10. Writing for research funding

Listen to Dr. Moreoagae Bertha Randa

The two main things I struggle with in my academic writing and how to overcome them. They include the following: time management and putting too much pressure on myself.

I struggle with time management because during the week I cannot find a suitable time to focus on this manuscript writing. It’s really hectic during the week. However, staying after hours, does work for me to a certain extent whereby I remain in the department for 2-3 hours, and I would leave around 6-7 pm, to head for home.

I also resort to working over the weekend when it’s more quite at home and nobody is there, although I also often drive to the department to focus for a number of hours, 6 hours maximum. So I do realize that I do that I manage to do quite a lot of work in this private space because you find that at home everybody is there so one cannot focus.

In overcoming them I often consult the research office because the support they give you is of much help and they also offer better advice.

Putting too much pressure on myself is something else because I aim to attain a lot within a short period of time which I’ve realized that it’s highly impossible. It’s like I’m being too hard on myself and being an [emerging] researcher I think this is just too much for myself, I am aiming too high. So I rather, you know, take it one day at a time […] time management, I do realize there is light at the end of the tunnel […] although the progress is slow, I am moving and I will definitely reach where I am going.

The two things that I’m having a challenge with mainly, is writing for grant applications and identifying a suitable journal to publish in.

I also actually have a problem with identifying and verify if the targeted journal is [accredited?] or not because the journal has to be accredited so that it is subsidised by the university and it gets money. Otherwise, if it is not accredited then it is actually not recognised by the University.

So, Identifying a journal is still a bit of a challenge for me.

Writing for grant applications is a massive, huge one because I don’t know how to go about writing a self-motivation. However, the guidelines to follow are there with the grant applications but putting things into perspective is still a nightmare for me.

And with the last grant application that I wrote, I honestly think I didn’t start this on time. I knew I had to write it but I didn’t put much focus into it up until the last two days before the submission date, and I realized that I made quite a number of mistakes. So I’ve realised that for grant application procedures, the minute that call is made, one must start preparing and packaging headings.

Of course I do have the information that is needed in the system, so mine is just to start preparing the document by creating the headings or start completing the application day by day so that by the time the submission or closing date is near, I am already at the end of the application process. This include having requested and received motivation letters or support letters from the HOD/ Dean or the DVC.

I’ve also realised that team writing is the best because with team writing you tend to distribute the work amongst yourselves, and most importantly, it pushes you, it forces you to stick to the deadlines because you have set timeframes. And regular follow-up meetings are held which makes it feasible as one would not want to be embarrassed for not delivering an allocated content, so one way or other it pushes you to the limit to strive to achieve the set objectives.

Currently I am writing alone for the mere fact that in my department we’ve got different topics of specific interest to us as individuals, so it’s like we don’t want to compromise that we focus on this one’s topic, next time we focus on somebody else’s, just like that for us to take turns. But I definitely support team writing as I’ve realised that with collaboration one can achieve so much in a short period of time.

Listen to Prof. Julie McGarry

Writing for research funding:

why have I chosen these funders?

how does my work fit in with the call/outline/aims of the funding organisation?

which collaborators will I need?

what do I need to work on in my application?

what is my timeline for writing, rewriting, reviewing, finalising and submitting my application? [TIP: It always takes longer]

do I have questions and who can help me address them?