Show that you understand the current state of research on your topic.
The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelor’s or master’s thesis proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for PhD dissertations or research funding are usually much longer and more detailed. Your supervisor can help you determine the best length for your work.
One trick to get started is to think of your proposal’s structure as a shorter version of your thesis or dissertation , only without the results , conclusion and discussion sections.
Download our research proposal template
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Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We’ve included a few for you below.
Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:
The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project. Make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why.
Your introduction should:
To guide your introduction , include information about:
As you get started, it’s important to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review shows your reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory. It also shows that you’re not simply repeating what other people have already done or said, but rather using existing research as a jumping-off point for your own.
In this section, share exactly how your project will contribute to ongoing conversations in the field by:
Following the literature review, restate your main objectives . This brings the focus back to your own project. Next, your research design or methodology section will describe your overall approach, and the practical steps you will take to answer your research questions.
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To finish your proposal on a strong note, explore the potential implications of your research for your field. Emphasize again what you aim to contribute and why it matters.
For example, your results might have implications for:
Last but not least, your research proposal must include correct citations for every source you have used, compiled in a reference list . To create citations quickly and easily, you can use our free APA citation generator .
Some institutions or funders require a detailed timeline of the project, asking you to forecast what you will do at each stage and how long it may take. While not always required, be sure to check the requirements of your project.
Here’s an example schedule to help you get started. You can also download a template at the button below.
Download our research schedule template
Research phase | Objectives | Deadline |
---|---|---|
1. Background research and literature review | 20th January | |
2. Research design planning | and data analysis methods | 13th February |
3. Data collection and preparation | with selected participants and code interviews | 24th March |
4. Data analysis | of interview transcripts | 22nd April |
5. Writing | 17th June | |
6. Revision | final work | 28th July |
If you are applying for research funding, chances are you will have to include a detailed budget. This shows your estimates of how much each part of your project will cost.
Make sure to check what type of costs the funding body will agree to cover. For each item, include:
To determine your budget, think about:
If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
Methodology
Statistics
Research bias
Once you’ve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement .
Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.
I will compare …
A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.
Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.
A PhD, which is short for philosophiae doctor (doctor of philosophy in Latin), is the highest university degree that can be obtained. In a PhD, students spend 3–5 years writing a dissertation , which aims to make a significant, original contribution to current knowledge.
A PhD is intended to prepare students for a career as a researcher, whether that be in academia, the public sector, or the private sector.
A master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.
All master’s involve graduate-level coursework. Some are research-intensive and intend to prepare students for further study in a PhD; these usually require their students to write a master’s thesis . Others focus on professional training for a specific career.
Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.
Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.
The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.
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What is the purpose of a research plan.
Introduction.
Expected results.
Step 1: define the project purpose, step 2: select the research method, step 3: manage the task and timeline, step 4: write a summary, step 5: plan the result presentation.
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Basic components of a research budget, two models of budget development, other factors affecting your budget.
Budgets should provide the sponsor with an accurate assessment of all cost items and cost amounts that are deemed necessary and reasonable to carry out your project. They should be based upon your description or the statement of work. Budget justification provides more in-depth detail and reason for each cost and is often considered by reviewers as a good indicator of the feasibility of the research.
A research budget contains both direct costs and indirect costs (overhead), but the level of detail varies from sponsor to sponsor. The first step in developing a budget is to carefully read the guidelines of the funding opportunity being pursued.
There is no magic formula available for developing a budget but there are some basic steps to follow in order to develop an accurate budget:
The examples below developed by the University of British Columbia demonstrate two ways to include indirect costs in your budget.
Unless the sponsor specifies in writing that they require the indirect costs of research to be presented as a separate line item (Cost Model), the indirect cost should be built into each budget line item (Price Model). Indirect costs are normally included in the price of goods and services worldwide.
For example, you are developing a budget for a funding opportunity with an indirect cost rate of 25%. Your direct costs are $201,000 broken down by expense categories shown in the second column of the table below. The third and fourth colums present the two ways you can include the 25% overhead in your budget using the Price Model or the Cost Model, respectively:
Line item description | Direct Cost | Price model (indirect cost built into each line item) | Cost model (indirect cost presented as a separate line item) |
---|---|---|---|
Salary: Post-Doctoral fellow * 1 | $42,000 | $52,500 | $42,000 |
Salary: PhD student * 2 | $43,000 | $53,750 | $43,000 |
Salary: Master's student * 3 | $54,000 | $67,500 | $54,000 |
Digital devices | $26,000 | $32,500 | $26,000 |
Consumables | $15,000 | $18,750 | $15,000 |
Travel and subsistence | $21,000 | $26,250 | $21,000 |
SFU Indirect Cost (25% of Direct Costs) | N/A | N/A | $50,250 |
In-kind and cash contributions, like other costs to the sponsored project, must be eligible and must be treated in a consistent and uniform manner in proposal preparation and in financial reporting.
Cash contributions are actual cash transactions that can be documented in the accounting system. Examples of cash contributions include:
In-kind contributions are both non-monetary or cash equivalent resources that can be given a cash value, such as goods and/or services in support of a research project or proposal. It is challenging to report on in-kind contribution, please make sure the numbers you use are well supported, consistent and easy to quantitate.
Examples of an in-kind contribution may include:
Some sponsored projects require the university and/or a third party to contribute a portion of the project costs–this contribution is known as matching.
Matching requirements may be in the form of an actual cash expenditure of funds or may be an “in-kind” match. For example:
Examples of agency programs that include some form of matching from a third party are:
While financial support is crucial for conducting research, acquiring funds for your research is a challenging task and so is planning the budget for grant proposal !
The key requisites of a successful grant proposal are:
In an attempt to grab the attention of funders, researchers strive to submit innovative research proposals and often overlook other elements when creating a successful grant proposal. One such neglected section is the budget for grant proposals . It is important for funders to know how finances are being utilized. Therefore, adequately estimating how much the project will cost and how the finances will be distributed can make all the difference. In simpler words, your grant proposal must explain your request in both textual and numeral forms.
It is often a challenge for budding researchers to present an estimated cost of their research. However, remember that the grant budget is not an organizational budget! Furthermore, in today’s age of stiff competition, even senior researchers will benefit from improving their budgeting skills. In this article, we will discuss ways on how to draft a compelling budget for grant proposal.
Why is the Budget Section Important for a Grant Proposal?
A grant budget is important to paint the financial picture of your research proposal to the funders. The budget for grant proposal provides the following:
What Constitutes a Budget for Grant Proposal?
An estimated budget quantifies the financial plan for possible expenses during the research project. The budget for grant proposals must demonstrate and serve a plan for funders on how the researcher/s will utilize the money for both operational aspects of the project and miscellaneous expenses associated with the research.
In order to stand out from other applicants, researchers can customize the budget for grant proposal as per the funding agencies’ guidelines. However, the major elements of the budget plan comprise two broad categories: Direct and Indirect Costs
Direct costs are perhaps the most critical part of your budget section. These expenses are solely incurred for executing your research. It broadly includes expenses towards:
Furthermore, direct costs are sub-categorized into the below two forms based on their occurrence during the research:
As human resources are required for the study, salaries with allowances must be budgeted as per funding agency guidelines. The human resources may include personnel such as site manager, research assistant, junior research fellow (JRF), senior research fellow (SRF), research associate, technician, or data entry operator, and attender.
These expenses are variable and may keep on occurring throughout the study period. Consumables, chemicals, glassware, laboratory test charges , diagnostic kits, stationery, prints, photocopies, communication, postage, telephone charges, survey tools, questionnaires, publication charges, reprints, binding, etc. are some of the particulars in this category. Additionally, recurring expenses could also include allowances for patients/participants, food charges, and medical charges.
These are expenses that are one-time in nature and do not recur at regular intervals throughout the research duration. Equipment or instruments along with its accessories, software programs, computers, printers, electronic accessories of existing instruments in your lab, etc. are some of the particulars covered under non-recurring expenses.
Travelling expenses can be used for attending meetings, conferences, workshops, and training programs relevant to your research study. Some funding agencies allow both foreign and domestic travel, whereas, some do not. You can mention traveling expenses for collection of data, survey, and visit to other centers in a multi-centric study in this sub-section.
The detailed budget for grant proposal should be clear, well organized and easy to understand. Below is an example for grant proposal. The costs described below are direct costs:
These do not directly attribute to specific expenses of a research, but rather act as an accomplice to run a project. These are also termed as overhead charges. Particulars such as electricity bill, water, library membership, accommodation charges, administrative charges, etc. are included in indirect costs. Generally, about 5–15% of the total budget is provisioned as overhead charges, which is credited to the institution directly. However, this range may vary as per the funding agency.
Tips to Draft a Compelling Budget for Grant Proposal
So when does your budget planning begin? It’s usually when you have your research question and a suitable study design ready!
Here are seven top tips to follow whilst drafting a compelling budget for grant proposal :
Study design, testing procedures, sample collection methods, and research settings are the essential factors that need to be focused on to resolve the research problem. The uniqueness and complexity of these essentials increases the chances of being incorporated in the budget.
You must abide by the budget rules and limitations provided by your potential funder and draft the budget accordingly. Scrutinize each instruction and do not deviate from its actual meaning. Most importantly, stick to the list of requisites provided by the funding agencies.
Breakup all particulars with their costs under related categories as mentioned earlier. Furthermore, follow an item-wise and year-wise tabulation method to present your budget.
Funders like to see that the investigators are valuing the finances provided and not splurging on irrelevant particulars. For instance, you must mention if you can redirect resources such as equipment or instruments that are already available from your previous study and can be used in your present study.
While you are seeking for funds , the funder is interested in investing in projects that bring other resources to the table. Owing to this, your budget section must include two sections:
Inclusion of expenses is obviously the major part of the budget section. Likewise, mentioning revenue in this case means other sources that will pay for your research.
You’d wonder—why do the potential funders care about where the other money is coming from? Well, it is to instill trust in the funders. Acquiring some or most of the needed funds gives credibility to your research and ensures the funder that organizations are willing to invest in non-profit research.
