The Offices of Faculty Affairs and Mentoring Programs are excited to partner once again with Karl Keller of Communication Partners to offer a dynamic five-session Effective Grant Writing Workshop for Rush faculty and postdoctoral fellows.
This highly interactive workshop is designed for those who are actively preparing grant submissions. If you’re working on a grant right now and plan to submit one shortly, this series is for you!
What to Expect
Each session combines brief lectures with hands-on writing, peer feedback, and personalized editing. You'll work directly on your own grant draft throughout the program, building toward a polished and competitive application.
Please note: This is not a passive learning experience. Participants must be actively drafting a grant proposal and ready to engage with feedback. You’ll get the most out of this program if you come prepared with a draft of your Specific Aims page or a brief project summary from the beginning.
Important Enrollment Information
- Priority is given to junior faculty
- Participants must be actively writing a grant
- Capacity is limited—first-come, first-served
- Previous attendees may be waitlisted based on space
Workshop Schedule
All sessions run from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Central) via Zoom. A limited number of in-person seats may become available.
- Monday, August 18, 2025
- Monday, August 25, 2025
- Monday, September 8, 2025
- Thursday, September 11, 2025
- Monday, September 15, 2025
To express your interest, please complete this brief form by Monday, August 11, 2025: 2025 Effective Grant Writing Workshop - Interest Survey. Zoom calendar invites will be shared upon selection and confirmation of participation. You must be able to participate in all 5 sessions.
Course Logistics
Session 1 – Writing a Compelling Aims Page
Explore the essential elements of a strong Aims page: context, hypothesis, goals, and structure. Peer review exercises will help sharpen your messaging and highlight areas for revision.
Session 2 – Strengthening Logic and Flow
Assess the coherence of your Specific Aims. Are the aims logically connected yet distinct? Participants will create and compare logic flowcharts to clarify the structure of their own proposals.
Session 3 – Live Editing & Critique
Watch live, in-depth editing of participant submissions with near-term deadlines. Learn by example as Karl works through Aims pages or research sections in real time.
Session 4 – Sentence-Level Precision
Discover key principles for writing clear, persuasive paragraphs and sentences. Participants will apply principles to their own drafts and refine writing for clarity and impact.
Session 5 – Aligning with NIH Review Criteria
Evaluate how well your proposal addresses NIH priorities—Significance, Innovation, and Approach. Peer review will focus on strengthening alignment and competitiveness.
If you have any questions about the Effective Grant Writing Workshop, please feel free to email us at mentoringprograms@rush.edu.