The goal of this exercise is to learn how to locate graduate student support by following the steps in a series of mock searches of the websites of funding agencies.
1. Browse the NIH grant database.
2. Locate a specific grant in the academic discipline of your choice
4. Contact the Principal Investigator
Go to the NIH grants database (CRISP) (Link will open in a new window).
The query form provides several options for searching awards. For this exercise, we will search for grant funded projects in Biostatistics in the state of Virginia. Enter “Biostatistics” in the Search Terms text box, and select “Virginia” in the State scroll box, then click on the Submit Query button.
CRISP lists awards for the “Biostatistics” query. Scroll down and look for an award that interests you.
Select the award by clicking on the project title. For this exercise, select “Studies of Estrogen Receptors in Autoimmunity.”
Read the entire abstract. The PI or Principal Investigator’s name is Wael N. Jarjour.
The grant abstract often includes information on:
The Principal Investigator (PI)
Co-investigator(s)
Sponsoring institution
Description of the project focus
Discipline or department from which the grant emanates.
However, sometimes you must go to the university website to learn the project particulars.NIH CRISP database lists the university and department at the bottom of the abstract, and the Principal Investigator, at the top.
TopNext step is to research the PI, Dr. Wael Jarjour. He holds a faculty appointment at the University of Virginia’s Department of Internal Medicine.
1.Locate the institution’s website using either: The email address of the PI provided in the abstract (www.virginia.edu) or an internet search engine.
2.Locate the academic unit from which the grant emanates: At the University of Virginia’s home page, look for the most likely academic department that would host “Internal Medicine”, for instance “Health/ Medical Center”.
2.Tip: familiarize yourself with the institution’s graduate research programs.
3.Common sense indicates that you should select “School of Medicine”.
4.From among the choices, “Clinical Departments” looks like the likely resident of “Internal Medicine.”
5.Select “Internal Medicine”: There are 13 units within the “Internal Medicine” Department. Scroll down to locate the most likely location for Dr. Jarjour’s department.
6.Often you would use the NIH grant title as a guide for making decisions. After trial and error, and the “Back” button, you can locate Dr. Jarjour in the Rheumatology section.
7.When you find Dr. Jarjour’s web page in the division of “Rheumatology and Immunology”, become familiar with the research in his home department through the “Research Projects” link.
If you or your student(s) are not interested in this type of academic research, you may need to return to the CRISP database, and begin again.
TopOnce you have learned about the project director/professor’s research, research facilities, funding and colleagues, you will be able to determine
1) The degree to which the professor’s or his colleague(s)’ research interests you and/or your student.
2) How best to approach the professor in an email or other communication.
Your email or letter should incorporate a discussion of the professor’s work. This discussion will indicate that you have been reviewing his/her website and have an interest in his/her research. In most situations, this display of interest will indicate to the professor that you are eager to conduct research in his/her chosen field.
For project directors to succeed in their funded research endeavor (the NIH grant of our example), they must employ a team of dedicated and enthusiastic research assistants. If a student wants to be one of those research assistants, he/she should indicate a serious interest in this research.
Here is a sample letter or e-mail that you can adapt when contacting Professors.
Dear Professor NAME,
I am a graduating senior, majoring in ACADEMIC MAJOR at the NAME OF THE UNIVERSITY. For the past three years, I have worked in a laboratory as part of my participation in the NAME OF THE UNDERGRADUATEPROGRAM IN WHICH YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED. Recently, I came across your research project on the world wide web. Your website (or your descriptions) were very exciting. I am eager to pursue an investigation of AREA OF RESEARCH, and I would like to have the opportunity to discuss your efforts. I am particularly intrigued by your use of PROCEDURE OR SUBSTANCE in controlling NAME OF experiments.
After seeing your website, I read your article on NAME OF JOURNAL. Will you be presenting at the annual PROFESSIONAL MEETING ? I have secured funding so that I might attend. If you have time, and if you are planning to attend the meeting, I would very much appreciate having the opportunity to speak with you in person. I realize that you must be very busy, and I do not wish to impose on you. So, I will certainly understand if you cannot meet with me. I look forward to learning more from you and I appreciate your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
J. Smith