It is critical to base your budgeted expenses on the true costs of your project requisites. But pulling numbers out of thin air will lead to confusion and tally errors. Make sure that you find the cost of all particulars from trusted sources and quote them accurately in your budget. Avoid over-estimating your budget, as it may repel the funder. As you know, “something is better than nothing”! So stick to the narrative of your research and align the budget of grant proposal to it. Subsequently, it is important to keep in mind that a very low budget will raise eyebrows to suspicion. Thus, make sure what you request for is reasonable.
Describe your methodology to track the expenses throughout the project. You must mention how you plan to effectively manage your expenses and review them. Additionally, give references of some tools that you will be using to manage your finances.
Have you been facing challenges in drafting the budget for grant proposal ? What did you do to improve your budgeting skills? Try these tips while drafting the next budget for your grant proposal and let us know how it works out for you and your colleagues.
Hi , can i please get a template? for research grant
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To be a successful candidate for a research grant, you need perfect budget formulation and justification. Here, we will help you plan the research budget for your grant proposal and give you handy tips to transform it into a convincible form.
Your budget is the skeleton of your grant proposal. It provides the estimated finance your research needs to be completed in a particular time range. It also gives the funders an exact knowledge about where their funds will be used and how will they be financed ( Asya, 2008 ). It is your responsibility to postulate clearly how you will manage the funds if granted. An excellent budget plan will compel your funders to assume that you have thought about every financial detail concerning your project.
Certain wordings are preferred to convey your research budget information better. It is important to familiarize with them before constructing the budget section of the proposals. The lexis includes:
These are the expenses that are utilized solely for executing your research. For example, expenses on your research staff members, tools, materials, and travel finance.
These are the overhead charges reserved for institutional facilities that you avail yourself while conducting your research. For example, institutional laboratory, electricity, and water usage costs.
These are the additional benefits provided to the personnel, along with their basic salaries. Every institution has its own set of fringe benefits rates.
It is a group of institutions that apply for a grant together as one. They have reached a grant agreement, and one of the institutions represents them all. The budget is divided between them.
There are two budget designs used in the NIH grant applications. Specific points will decide the type of budget design form you have to use for your application. These are:
Your budget design is considered modular when your research fulfills the following criteria:
Your budget design should be in detailed form if your research project fulfills any of the below-mentioned criteria:
For the modular design, you have to fill out the PHS 398 modular budget application form, and for the detailed design budget, you have to use the R & R detailed budget application form.
Your budget planning starts when you find the research question and decide on a suitable study design. You should also be able to guess the unpredictable charges that can arise while conducting your research ( Sudheesh, Devika & Nethra, 2016 ). There are five main points to keep in mind while planning your research budget:
Think about all the things that will affect your research budget. These are mainly the study design, testing procedures, sample collection methods, and research settings. The more complicated and unique these essentials will be, the higher will be your budget requirements. Also, observe the already present resources and will they benefit your research budget.
The next point to consider while planning your budget is to abide by the budget rules and limitations of your particular funding agency. Read each instruction carefully and remember not to deviate from it. It is expected of you to provide the exact list of items necessary for your project.
Thirdly, a breakdown of each item into its related category should be made along with its cost. A breakdown of the budget item-wise and year-wise with cost calculation should be done. Point out the recurring and nonrecurring items that are directly related to your research. All this planning is done beforehand to ensure proper budget management.
For every enlisted item, you should be able to provide a solid justification for its importance in your research. Only a well-justified budget document can win the confidence of the peer reviewers.
Reviewing is the most significant step for every document or proposal. You can ask your team members to review your budget document for you. Also, recalculate the cost of each item and the total items combined cost per annum. Keep in mind that too low or high budget will only raise suspicion in the mind of your reviewers. So, make sure you plan a research budget range, not more than the maximum limit set by your funding agency ( Michael et al., 2019 ).
Projecting your finances into your application requires skills. When writing, we primarily divide our budget into two sub-sections. These include:
As mentioned before, these are the direct expenses on which your research is largely dependent. So, firstly, give the heading of direct costs and then further give the following subheadings with explanations.
Personnel Involved
If your research project involves resource team members, here is where you have to mention them. Your resource team includes the technicians, laboratory attendants, site caretakers, data entry personnel, junior researchers, and the senior researcher involved. Specify their allowances and salaries in an organized manner.
Recurring Expenditure
These expenses occur regularly and yet cannot be avoided. These include equipment usage, laboratory-conducted diagnostic tests, telecommunication charges, chemicals, and any other essential items. Fees for human subjects involved in your research are also stated here.
Non-recurring Expenditure
These are the costs of items for which you have to pay one-time charges, and then their use is free. These include buying charges for the printer, computer, or other electronic items. Once you buy them, they are charge-free. Thus, you have to specify all the non-recurring charges in your budget form.
Traveling Expenditure
In this subheading, specify the amount spent on your traveling for research purposes. Separately mention your traveling costs for attending research-related conferences, seminars, and training. Also, mention the travel expenses for the surveys and data collection. Visiting expenses to other institutions for the sake of a research study can also be mentioned here.
The second sub-section is indirect expenditure. It includes facilities that are indirectly related to your research project. These can be library facilities, electricity, and water usage for your experiments and test conduction. These are also called overhead charges that are paid specifically to the institution for providing such facilities ( Ahmed & Abdullah, 2017 ).
In the final paragraph, write a short finalizing note relating your budget outlining the main point. This should be a 4 to 5-lined paragraph.
Most of the funding agencies separately require justification for each item that you specified in your above-mentioned budget form. This document is also known as the budget narrative page. It reasons the importance of that item for your research conduction. Each item is mentioned in the same order as in your budget form and should be justified respectively ( Al-Jundi & Salah, 2016 ). It is best to make a three-columned table with the name of the item in the first column, the quantity and cost in the second column, and a justification statement in the third column.
In the last, you have to provide a summarized form of your budget for your proposed research. It is written at the end when you have completed writing your whole application. In this, you have to specify every item with its cost per annum. The non-recurring items will only be specified under the first-year heading as they have a one-time expense. Likewise, the recurring items will be mentioned in both years, along with their costs.
The following points will enhance the esthetics of your budget section:
Writing the budget items under a categorized heading will make it easy for the reviewers to retrieve the necessary points in your budget. You can use bullet marks or checklist signs to highlight your main points. This will show the reviewers that you have the budget representation skills and that your enlisted budget finance is authentic.
Try to write your budget essentials in a tabulated form with three main columns. The first column represents the item name. The second column specifies the cost of that particular essential. The third column signifies the importance of your particular essential in performing your research. This will save both time and effort of reviewers who have to scrutinize many applications at a time.
The pattern you follow for each essential specification in the budget form should be followed in the same manner while writing the budget justification document. There should be a flow in your budget data and which will further enhance its esthetics.
Your language should be simple enough to be understood by a common person. Complicated terms and phrases will only make it difficult for reviewers to reach your point of view.
Your budget prepares you for all the financial aids you need to conduct your research. It informs you about the expenses of each research item and method. In this way, you can choose an economical procedure for your research. The budget section is considered as the key factor of success or failure for your proposal. This section requires a skillful approach and should be handled delicately. Nowadays, research writers record their budget in the form of electronic spreadsheets. It is easy to manage the budget essentials and the expenses via these excel spreadsheets. You just need to point out and categorize the direct and indirect costs in the already drawn tabulated budget spreadsheet. Hence, you will be able to plan and compose a well-scripted budget by following the instructions given in this article.
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In this part, we give you detailed information about writing an effective Research Plan. We start with the importance and parameters of significance and innovation.
We then discuss how to focus the Research Plan, relying on the iterative process described in the Iterative Approach to Application Planning Checklist shown at Draft Specific Aims and give you advice for filling out the forms.
You'll also learn the importance of having a well-organized, visually appealing application that avoids common missteps and the importance of preparing your just-in-time information early.
While this document is geared toward the basic research project grant, the R01, much of it is useful for other grant types.
Research plan overview and your approach, craft a title, explain your aims, research strategy instructions, advice for a successful research strategy, graphics and video, significance, innovation, and approach, tracking for your budget, preliminary studies or progress report, referencing publications, review and finalize your research plan, abstract and narrative.
Your application's Research Plan has two sections:
In your Specific Aims, you note the significance and innovation of your research; then list your two to three concrete objectives, your aims.
Your Research Strategy is the nuts and bolts of your application, where you describe your research rationale and the experiments you will conduct to accomplish each aim. Though how you organize it is largely up to you, NIH expects you to follow these guidelines.
To write the Research Plan, you don't need the application forms. Write the text in your word processor, turn it into a PDF file, and upload it into the application form when it's final.
Because NIH may return your application if it doesn't meet all requirements, be sure to follow the rules for font, page limits, and more. Read the instructions at NIH’s Format Attachments .
For an R01, the Research Strategy can be up to 12 pages, plus one page for Specific Aims. Don't pad other sections with information that belongs in the Research Plan. NIH is on the lookout and may return your application to you if you try to evade page limits.
As you read this page, look at our Sample Applications and More to see some of the different strategies successful PIs use to create an outstanding Research Plan.
Writing in a logical sequence will save you time.
Information you put in the Research Plan affects just about every other application part. You'll need to keep everything in sync as your plans evolve during the writing phase.
It's best to consider your writing as an iterative process. As you develop and finalize your experiments, you will go back and check other parts of the application to make sure everything is in sync: the "who, what, when, where, and how (much money)" as well as look again at the scope of your plans.
In that vein, writing in a logical sequence is a good approach that will save you time. We suggest proceeding in the following order:
Even the smaller sections of your application need to be well-organized and readable so reviewers can readily grasp the information. If writing is not your forte, get help.
To view writing strategies for successful applications, see our Sample Applications and More . There are many ways to create a great application, so explore your options.
Within the character limit, include the important information to distinguish your project within the research area, your project's goals, and the research problem.
Giving your project a title at the outset can help you stay focused and avoid a meandering Research Plan. So you may want to launch your writing by creating a well-defined title.
