparing to submit a National Institutes of Health (NIH) or National Science Foundation (NSF) grant—including SBIR and other translation grants—will gain expert insight into writing the cornerstones of each grant application. With a focus on the “Specific Aims” section of the NIH and the “Vision and Goals” section of the NSF grant, participants will hone the ability to set the stage for a successful research approach section.
During this workshop, faculty members will facilitate a group discussion and evaluate each component to ensure it is clearly stated and compelling. Participants will receive concrete feedback from both faculty and peers, reinforcing their learning through mutual critique. By the end of the workshop, everyone will have a clear understanding of how to revise their drafts. After completing this workshop, participants will understand how to effectively approach and write a compelling full proposal.
For additional details, download the course brochure.
For those seeking direct feedback on the specific aims section of your draft grant proposal because you plan to submit your proposal in the next 1–2 months, the course faculty will work with you to improve this section during the workshop. To be a Participant with Submission, you must submit a draft of the “Specific Aims” page to [email protected] one week before the course.
For those seeking to learn from the faculty and fellow participants and plan to submit a proposal in the next 3 to 6 months, you will participate in the feedback process to learn how to improve your “Specific Aims” page. You will not get direct feedback on your “Specific Aims” page but will be ready to draft one with all the required components after the workshop.
Online observers will gain an understanding of how to strategically approach writing their grant submissions. You will not gain direct feedback on a draft, but as an observer, you will learn from expert faculty and peers in the workshop, preparing you to write a grant in the future.
Dr. Sri Sarma is an Associate Professor in the Institute for Computational Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, at Johns Hopkins University. Her research includes modeling, estimation, and control of neural systems using electrical stimulation. She is a cofounder of Neurologic Solutions, Inc. which develops EEG analytics tools for brain disorders. Dr. Sarma teaches courses in Precision Care Medicine, Systems and Control, and Networks.
Dr. Sarma received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University in 1994; and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1997 and 2006. From 2000-2003 she took a leave to start a data analytics company. From 2006-2009, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department at MIT.
She is a recipient of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Careers at the Scientific Interface Award, the Krishna Kumar New Investigator Award from the North American Neuromodulation Society, and a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers and the Whiting School of Engineering Robert B. Pond Excellence in Teaching Award.
Dr Montague received a B.S. in Engineering Physics from Lehigh University in 1974 and his Ph.D. in Biophysics from Johns Hopkins in 1985. After four years of working at the Naval Research Laboratory he moved to industry. There he held increasing positions or responsibility in engineering, marketing, and engineering management in the analytical instrument industry.
From there he joined Maryland’s Dept. of Business and Economic Development. He was involved in the formation and launch of the Maryland BioCenter, where he managed a translational funding program. In 2012 he had the opportunity to come back to Johns Hopkins to manage the Johns Hopkins-Coulter Translational partnership for five years in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and work with the department’s translational activities. Two years ago he was part of the team that won one of two Blueprint Neurotech Medtech Incubator awards, which he was active in managing until his recent retirement.
Working with local companies for more than 15 years, he has been active in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Maryland. He is an advisor to several companies and has been board member of local incubators. He has been a mentor in the C3i and I-Corps program working with start-up teams and regularly provides reviews for the NSF programs, Johns Hopkins, and University of Maryland translational funding awards.
April 15, 2025
May 12, 2025
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Johns Hopkins University
Stieff Silver Building
Rooms 205, 206, 207
800 Wyman Park Drive
Baltimore, MD 21211
In-Person Participant with Submission: $2,500
In-Person Participant: $1,000
Online Observer: $750
To be a Participant with Submission, you must submit a draft of your proposal to [email protected] by Friday, September 20. The faculty will review and select which drafts to work through during the workshop.
Participants are not expected to submit a draft proposal. However, you will be part of review and feedback process.
As a Online Observer, you are not expected to submit a draft proposal. Online Observers will gain an understanding of how to strategically approach writing their grant submissions.
Please complete the registration form below to enroll in this workshop. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email with details about the workshop. We will also send you an email to complete the JHU Tuition Remission form if that is how you intend to purchase the course. If you do not intend to use JHU Tuition Remission, the cost can be paid via Credit or Invoice. If you have questions before registration, please reach out to us.
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