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To receive funds for research or study in the United States,
some organizations require that you submit a carefully designed
plan for your proposed research. As a rule, your proposal
will be competing with those of other excellent scholars.
It is not enough to state your qualifications by simply citing
your diploma, your position, or your experience.
When a department committee or review board looks at research
proposals, they compare competing proposals with respect to
several criteria:
Is the proposed institution appropriate? Does the institution
have researchers who will be interested in the project and
able to supervise the work? If equipment is necessary, is
the right equipment available, or are funds available for
buying it? Are library or research collection facilities adequate?
Does the applicant clearly show the necessary background
in education and experience to be able to do the research
successfully? Has he or she demonstrated research aptitude?
Supporting documents or past papers are helpful.
Is the proposal carefully written and neatly presented? The
proposal should begin with a clear statement of goals of the
intended research project. It should include a summary of
background information regarding the need for the research,
highlights of related research (with a bibliography), a step-by-step
description of the research plan with expected results or
major theses, and a conclusion. The proposal should be typed.
Is the proposed research significant, timely, and original?
Although creativity, originality, and substance are usually
the most important criteria in choosing among proposals, disciplines
differ. In some fields, such as medicine, proposals that have
great promise of practical application may have an advantage.
If you are applying for a grant or program that supports
development in your country, it may be helpful if the research
you propose can be applied to your work after you return to
your home country.
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