NIH gives you a 200 character limit, but don’t feel obliged to use all of that allotment. Instead, we advise you to keep the title as succinct as possible while including the important information to distinguish your project within the research area. Make your title reflect your project's goals, the problem your project addresses, and possibly your approach to studying it. Make your title specific: saying you are studying lymphocyte trafficking is not informative enough.
For examples of strong titles, see our Sample Applications and More .
After you write a preliminary title, check that
Later you may want to change your initial title. That's fine—at this point, it's just an aid to keep your plans focused.
Since all your reviewers read your Specific Aims, you want to excite them about your project.
If testing your hypothesis is the destination for your research, your Research Plan is the map that takes you there.
You'll start by writing the smaller part, the Specific Aims. Think of the one-page Specific Aims as a capsule of your Research Plan. Since all your reviewers read your Specific Aims, you want to excite them about your project.
For more on crafting your Specific Aims, see Draft Specific Aims .
Use at least half the page to provide the rationale and significance of your planned research. A good way to start is with a sentence that states your project's goals.
For the rest of the narrative, you will describe the significance of your research, and give your rationale for choosing the project. In some cases, you may want to explain why you did not take an alternative route.
Then, briefly describe your aims, and show how they build on your preliminary studies and your previous research. State your hypothesis.
If it is likely your application will be reviewed by a study section with broad expertise, summarize the status of research in your field and explain how your project fits in.
In the narrative part of the Specific Aims of many outstanding applications, people also used their aims to
Depending on your situation, decide which items are important for you. For example, a new investigator would likely want to highlight preliminary data and qualifications to do the work.
Many people use bold or italics to emphasize items they want to bring to the reviewers' attention, such as the hypothesis or rationale.
After the narrative, enter your aims as bold bullets, or stand-alone or run-on headers.
How focused should your aims be? Look at the example below.
Read the Specific Aims of the Application from Drs. Li and Samulski , "Enhance AAV Liver Transduction with Capsid Immune Evasion."
After finishing the draft Specific Aims, check that
For each element listed above, analyze your text and revise it until your Specific Aims hit all the key points you'd like to make.
After the list of aims, some people add a closing paragraph, emphasizing the significance of the work, their collaborators, or whatever else they want to focus reviewers' attention on.
Your Research Strategy is the bigger part of your application's Research Plan (the other part is the Specific Aims—discussed above.)
The Research Strategy is the nuts and bolts of your application, describing the rationale for your research and the experiments you will do to accomplish each aim. It is structured as follows:
Though how you organize your application is largely up to you, NIH does want you to follow these guidelines:
For an R01, the Research Strategy is limited to 12 pages for the three main sections and the preliminary studies only. Other items are not included in the page limit.
Find instructions for R01s in the SF 424 Application Guide—go to NIH's SF 424 (R&R) Application and Electronic Submission Information for the generic SF 424 Application Guide or find it in your notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).
For most applications, you need to address Rigor and Reproducibility by describing the experimental design and methods you propose and how they will achieve robust and unbiased results. The requirement applies to research grant, career development, fellowship, and training applications.
If you're responding to an institute-specific program announcement (PA) (not a parent program announcement) or a request for applications (RFA), check the NIH Guide notice, which has additional information you need. Should it differ from the NOFO, go with the NIH Guide .
Also note that your application must meet the initiative's objectives and special requirements. NIAID program staff will check your application, and if it is not responsive to the announcement, your application will be returned to you without a review.
When writing your Research Strategy, your goal is to present a well-organized, visually appealing, and readable description of your proposed project. That means your writing should be streamlined and organized so your reviewers can readily grasp the information. If writing is not your forte, get help.
There are many ways to create an outstanding Research Plan, so explore your options.
Your application's Research Plan is the map that shows your reviewers how you plan to test your hypothesis.
It not only lays out your experiments and expected outcomes, but must also convince your reviewers of your likely success by allaying any doubts that may cross their minds that you will be able to conduct the research.
Notice in the sample applications how the writing keeps reviewers' eyes on the ball by bringing them back to the main points the PIs want to make. Write yourself an insurance policy against human fallibility: if it's a key point, repeat it, then repeat it again.
So as you write, put the big picture squarely in your sights. When reviewers read your application, they'll look for the answers to three basic questions:
Savvy PIs create opportunities to drive their main points home. They don't stop at the Significance section to emphasize their project's importance, and they look beyond their biosketches to highlight their team's expertise.
Don't take a chance your reviewer will gloss over that one critical sentence buried somewhere in your Research Strategy or elsewhere. Write yourself an insurance policy against human fallibility: if it's a key point, repeat it, then repeat it again.
Add more emphasis by putting the text in bold, or bold italics (in the modern age, we skip underlining—it's for typewriters).
Here are more strategies from our successful PIs:
You can see many of these principles at work in the Approach section of the Application from Dr. William Faubion , "Inflammatory cascades disrupt Treg function through epigenetic mechanisms."
Our applicants not only wrote with their reviewers in mind they seemed to anticipate their questions. You may think: how can I anticipate all the questions people may have? Of course you can't, but there are some basic items (in addition to the "big three" listed above) that will surely be on your reviewers' minds:
Address these questions; then spend time thinking about more potential issues specific to you and your research—and address those too.
For applications, a picture can truly be worth a thousand words. Graphics can illustrate complex information in a small space and add visual interest to your application.
Look at our sample applications to see how the investigators included schematics, tables, illustrations, graphs, and other types of graphics to enhance their applications.
Consider adding a timetable or flowchart to illustrate your experimental plan, including decision trees with alternative experimental pathways to help your reviewers understand your plans.
If you plan to send one or more videos, you'll need to meet certain standards and include key information in your Research Strategy now.
To present some concepts or demonstrations, video may enhance your application beyond what graphics alone can achieve. However, you can't count on all reviewers being able to see or hear video, so you'll want to be strategic in how you incorporate it into your application.
Be reviewer-friendly. Help your cause by taking the following steps:
In addition to those considerations, create your videos to fit NIH’s technical requirements. Learn more in the SF 424 Form Instructions .
Next, as you write your Research Strategy, include key images from the video and a brief description.
Then, state in your cover letter that you plan to send video later. (Don't attach your files to the application.)
After you apply and get assignment information from the Commons, ask your assigned scientific review officer (SRO) how your business official should send the files. Your video files are due at least one month before the peer review meeting.
The primary audience for your application is your peer review group. Learn how to write for the reviewers who are experts in your field and those who are experts in other fields by reading Know Your Audience .
In the top-notch applications we reviewed, organization ruled but followed few rules. While you want to be organized, how you go about it is up to you.
Nevertheless, here are some principles to follow:
The Research Strategy's page limit—12 for R01s—is for the three main parts: Significance, Innovation, and Approach and your preliminary studies (or a progress report if you're renewing your grant). Other sections, for example, research animals or select agents, do not have a page limit.
Although you will emphasize your project's significance throughout the application, the Significance section should give the most details. Don't skimp—the farther removed your reviewers are from your field, the more information you'll need to provide on basic biology, importance of the area, research opportunities, and new findings.
When you describe your project's significance, put it in the context of 1) the state of your field, 2) your long-term research plans, and 3) your preliminary data.
In our Sample Applications , you can see that both investigators and reviewers made a case for the importance of the research to improving human health as well as to the scientific field.
Look at the Significance section of the Application from Dr. Mengxi Jiang , "Intersection of polyomavirus infection and host cellular responses," to see how these elements combine to make a strong case for significance.
After conveying the significance of the research in several parts of the application, check that
If you are either a new PI or entering a new area: be cautious about seeming too innovative. Not only is innovation just one of five review criteria, but there might be a paradigm shift in your area of science. A reviewer may take a challenge to the status quo as a challenge to his or her world view.
When you look at our sample applications, you see that both the new and experienced investigators are not generally shifting paradigms. They are using new approaches or models, working in new areas, or testing innovative ideas.
After finishing the draft innovation section, check that
In your Approach, you spell out a few sets of experiments to address each aim. As we noted above, it's a good idea to restate the key points you've made about your project's significance, its place in your field, and your long-term goals.
You're probably wondering how much detail to include.
If you look at our sample applications as a guide, you can see very different approaches. Though people generally used less detail than you'd see in a scientific paper, they do include some experimental detail.
Expect your assigned reviewers to scrutinize your approach: they will want to know what you plan to do and how you plan to do it.
NIH data show that of the peer review criteria, approach has the highest correlation with the overall impact score.
Look at the Application from Dr. Mengxi Jiang , "Intersection of polyomavirus infection and host cellular responses," to see how a new investigator handled the Approach section.
For an example of an experienced investigator's well-received Approach section, see the Application from Dr. William Faubion , "Inflammatory cascades disrupt Treg function through epigenetic mechanisms."
Especially if you are a new investigator, you need enough detail to convince reviewers that you understand what you are undertaking and can handle the method.
Be sure to lay out a plan for alternative experiments and approaches in case you get negative or surprising results. Show reviewers you have a plan for spending the four or five years you will be funded no matter where the experiments lead.
See the Application from Drs. Li and Samulski , "Enhance AAV Liver Transduction with Capsid Immune Evasion," for a strong Approach section covering potential. As an example, see section C.1.3.'s alternative approaches.
Here are some pointers for organizing your Approach:
Trim the fat—omit all information not needed to make your case. If you try to wow reviewers with your knowledge, they'll find flaws and penalize you heavily. Don't give them ammunition by including anything you don't need.
As you design your experiments, keep a running tab of the following essential data on a separate piece of paper:
Jotting this information down will help you Create a Budget and complete other sections later.
After finishing a draft Approach section, check that
If you are applying for a new application, include preliminary studies; for a renewal or a revision (a competing supplement to an existing grant), prepare a progress report instead.
Your preliminary studies show that you can handle the methods and interpret results. Here's where you build reviewer confidence that you are headed in the right direction by pursuing research that builds on your accomplishments.
