The primary aim of this book is to shine some light on the grant writing and review processes, but it also provides some insights on how scientists can use crowdfunding to support research efforts. The authors base their commentary on conversations they held with senior investigators and grant administrators, most of whom live and work in Asia.
The authors provide an abridged version of typical advice that new faculty are given by senior colleagues, but it stops short of providing meaningful insights into specific funding agencies that are regularly targeted by researchers in North America or elsewhere. As a result, most of the advice in the book lacks the highly tailored understanding of grants that can be gained by attending an agency-centric grant-writing workshop.
After a short chapter on finding the right grant for which to apply, the authors provide insights on “the first steps” for investigators. Suggestions include: work on a proof of concept, build a track record in publications, become a grant reviewer, and seek mentors who have experience in writing grants. The third chapter provides a list of considerations to be mindful of when offered the opportunity to write a collaborative grant. Chapter 4, perhaps the best chapter in the book, provides a brief but valuable service by explaining some of the vocabulary used in the world of grants.
The book then turns its attention toward different sections of the written document and the purpose of each. Chapters 5–9 are devoted to individual components of the grant, namely, the title, abstract, specific aims, budget, and significance of the work. Each of these chapters provides imaginary examples and exercises to help the reader think through the craft behind each section. Chapter 10 looks at the value and pitfalls of innovation, while chapter 12 discusses the various types of risks associated with grants and grant writing. Chapters 11 and 13 discuss the actual grant review process and how to deal with having your grant rejected. The final chapter briefly explains crowdfunding for scientific research purposes.
This book includes many of the typical soundbites of advice that a new professor should hear within or prior to the first year. However, what this book covers in breadth, it often lacks in depth. Many ideas are limited to a page or less. Furthermore, by focusing on a global audience from across the sciences, there is little discussion on specific funding agencies that new professors in materials science, chemistry, engineering, physics, and related disciplines would be interested in targeting.
The authors use a diverse set of fonts and include some commentary in the page margins, which result in a distracted reading experience. For future investigators who are looking for that first academic position, this book can serve as a simple introduction to the grant writing process, but it should not be the only resource that investigators rely upon when writing a first grant or when turning to a crowdfunding website for the first time.
Reviewer: Anthony Stender, assistant professor of analytical chemistry at Ohio University, USA.