Reviewers use your preliminary studies together with the biosketches to assess the investigator review criterion, which reflects the competence of the research team.
Give alternative interpretations to your data to show reviewers you've thought through problems in-depth and are prepared to meet future challenges. If you don't do this, the reviewers will!
Though you may include other people's publications, focus on your preliminary data or unpublished data from your lab and the labs of your team members as much as you can.
As we noted above, you can put your preliminary data anywhere in the Research Strategy that you feel is appropriate, but just make sure your reviewers will be able to distinguish it. Alternatively, you can create a separate section with its own header.
If you are applying for a renewal or a revision (a competing supplement to an existing grant), prepare a progress report instead of preliminary studies.
Create a header so your program officer can easily find it and include the following information:
Note: if you submit a renewal application before the due date of your progress report, you do not need to submit a separate progress report for your grant. However, you will need to submit it, if your renewal is not funded.
After finishing the draft, check that
References show your breadth of knowledge of the field. If you leave out an important work, reviewers may assume you're not aware of it.
Throughout your application, you will reference all relevant publications for the concepts underlying your research and your methods.
Read more about your Bibliography and References Cited at Add a Bibliography and Appendix .
Look over what you've written with a critical eye of a reviewer to identify potential questions or weak spots.
Enlist others to do that too—they can look at your application with a fresh eye. Include people who aren't familiar with your research to make sure you can get your point across to someone outside your field.
As you finalize the details of your Research Strategy, you will also need to return to your Specific Aims to see if you must revise. See Draft Specific Aims .
After you finish your Research Plan, you are ready to write your Abstract (called Project Summary/Abstract) and Project Narrative, which are attachments to the Other Project Information form.
These sections may be small, but they're important.
Be sure to omit confidential or proprietary information in these sections! When your application is funded, NIH enters your title and Abstract in the public RePORTER database.
Think brief and simple: to the extent that you can, write these sections in lay language, and include appropriate keywords, e.g., immunotherapy, genetic risk factors.
As NIH referral officers use these parts to direct your application to an institute for possible funding, your description can influence the choice they make.
Write a succinct summary of your project that both a scientist and a lay person can understand (to the extent that you can).
In your Project Narrative, you have only a few sentences to drive home your project's potential to improve public health.
Check out these effective Abstracts and Narratives from our R01 Sample Applications :
Have questions.
A program officer in your area of science can give you application advice, NIAID's perspective on your research, and confirmation that your proposed research fits within NIAID’s mission.
Find contacts and instructions at When to Contact an NIAID Program Officer .
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Setting up a research budget plan is really crucial for any Ph.D. candidate or any other researcher. This plan will help you know how expensive your research is. A research budget ensures you if all the costs are covered or if you need any additional funds to cover the research expenses. In conclusion, this guide will help you to provide a realistic appraisal of the research costs.
Is there a fund? Is there a funding opportunity within the Faculty? How about the cost of publishing your article in an open-access journal? Some Universities fund publication cost too.
When you are planning a research budget there is different kind of costs:
This kind of cost is utilized solely to execute the research. like expenses on:
These expenses will be reserved for institutional facilities when conducting your research. For example:
There is 2 kind of budget designs:
When you find the research question and plan a suitable study design; You can guess the unpredictable charges that can arise while researching. Consider these five main points while planning your research budget:
Which items will affect your research budget? These are mainly:
Find the introduction of budget rules and limitations by your funding agency.
You should do a breakdown of the budget item-wise and year-wise with cost calculation. After that, consider the recurring and nonrecurring items that are directly related to your research.
For every enlisted item provide a solid justification for its importance in your research budget.
Reviewing is the most significant step of your budget plan. Above all, Recalculate the cost of each item and the total items. Remember that too low or high budget will raise suspicion in the mind of your reviewers. So stay in the research budget range.
The funding agencies require justification for each item of the budget plan. This document is also known as the budget narrative page. In other words, It reasons the importance of each item. Academictown suggests drawing a three-columned table with:
At last, provide a summarized form of your budget to specify every item with its cost per annum:
This research budget plan prepares you for all the financial aids you need. The plan will inform you about the expenses of each research item and method. The budget section is the key factor of success or failure for your proposal. For instance, You can manage the items with a spreadsheet. Pointing out and categorizing the direct and indirect costs, at last, will be able to plan and compose a well-scripted budget.
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When you’re putting together a research proposal, one of the most important parts is the budget. It’s like planning how to spend your allowance, but for a big project!
This guide will help you understand how to break down your research budget into different parts, making it easier for you to plan and for others to understand where the money will go.
What You'll Learn
Before we dive into the details, let’s talk about why having a clear budget is so crucial:
Now, let’s look at the main parts of a research budget:
This is often the biggest chunk of your budget . It covers the money you’ll pay to people working on the project.
Subheadings:
a) Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Investigators
Example: Dr. Jane Smith (PI) – 30% time for 12 months Annual salary: $80,000 Budget: 30% of $80,000 = $24,000
b) Research Assistants
Example: Research Assistant – $20/hour, 20 hours/week for 40 weeks Budget: $20 x 20 x 40 = $16,000
c) Consultants
Example: Statistical Consultant – $100/hour, estimated 20 hours Budget: $100 x 20 = $2,000
d) Student Support
Example: Graduate Student Assistant – $1,500/month for 9 months Budget: $1,500 x 9 = $13,500
This covers all the physical items you need to buy for your research.
a) Major Equipment
Example: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) Machine Cost: $30,000 (including shipping and installation)
b) Minor Equipment
Example: Digital scales (2) – $500 each Budget: $500 x 2 = $1,000
c) Consumables
Example: Lab chemicals – $2,000 Glassware – $500 Office supplies – $300 Total: $2,800
d) Software
Example: Statistical analysis software license – $1,200/year Budget for 2-year project: $1,200 x 2 = $2,400
If your research involves trips to collect data, attend conferences, or meet with collaborators, include these costs.
a) Field Work
Example: Field trip to Amazon rainforest:
b) Conferences
Example: Annual Ecology Conference:
c) Collaboration Meetings
Example: Visit to partner lab in Germany:
If you need to use special facilities or rent space for your research, include these costs.
a) Laboratory Space
Example: Lab rental at local research center: $500/month for 12 months = $6,000
b) Specialized Facilities
Example: Use of Electron Microscope facility: $200/hour, estimated 20 hours needed Budget: $200 x 20 = $4,000
c) Field Station Fees
Example: Mountain Research Station fee: $100/day for 30 days = $3,000
If your research involves human subjects, you might need to pay them or cover their expenses.
a) Participant Compensation
Example: 100 participants at $20 each Budget: 100 x $20 = $2,000
b) Participant Travel Reimbursement
Example: Estimated average travel cost per participant: $15 100 participants Budget: 100 x $15 = $1,500
c) Refreshments
Example: Snacks and drinks for 100 participants at $5 each Budget: 100 x $5 = $500
These are costs related to sharing your research results.
a) Open Access Publication Fees
Example: Estimated fee for open access journal: $2,500
b) Printing Costs
Example: 50 color posters at $30 each Budget: 50 x $30 = $1,500
c) Website Development
Example: Website design and hosting for 2 years: $1,000
These are overhead costs that your institution might charge for managing your grant.
a) Facilities and Administration (F&A) Costs
Example: If your total direct costs are $100,000 and your institution’s F&A rate is 52%: Indirect costs: $100,000 x 52% = $52,000
b) Cost Sharing
Example: If the grant requires 10% cost sharing on a $100,000 project: Cost sharing amount: $100,000 x 10% = $10,000 (to be provided by your institution)
This category covers any other expenses that don’t fit neatly into the above categories.
a) Insurance
Example: Field work insurance for 3 researchers for 2 weeks: $600
b) Shipping
Example: Estimated shipping costs for samples: $800
c) Communication
Example: Satellite phone rental for remote fieldwork: $10/day for 30 days = $300
It’s wise to include a small amount for unexpected expenses.
Example: 5% of total direct costs for contingency
If your total direct costs are $100,000: Contingency: $100,000 x 5% = $5,000
Putting It All Together
Once you’ve calculated all these parts, add them up to get your total budget. Here’s a simplified example:
Total Budget: $180,670
Remember, every research project is different, so your budget might not need all these categories, or it might need additional ones. The key is to think carefully about everything your research will require and account for it in your budget.
Tips for Creating Your Budget
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Mastering the Art of Writing: How to Write a Grant Proposal
How to Write a Comprehensive PhD Research Proposal in Sociology
Sample Proposal Budget Example
SAMPLE PROJECT PROPOSAL AND BUDGET
Q1: What if I’m not sure about exact costs? A: It’s okay to estimate, but be sure to explain your basis for the estimate in your budget justification. Use phrases like “based on current market prices” or “average of three vendor quotes.”
Q2: Can I include my own salary in the budget? A: This depends on your situation and the funding agency’s rules. In many cases, yes, especially if you’re not already fully funded for the time you’ll spend on this project. Always check the specific guidelines for the grant you’re applying to.
Q3: What’s the difference between direct and indirect costs? A: Direct costs are expenses specifically for your project, like salaries, equipment, or travel. Indirect costs (also called overhead or Facilities and Administrative costs) are expenses that benefit your project but also other activities at your institution, like building maintenance or administrative support.
Q4: Should I ask for the maximum amount allowed by the grant? A: Not necessarily. Ask for what you genuinely need to complete your project successfully. Inflating your budget unnecessarily can hurt your chances of getting funded.
Q5: What if I need to make changes to my budget after it’s approved? A: Most funding agencies allow some flexibility, but major changes usually require approval. Always communicate with your program officer if you need to make significant changes.
Q6: Do I need to include quotes or price lists with my budget? A: It’s not usually required in the initial proposal, but having this documentation can be helpful if you’re asked to justify your costs. For very expensive items, including a quote can strengthen your proposal.
Q7: How detailed should my budget be? A: Your main budget should be a clear summary, but you should be prepared to provide a more detailed breakdown if asked. Many proposals require a separate budget justification document where you can provide more detail.
Q8: What if I forget something in my budget? A: That’s why it’s good to include a contingency amount. If you realize you’ve forgotten something major before submitting, see if you can revise your budget. If it’s after submission or approval, talk to your program officer about options.
Q9: Should I round my numbers? A: For smaller amounts, rounding to the nearest dollar is fine. For larger amounts, you might round to the nearest $10 or $100. The key is to be consistent and make your budget easy to read.
Q10: How do I handle in-kind contributions or cost sharing? A: These should be mentioned in your proposal and budget justification, but they’re usually not included in the main budget you’re requesting from the funding agency. They show additional support for your project.
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As the nation’s largest public research university, the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) aims to catalyze, support and safeguard U-M research and scholarship activity.
The Office of the Vice President for Research oversees a variety of interdisciplinary units that collaborate with faculty, staff, students and external partners to catalyze, support and safeguard research and scholarship activity.
ORSP manages pre-award and some post-award research activity for U-M. We review contracts for sponsored projects applying regulatory, statutory and organizational knowledge to balance the university's mission, the sponsor's objectives, and the investigator's intellectual pursuits.
Ethics and compliance in research covers a broad range of activity from general guidelines about conducting research responsibly to specific regulations governing a type of research (e.g., human subjects research, export controls, conflict of interest).
eResearch is U-M's site for electronic research administration. Access: Regulatory Management (for IRB or IBC rDNA applications); Proposal Management (eRPM) for the e-routing, approval, and submission of proposals (PAFs) and Unfunded Agreements (UFAs) to external entities); and Animal Management (for IACUC protocols and ULAM).
Sponsored Programs manages the post-award financial activities of U-M's research enterprise and other sponsored activities to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws as well as sponsor regulations. The Office of Contract Administration (OCA) is also part of the Office of Finance - Sponsored Programs.
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The Principal Investigator has primary responsibility for budget planning, in consultation with the department chair or director of the research unit. Budgets for all sponsored proposals are subject to review by ORSP.
Certain funding agencies (e.g. the National Institutes of Health (NIH)) are increasingly allowing data management and sharing (DMS) costs to be included as direct costs in proposal budgets.
NIH DMS costs should be shared in the appropriate cost category, e.g., personnel, equipment, supplies, and other expenses, following the instructions and providing details as instructed within the applicable form (e.g., R&R Budget Form or PHS 398 Modular Budget Form).
In most cases, the DMS Plan oversight at U-M will be provided by the principal investigator (PI) and other study personnel. If help is needed, consider these resources:
Sponsors often prescribe the budget format that must accompany the proposal, including the specific cost categories that should be identified. The format shown on the sample budget page may be used, however, if one is not specified by the sponsor. Be sure to check with your department, unit, school or college administrator to determine the best practice.
The budget should be subdivided into periods of 12-month duration (unless partial year funding is anticipated). A "starting date" should be specified, since it is essential to ensure accurate budget calculations. If cost-sharing is included, each budget period should include columns for both "Sponsor" and "University" costs. A budget summary should be included for proposals with multi-year funding. All budget entries should be rounded to the nearest whole dollar.
The salary category in the proposed budget should include the names and/or titles for all personnel involved in the project. The number of person months or percent effort to be applied to the project should also be shown. Total salary costs can be determined by applying the percentage of effort to the current salary rates. An appropriate escalation rate (e.g., 3%) should be used to determine salary requirements beyond the current fiscal year. While standard percentages are applied to make these calculations, no commitment and no constraint on the rate of increase for a given individual is implied by this procedure.
If a faculty member is working on several sponsored projects, care must be exercised to ensure that no more than 100 percent of effort is committed to the aggregate of all projects and other University responsibilities.
Summer salary for faculty with academic year (AY) appointments can be figured at one-ninth of their institutional base salary for each month of summer effort. A maximum of two and one-half months may be included for the whole summer. Some sponsors, however, impose specific limitations on summer salaries. The National Science Foundation, for example, usually will not pay for more than two months of summer research at a rate of one-ninth of the AY salary per month.
Costs incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances must be treated consistently. For example, salaries of technical staff should be treated as direct costs wherever the work to be undertaken can be identified with a particular sponsored project. Direct charging of these costs may be accomplished by specifying individual positions within the project budget or through the use of recharge rates or specialized service facilities, as appropriate under the circumstances.
The salaries of administrative and clerical support staff normally should be treated as indirect costs . However, it may be appropriate to charge these costs directly to a sponsored project when the participation of the administrative/clerical staff being charged to a federal project meet all four of the following conditions as set forth in §200.413 of the Uniform Guidance:
“(1) Administrative or clerical services are integral to a project or activity;
(2) Individuals involved can be specifically identified with the project or activity;
(3) Such costs are explicitly included in the budget or have the prior written approval of the Federal awarding agency; and
(4) The costs are not also recovered as indirect costs.”
The meaning of (4) is the same as that of 200.403(d) above. That is to say, the project must require support services beyond the normal scope necessary for the typical sponsored project (i.e., it is an unlike circumstance).
Personnel may be hired to work on a sponsored project on an hourly basis for periods up to 12 months. Individuals hired on this basis receive no staff benefits other than Social Security and should be advised accordingly. The Personnel Service Center should be consulted to obtain the appropriate hourly rates for various categories of employment.
Staff benefits are charged to sponsored project accounts on a real cost basis. Depending on the mix of personnel assigned to the project, the staff benefit rate may show significant variation. While it may be possible to apply an average benefit rate (30%), it may be more appropriate in some situations to calculate the staff benefits on an employee-by-employee basis. The range of applicable benefit rates are provided in Staff Benefits Table .
GSRA Cost Estimates are for budget estimating purposes only and may vary from school to school. A GSRA appointment may be held from May through August, even though the GSRA is not enrolled in the University during that time. If the appointment is for the winter and fall terms, the fringe benefit charges should be budgeted for the full year, since the student is eligible for coverage during the intervening summer even though he or she is not on a GSRA appointment at that time.
The non-resident tuition differential is provided by the University for out-of-state students appointed as GSRAs. In-state tuition should be charged to sponsored accounts for GSRAs with appointments of 25% or greater. However, Schools and Colleges may provide tuition fellowships to cover a portion of the in-state tuition for GSRAs (see GSRA Cost Estimates ). The portion of the in-state tuition that remains after the fellowship is applied must be included on the grant as a charge to the sponsor.
In-state tuition charges should not be included as part of the GSRA stipend. The modified total direct cost (MTDC) base on which the University's indirect cost rate is calculated must exclude tuition charges. Therefore, indirect costs are not recoverable on tuition charges included in proposals for which the indirect cost rate is based on MTDC. Please contact the appropriate ORSP Project Representative should you have any questions.
Consumable supplies are items used exclusively in support of project objectives. If it can be demonstrated that such supplies are used only in the conduct of the project and not for other purposes and are consumed completely in the course of the project, such items can be included as direct costs. Laboratory supplies, laboratory notebooks, printer paper for research data and reports, and so forth usually can be justified as consumable supplies. However, when supply items are purchased to support the multiple activities of project personnel, they are considered office supplies and cannot be charged directly to federal funds. Such items would include University stationary, pens, tablets, file folders, staples, paper clips, etc.
The estimated costs of consumable supplies and materials should be indicated in the proposed budget. It is generally acceptable to sponsors to provide a breakdown of supplies and materials by broad categories as opposed to the detailed listing of individual items. Contracts awarded by industries holding a prime contract with a federal agency, however, may require detailed itemization of supplies.
Major items of equipment proposed for acquisition should be itemized by descriptive name and estimated cost, and an adequate justification should be provided in the proposal narrative. Items costing less than $5000 or with a useful life expectancy of less than one year normally should be included under "Supplies and Materials." Shipping and/or installation charges associated with equipment acquisitions should be included in the cost estimates but generally are not itemized.
Charges for computing services should be budgeted whenever these costs are justified. It is essential, however, that the budget clearly differentiate between central computing services provided by Information Technology Services and other computing services.
Other specialized service centers that have an approved user rate should be included in the proposed budget on a cost basis that reflects the recharge rates with the anticipated number of hours or other units of service clearly indicated. Once established, the schedule of rates must be applied to all users of the services/facilities, including internal-university users. Recharge rates are designed to recover, over the long term, not more than the aggregate cost of the services provided. The recharge/user rate should be included as part of the modified total direct cost (MTDC) for the project and should carry the appropriate indirect cost rate .
Federal agencies frequently establish a maximum daily rate of pay for consultants--specific dollar limits for various agencies are available from ORSP. The University must enter into a formal agreement with the consultant prior to the initiation of his or her effort. Consultant agreements as subject to the full recovery of indirect costs at the rate applicable to other direct cost items in the proposed budget.
The entire cost of a subcontract is normally shown as a single line item under "Other Direct Costs." A formal proposal from the subcontractor--including a statement of work, a detailed budget, period of performance, and key personnel--should be included to support this cost element. The Project Director should provide an explanation of why and how the proposed sub-contractor was selected, including the number of bids obtained.
Subcontracted effort requires a formal agreement between the University and the subcontractor, signed by a University official authorized to enter into contractual agreements on behalf of the Board of Regents. See: the Subcontracts and Hybrid Purchase Orders web page for criteria and procedures. Indirect costs are recovered on the first $25,000 of each subcontract.
Indirect costs are real costs of University operations that are not readily assignable to a particular project. The sample budget illustrates the procedures for applying the indirect cost rate .
Human subjects often are paid a fee for their participation in research projects. Protocols for the use of human beings in research, teaching, or testing are reviewed and approved, according to federal, state and university policies. (See: Human Research Protection Program )
Funds may be requested from the sponsor to cover travel costs associated with the proposed project. Sponsors often require a breakdown of such travel costs by trip, reflecting the purpose, point of travel, number of persons, number of days, air fare, lodging and meal costs (per diem), and so forth. If foreign travel is contemplated, the proposal should include relevant information (including names of countries to be visited) and justification. Some sponsors have special regulations (e.g., use of domestic air carriers) governing foreign travel.
Costs of preparing and publishing reports of project results should be included in proposed budgets. Since page charges often are billed well after the completion of the research, it may be necessary to secure time extensions to pay these charges prior to the time that the project is closed out.
Other anticipated direct costs should be itemized--for example, equipment rental, maintenance agreements, or off-campus space rental. Telephone services and postage should not be included unless these costs are expected to be major elements in the project (e.g., telephone surveys). "Miscellaneous" or "contingency" categories should not be included. Items normally considered indirect costs should not be included in the proposed budget unless they are extraordinary and for unlike circumstances (e.g., utility costs required to operate a high-energy particle accelerator).
Network costs, including the hardware, software, personnel services, public access sites, and other related costs required to enable University personnel to share software or data or to communicate electronically with other individuals, are generally considered to be part of the physical infrastructure of the University and should not be included as direct costs in the proposal budget, as these costs are indirect in nature and included as a component of the Facilities & Administrative rate. However, individual workstations and specialized hardware and software attached to the network, which are not available to all users, are not included as part of the network costs and therefore may be treated as direct costs and recovered from sponsored projects through the use of approved recharge rates.
Questions regarding the appropriate treatment of network costs as either direct costs or Facilities & Administrative costs in proposal budgets should be forwarded to the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects.
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There is no magic formula for creating a research budget. Depending on the kind of research and the potential changes it can bring about, careful planning and allocation is necessary. Budgets can, thus, vary depending on the sponsors, besides other factors. However, every research budget has some essential guidelines.
Research budgets depend on the project deliverables, timelines, and milestones. The resources required also depend on the scope of the projects and sponsors.
Designing a research budget is not easy. You will need to consider the resources required and categorize them according to guidelines to ensure funding is not a problem. The categories may include the project’s necessary supplies and equipment and the wages you must pay your assistants. Research budgets are allocated for a year, but you can also plan for a quarter, depending on the project.
At SlideTeam, we have taken care of all these pain points and designed content-ready presentation templates that address each of these points. You save the time, the resources, and the tedium in having to make these presentations from scratch.
What is even better is that each of the templates is 100% editable and customizable. The content-ready nature means you get a starting point and a structure to guide your presentation; the editability feature means you can customize the template to audience profile.
Let’s explore these templates now.
This PPT Template is the perfect solution for your research budgeting needs. The matrix suggests what solutions are essential with the help of relevant keys that assign priority levels. Priorities go from low to highest influence with increasing importance. They are color-coded, with white being the lowest and red being the highest influence. For instance, Maintain Awareness and Evaluation are red in many cases, as shown in the slide. So, that means that they bear a significant impact on the research budget. Similarly, Strategic and Budget Planning are color-coded white, which means they don't impact the research budget as much in some cases.
With the impact matrix and heatmap, mapping out your research budget will be a breeze.
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Research and Development departments can plan the budget required for projects for the two halves of the year using this PPT Template. The presentation template highlights areas for which you will need funding such as research and development, skills, innovation and patenting, and cooperation. You can also list your requirements for each area. For instance, under R&D and skills, you may need funding for medical research, chemical research, etc. Similarly, for innovation and patenting, you may need funding for product innovation and to cover patenting costs. Likewise, cooperation may involve setting up new laboratories and research centers. With this outlined, you can split the budget required for your research project for the two halves of the year.
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This presentation template for the budget estimate for your research and development project is apt for arriving at the calculation for the four quarters in a year. You can define and assign tasks as per the requirements of the project and allocate a set budget for each. The tasks may involve conducting market research and competitive analysis or be innovative or developmental. In either case, you can use this template to set a fixed budget for each task in the research project.
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Clinical trials involve many phases, and you should let your research associates know about each step. For instance, you could post the information on the company website and provide relevant insights during the pre-trial phase. Similarly, you can offer the welcome letter and training materials during the trial start-up. During the trial, you can send newsletters to your associates, giving them relevant information and other valuable insights. All this requires funding, and you will need to allocate a budget. However, you don't need to worry, as this PPT Preset has you sorted, with dedicated sections for the pre-trial, trial start-up, during-trial, and trial-end phases. It also has communication, insights summary, and budget sections. You can use the budget section in the matrix to allot a budget for each trial phase and each section, including communication and insights.
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The PPT Template has all the core elements required for your market research strategy, including the budget and area. This slide lets you list your clients, the items, and when to send them. You can also list background information related to your research, the aim and objectives of the project, the areas covered, and the budget.
The presentation template also provides a dedicated space to list your brands and products and a timeline for completing the research.
This presentation template is an easy-to-use tool for determining the budget required for psychology research. With this slide, you can allocate a budget for each area, including diagnostic assessment, training, technology and tools, supplies, travel, and workforce. It is a practical, hands-on template with information required to plan the budget for conducting psychological tests and evaluations. Please note that depending on your geography, taxes might or might not deserve a separate column.
Every company needs to conduct market research before launching a new product. The PowerPoint Presentation that you have here can help you plan the budget required for conducting such market research. It includes necessary information, including business and research objectives, priorities, methodologies, and forecasts. The presentation template also has the metrics required for the research, such as improving customer engagement, introducing new products, and increasing market share. For example, to improve customer engagement, you may be looking to improve marketing approaches and gather customer feedback. The methods you may use include conducting marketing mix studies and tests. Similarly, you may want to optimize your social media posts and profiles and conduct A/B tests when introducing new products. Improving your market share may involve analyzing the competition. You may even use this handy template for conducting market research, estimating, and forecasting budgets.
You can plan your research and the budget required using these templates. Remember that each new product launch has lots of research behind it. When going for a new launch, don’t just research the products and its uses, but also the markets – particularly, your target audience and how they will benefit from your brands. When allocating the budget for your research, don't forget to note your total resources and try to be as cost-effective as possible. You must consider the expected costs that you may incur and use these templates to work out a research budget that fits within your resources.
What should be included in a research budget.
Research budgets should include all direct costs, and facilities and administrative costs (F&A). The facilities and administrative expenses are needed to achieve the primary objectives of the research. The project description should state the proposed budget and serve as a financial expression for the research. The idea is to ensure that the budget is comprehensive.
You can create a simple research budget by following these steps:
A budget can provide a detailed and clear picture of the structure of the research project, not to mention that it also lets you know how well it can be managed. The research project budget usually lets you see whether it will go according to plan and if it is feasible. So, it must be complete and reasonable.
The budget for a research project depends on the type of research and the proposed difference it could make to a field of study. For instance, the average budget for a market research project may vary between $20,000 and $50,000. Similarly, larger scientific research projects may cost millions or even billions of dollars, as in pharmaceuticals.
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In general, while your research proposal outlines the academic significance of your study, the budget and budget narrative show that you have an understanding of what it will cost for you to be able to perform this research. Your proposed budget should identify all the expenses that are necessary and reasonable for the success of your project—no more and no less. The Office of Undergraduate Research understands that estimates, by definition, are imprecise, yet we encourage students applying for funding to research all aspects of their budgets with honest diligence.
If your research requires you to be in the field or in another city, state, or country, travel expenses may include transportation (airline, train, taxi, etc.), passport and visa fees, as well as fees for any vaccinations you may need to travel. Be sure to include anticipated major incidental expenses, such as printing, copying, fees for accessing archives, etc.
Please note that our funding restrictions prevent us from providing support for lab materials, equipment, software, hardware, etc.
Keep in mind these tips:
Convert all foreign currency figures to U.S. dollars.
Round all figures to whole dollars.
Make sure your budget and your proposal are consistent.
Identify areas where you are making efforts to save money!
Browse through these sample budgets for a better idea of how to outline your expenses and contact us if you have questions!
Sample Budget 1
Sample Budget 2
Sample Budget 3
Sample Budget 4
Project item | Cost | Quantity | Subtotal |
---|---|---|---|
Colony of Bombus impatiens, Koppert Biological | $257.00 | 4 | $1028.00 |
Shipping on Bumblebee Colonies (overnight MI to NV) | $75.00 | 4 | $300.00 |
Pollen for 4 colonies for 3 months | $6/lb. | 12lbs | $72.00 |
5g Octopamine hydrochloride, Sigma Aldrich | $98.82 | 1 | $98.82 |
Total | n/a | n/a | $1498.82 |
Bumblebee colonies will be obtained from Koppert Biological Systems (MI, USA) and shipped overnight to Nevada. An emerging standard for publication is the utilization of three to five colonies for testing so as to minimize individual colony biases and to acquire a sufficient data set. In order to maintain the colonies I will need pollen to feed them on a daily basis. Additionally I will use the chemical octopamine hydrochloride to explore neuroendocrine relationships between gustatory responsiveness, learning, and octopamine.
Item | Justification | Supplier/Catalog # | Cost |
---|---|---|---|
LIVE/DEAD® Sperm Viability Kit | Quantification of sperm number and viability | ThermoFisher Scientific/L7011 | $407.00 |
Avant Guard 20ul Barrier tips | For processing sperm samples | MidSci/AV20 | $66.00 |
Plastic vials (1,000) | Individual rearing of study organism | BioQuip/8909 | $175.00 |
Drosophila culture vials | Rearing prey fruit flies | Carolina Biological Supply/173080 | $150/00 |
Formula 4-24®Instant Drosophila Medium, Blue, Case of Four 4-L Bags | Rearing prey fruit flies | Carolina Biological Supply/173214 | $85.95 |
Microflex Latex Evolution One Gloves, Small (Pack of 1000) | Amazon/EV-2050-S | $128.00 | |
PureLink miRNA isolation kit | Small RNA extraction | ThermoFisher Scientific /K157001 | $211.00 |
PureLink® RNA Mini Kit | Large RNA extraction | ThermoFisher Scientific/12183018A | $252.00 |
Total | n/a | n/a | $1474.95 |
Equipment, Justification, Product Website URL | Cost |
---|---|
$72 | |
$25.00 | |
3D printed pieces *This is the cost for printing the chess pieces. | $300 |
$110.00 | |
$83.00 | |
Arduino Uno (x1)This micro-computer interprets the sensor data and handles the audio files. | $25.00 |
$59.94 | |
Misc. Electronic components *This includes the solder, wires, connectors, and other items to build the sensor array. | $100.00 |
Chessboard *This is the playing surface for the game, as well as the element that the sensor array is attached to. | $30.00 |
Wood sheets (x4) *These will be used to build the pillar housing the board, electronics, and speakers. | $58.00 |
Chairs (x2) *Simple chairs for players to sit and play the game. | $30.00 |
$35.00 | |
Misc. funding is for unexpected expenses. | $60 |
Total | $987.94 |
I estimated shipping costs to the best of my knowledge.
* Costs are estimated based on average costs of the material; final cost may be slightly different.
All Formats
10+ research budget templates – word, pdf, excel.
Any type of research cannot do away with the fact that it needs a budget. Exhaustive and intensive research procedures are done to arrive at certain conclusions or prove educated guesses. Creating a sample budget for research means allocating an amount of money for the different research materials that need fund support.
1. what is the research budget, 2. why is a budget important, 3. what are the key factors of a budget.
5. how to prepare a research budget.
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Although there are some best practices for developing clinical trial budgets, the many considerations and factors required to create a budget can complicate it..
Despite having a high risk of failure, the clinical trial process can cost millions of dollars to complete. For clinical research organizations and sponsors, a clinical trial budget is critical in determining whether a clinical trial is worth funding. Many sources provide some best practices for developing a budget; however, all budgets will look different. Although budget variations depend on the study type, size, location, and intended clinical target, every clinical trial has to consider similar factors, including start-up fees, data collection, patient care or procedures, personnel, and site costs.
According to a study published by Grand View Research , the clinical trial industry was valued at $47 billion in 2021, with an estimated annual growth of 5.8% between 2022 and 2030. This value can be attributed to multiple factors, including the average cost of launching a medication or conducting a clinical trial. An article in Mosio notes that developing and launching a new medicine or therapy can cost over $30 million from conceptualization to market approval.
Considering the extraordinary costs associated with clinical trials, an appropriate and realistic budget is necessary. Clinical trial budgets are complex, containing many variables. However, they play a critical role in getting funding for or deciding when to fund a specific study.
According to a presentation by the NIH — in collaboration with the University of Cincinnati and the Medical University of South Carolina — a trial budget is defined as “the estimated amount of money that you need to accomplish the goal of a clinical trial or study.”
While sound scientific backing is essential for clinical trials, a clinical trial will only get the funding it needs with a reasonable and equally sound budget. The principal investigator (PI) and their team or the trial sponsor can develop a research or clinical trial budget. Regardless of who creates the clinical trial budget, it is vital that the budget is realistic and accounts for as many circumstances as possible.
For the PI, developing a clinical trial budget can bring them one step closer to funding from sponsors. Meanwhile, sponsors can determine whether a clinical trial is feasible by reviewing budget statements. Budgets are often negotiated between sponsors or industry leaders and the research team. For researchers requesting additional funds, preparing a proper budget and including supporting documents make them more likely to obtain the funding they need.
The best practice for developing a budget is to create a comprehensive study or trial budget and then break down costs by year.
The presentation from the NIH also divides budgets into two types: an overall and a site-specific budget. The overall budget refers to the budget for the entire multicenter trial or a single-center trial. The main PI usually manages this budget for the study. A site-specific budget refers to the budget managed by the local site PI and includes the start-up costs, spending per patient, and the cost of closing out the study.
A clinical trial budget should address numerous vital questions including, but not limited to, the following, as clarified in the NIH presentation:
In an article by the HHS , the organization notes that clinical trial budgets can be divided into four primary parts: protocol design and development, data capture and storage, analysis, and data dissemination.
The protocol design and development includes consulting subject matter experts, background preparation, document preparation, sample size calculations, legal documents, approvals, oversight, and personnel training. Data capture and storage should account for database preparation, security protocols, personnel, location, supplies, processing, storage, and tracking for each visit. Analysis costs should include the salary of the person doing the analysis, the preparation of data sets, and the analytical methods used. Finally, data dissemination should account for any costs associated with presentations, publication, and data sharing.
Other sources, including a presentation for the Boston Medical Center , divide the budget into start-up costs, per-subject costs, and invoiceable costs. No matter how a PI or sponsor chooses to divide their clinical trial budget, some factors must be considered across all clinical trials.
Start-up costs may include IRB preparation and review, regulatory document preparation, FDA audit fees, administrative fees, and more. Other expenses to include in the budget are pharmacy fees, ancillary reviews, and institutional CMS analysis. Typically, these fees are under $5,000 per site. However, these types of one-time fees can vary based on the kind of trial, the location, and more.
Sites are another crucial factor to consider when developing a budget. When creating a budget, it is essential not to underestimate the time and number of sites to recruit. Underestimating either of these factors could result in a smaller budget than necessary, leading to incomplete trials. For example, if a study’s budget projects a three-year timeline and the investigation takes five years, it will run out of money.
Underestimating trial sites can prevent trial leaders from adding additional sites later in the trial. If the starting number of sites has been unable to gather sufficient data and there is no funding to add other sites, the study will likely fail.
Gathering and analyzing data is a large part of the clinical trial budget. The volume and type of data collected during a clinical trial significantly impact the budget and the money allocated to the research. It is important to note that more data often means more lavish spending. Minimizing the number of data points may decrease spending; however, it may also reduce the validity of the trial. Therefore, it is critical for PIs and the team planning the budget to determine what data adds value and what is superfluous spending.
Furthermore, the kind of data collected significantly impacts the budget. For example, imaging is the most expensive and often the most time-consuming testing method. When designing a trial and its budget, PIs may consider alternatives to imaging if possible or minimize the imaging frequency.
Another data consideration is the tools and time needed to analyze the data. If specific technology or licensing is necessary, that may account for higher costs. Additionally, if the data is difficult or time-consuming to analyze, the analysis cost will be higher.
Another component of clinical trial budgets — arguably the most considerable — is calculating the cost of procedures and patient care. According to the NIH, procedure costs are calculated based on a pre-determined federal rate. When budgeting, PIs or sponsors should look for the appropriate CPT codes to determine costs.
It is important to know that the budget should differentiate between research costs and standards of care (SOC). SOCs are routine treatments or medical expenses that a participant would have regardless of clinical trial participation ; however, they may vary depending on the state and other factors. Irrespective of where the trial takes place, standards of care are typically billed to the patient or their insurance.
Research costs are non-routine charges or expenses that the patient would not receive if they were not a part of the trial. These expenses are covered by and billed to the sponsor.
Another factor to consider in the clinical trial budget is the cost of the medication or therapy — and the placebo if that is part of the trial design. When calculating the medication budget, the PI must account for medications needed per person. Beyond that, they must consider what happens if they do not meet the recruitment goal and medication is wasted.
In addition to the value of the medication or therapy, budgets should include transportation costs for medication, determining whether the drug needs to be shipped in a temperature-controlled environment, and the cost of blinded packaging if that is a part of the trial design.
Other patient-centric factors to consider are patient compensation, the type of patient recruited, transportation to and from treatments, cost of patient monitoring, and so on.
In addition to the costs of running the study, it is critical to include personnel salaries or rates in the budget. One recommendation to keep costs low is to hire coordinators and staff in contract positions and pay them hourly instead of hiring for salaried positions.
The reasoning provided by the NIH presentation is that, if you hire and pay a full-time worker but only get a fraction of the anticipated participants, there will be no money left over to pay staff down the line if more participants are recruited. This philosophy may be applied to certain types of workers; however, PIs, key personnel, managers, and data management staff are typically employed full-time and salaried.
Those less experienced in clinical trials and budgeting may consider talking to experienced PIs, researchers, and coordinators who can give a more accurate estimate of certain costs. Those who have conducted clinical trials before may consider reflecting on previous spending.
Some general tips given by the NIH Stroke Net presentation include the following:
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Owning a boat is more than just a dream; it’s a lifestyle filled with adventure and relaxation, but it also comes with significant financial responsibilities. Whether you’re a seasoned mariner or a first-time buyer, understanding the true cost of boat ownership is essential to avoid unexpected financial stress. This article will explore the various expenses involved, from maintenance and insurance to fuel and storage, and provide a sample budget you can adapt to ensure your vessel remains seaworthy and ready for adventure.
Storage and mooring, maintenance and repairs, dockage and miscellaneous fees, supplies and equipment.
Emergency fund, sample boat ownership budget.
Above: A man and woman on a dock by a cruise ship near their yacht. Photo via Pond5.
Before diving into annual expenses, it’s important to consider the initial cost of purchasing your boat. This includes not just the sticker price, but also taxes, registration, and any initial equipment upgrades or outfitting you might need. Depending on the size and type of boat, these costs can vary widely.
Above: Consider your initial purchase cost carefully, so you know you have enough left over to affford actually owning and maintaining your new vessel. Photo via Pond5.
Boat insurance is a must, and it can vary based on the size of the boat, your boating experience, and where you plan to use the vessel. Insurance can protect you from liabilities and unexpected events such as accidents or natural disasters. If you’re applying for a boat loan , many lenders will actually require you to have boat insurance, and this may also dictate the type of vessel you can purchase, as some may not be eligible for certain insurance plans.
Above: Don’t forget about the cost of insuring your boat! Photo by Kindel Media/Pexels.
Where and how you store your boat will be one of the most significant recurring expenses. Options include marina slips, mooring in a harbor , dry stacks, or trailer storage at home. The costs will depend on the location, season, and size of your boat.
Above: A couple enjoying summer boating life on a dock near a moored or anchored boat. Photo via Pond5.
Regular maintenance is key to keeping your boat in top condition and preventing more costly repairs down the line. Maintenance costs can include everything from routine engine services to hull cleaning and anti-fouling.
Fuel is a variable cost that depends on how often and how far you travel. Larger, faster boats consume more fuel, so it’s important to estimate your usage realistically.
If you enjoy overnight trips or long-distance cruising, transient dockage fees can add up. Additionally, there may be fees for launching your boat at ramps, especially in busy areas.
Don’t forget the smaller, ongoing costs like cleaning supplies, safety gear, and miscellaneous equipment. These may seem minor individually, but they add up over the year.
Many boat owners choose to join organizations like TowBoatUS for peace of mind in case of emergencies. Additionally, marina memberships or yacht club fees can be part of your regular expenses.
While not an out-of-pocket cost, depreciation is an important consideration, especially if you plan to sell or upgrade your boat in the future. Boats can depreciate at varying rates depending on type, age, and market conditions.
Unexpected repairs or emergencies can arise at any time. Having an emergency fund specifically for your boat can prevent financial strain.
To help you get started, here’s a sample budget for a $50,000 boat. Adjust these numbers based on your specific situation:
Expense Category | Estimated Annual Cost |
---|---|
Insurance | $500 – $1,000 |
Storage/Mooring | $2,000 – $10,000 |
Routine Maintenance | $5,000 |
Fuel | $2,000 – $10,000 |
Dockage Fees | $500 – $1,000 |
Supplies and Equipment | $300 – $800 |
Memberships/Subscriptions | $149 – $1,000 |
Emergency Fund | $5,000 – $10,000 (set aside) |
Owning a boat is an incredible experience, but it’s important to be financially prepared. By understanding and planning for the various costs involved, you can ensure that your time on the water is spent enjoying your boat rather than worrying about the bills. Use the sample budget as a starting point, and tailor it to fit your specific needs and boat size.
Remember, the key to happy boat ownership is not just in the moments spent on the water but in the peace of mind that comes from being financially prepared for all that ownership entails. Happy boating!
Written by: Ryan McVinney
C. Ryan McVinney is a film director, producer, writer, actor, boat captain, outdoorsman and naturalist. He's the host and director of the award-winning TV show Stomping Grounds that explores boating culture across America, sponsored by Boat Trader. McVinney also directs and produces the documentary series Cult Classics featuring top yacht builders and the extreme superyacht show LEGENDS for YachtWorld, as well the popular Factory Fridays video series for boats.com that visits boat building facilities around the world. He's a regular contributor to leading marine industry publications and regularly tests and reviews boats on his varied outdoor adventures.
More from: Ryan McVinney
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Investors in Avis Budget Group, Inc. ( CAR Quick Quote CAR - Free Report ) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Nov 15, 2025 $50 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.
Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell-off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.
Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Avis Budget Group shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Avis Budget Group is a Zacks Rank #5 (Sell) in the Transportation - Services industry that ranks in the Bottom 39% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 30 days, no analyst increased the earnings estimates for the current quarter, while five have dropped their estimates. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from $10.80 per share to $9.32 in that period.
Given the way analysts feel about Avis Budget Group right now, this huge implied volatility could mean there’s a trade developing. Oftentimes, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.
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As EU policymakers return from the summer break, we look at key decisions that will affect the R&I community in the months ahead
European Commission, Berlaymont building, Brussels, Belgium. Photo credits: Fred Romero / Flickr
After several crisis-filled years characterised by wars, pandemic and economic challenges, the recent European elections and subsequent summer break offer an opportunity to pause and take stock.
Now, as Europeans filter back to their desks, it’s a good time to look at what the research and innovation community can expect this autumn. The current geopolitical environment has placed R&I topics firmly in the mainstream debate, and that is not likely to change any time soon. Here are some of the stories we expect to be covering in the months ahead.
New commissioner
The first question is, Who will be the next commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth? Bulgaria’s Iliana Ivanova has held the post since 2023 after compatriot Mariya Gabriel left to return to national politics , but the country has yet to put forward a commissioner candidate for the upcoming mandate.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has given member states until 30 August to nominate candidates for the College of Commissioners, after which she will assign portfolios. Bulgaria is one of several countries currently dragging its feet.
Whoever is nominated as the new research commissioner will then be quizzed by MEPs in the Parliament committee for industry, research and energy ITRE, and culture and education committee, with hearings expected to take place in September or October.
Defence funding
For the first time, von der Leyen’s team will include a Commissioner for Defence . During her bid for re-election, she pledged to build a “veritable defence union”, and to present a white paper on the future of European defence.
The white paper, which should be published in the first 100 days of her new mandate, will identify investment needs. Research and innovation may not be at the top of the list, considering the urgent need to provide Ukraine with ammunition, but von der Leyen has promised to reinforce the European Defence Fund which supports R&D projects.
Competitiveness agenda
Speaking to MEPs ahead of her re-election vote, von der Leyen said prosperity and competitiveness would be her top priority. But perhaps the flagship policy of this new strategy, to propose a European competitiveness fund, will have to wait until the EU’s next long-term budget for 2028-2034. The Commission should publish its proposal for this budget by mid-2025.
However, there are several proposals in von der Leyen’s political guidelines that may be put forward before the end of the year and could have an R&D component. For example, she plans to propose a Clean Industrial Deal in her first 100 days to “help create lead markets in everything from clean steel to clean tech” and “speed up planning, tendering, and permitting”.
Further proposals are likely to be influenced by former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi’s highly-anticipated report on EU competitiveness. He was expected to submit his findings to the Commission over the summer, but publication was delayed and should now happen some time this autumn.
FP10 expert group
All eyes will be on the independent group set up to advise the Commission on the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe and its successor, Framework Programme 10. The group’s feedback should be influential in shaping the next framework programme.
The group of 15 experts , led by former Portuguese research minister Manuel Heitor, is meeting monthly between January and October 2024, and is due to deliver its report to the Commission on 16 October.
After taking the advice on board, the Commission should publish its interim evaluation of Horizon Europe early next year, and then present its proposal for FP10 mid-way through 2025.
2025 work programmes
The post-election transition will mean delays to the publication of the Horizon Europe work programmes for 2025 . These are set to be adopted in March or April 2025. We already have some idea of what will feature because the Commission has published its strategic plan for the final years of Horizon Europe, including nine proposed new public-private partnerships.
We are waiting on the work programmes under Pillar II for large collaborative research projects, research infrastructures and the Widening programme for cohesion in research. For other parts of Horizon Europe, such as the European Research Council and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, the Commission has extended the current work programmes to cover 2025.
Research lobbies
As well as awaiting the conclusions of the Draghi report, the R&I community will be expecting progress towards implementing Enrico Letta’s recommendations to create a ‘fifth freedom’ of a single market dedicated to the free movement of research, innovation, knowledge and education.
Research lobbies expect the composition of the new Commission to set the tone.
“R&I has never been so central in the political guidelines of the Commission president before the start of a new European Commission,” said Kurt Deketelaere, secretary general of the League of European Research Universities. “Hopefully this will be reflected in the R&I portfolio and its holder.”
Deketelaere is hoping research, innovation and education will remain a standalone portfolio, rather than being integrated into a larger competitiveness, internal market or economy portfolio. That is the case in “a number of member states”, he noted, saying much will depend on who is picked for the role. “Let's hope we get someone with experience and expertise on or in Europe, research, innovation and education.”
Deketelaere also wants to see member states step up. “They can start with stopping the annual circus of opposing the annual Horizon Europe budget as proposed by the European Commission and supported by the European Parliament,” he said. The Council has proposed cutting €400 million from the Horizon budget for 2025.
Muriel Attané, secretary general of the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations, said she is looking forward to working with the new research commissioner in the coming months, including on preparations for FP10 and the next long-term budget, with competitiveness set to have a central role in the discussions.
“Luckily, about 70% of the current FP Horizon Europe budget thanks to its Pillar II is geared towards pan-EU collaborative R&D&I with key industrial partnerships,” she told Science|Business.
“We believe this will be the main asset the new commissioner will have in their pocket, to actually ensure a strong FP10 as well as avoid the FP budget being cannibalised by the announced new competitiveness fund and to avoid that we would be exchanging R&D&I grants for loans.
“We do not need a new Juncker Plan, which did not foster R&D&I,” she added, referencing the 2015 programme that used loan guarantees to secure financing for infrastructure and other projects that were otherwise too risky to invest in. There have been calls to replicate that plan to decarbonise Europe’s industry.
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9 Steps to Developing a Detailed and Successful Marketing Plan for 2024
Updated: 3 days ago
A Marketing Plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the strategies an organization will employ to attract potential customers and engage its target market. A well-crafted marketing plan provides detailed insights into the outreach campaigns to be executed over a defined period and specifies how the business will assess the effectiveness of these initiatives .
The first step for any business is to thoroughly understand its market, which includes potential customers, competitors, current market trends, socio-economic factors, distribution channels, and other elements that may impact the company’s operations.
Market research provides the foundational information needed to make strategic decisions, such as selecting target markets, segmenting the market, identifying the core value of products/services, choosing effective marketing channels, and developing appropriate marketing messages and campaigns.
Marketing objectives are the specific goals a business aims to achieve through its marketing activities. These objectives should be clearly defined, specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). SMART goals help businesses clearly understand what needs to be accomplished, the timeframe for achievement, and how to measure the success of these objectives.
These objectives will guide decisions regarding the selection of marketing tools and channels, the allocation of budgets and resources, and the shaping of content and messaging in the company’s marketing campaigns.
Target customers are those who need and can pay for a business’s products or services. In this step, the company must understand its target audience's characteristics, needs, and behaviors to create appropriate marketing messages and strategies.
Segment the market into smaller groups based on criteria such as age, gender, geography, income, preferences, and consumer behavior. Each segment will have distinct characteristics and require different marketing approaches.
Additionally, create a detailed profile of the target customers, including personal characteristics, needs, preferences, consumption habits, goals, and problems they are facing. This enables the business to develop a marketing plan that is both relevant and effective.
The marketing message is what a business aims to communicate to customers to position its brand, capture attention, and persuade customers to purchase its products or services. The marketing message should be concise, clear, memorable and convey the core value of the product or service.
The message and value form the basis for setting marketing objectives. For instance, if the marketing message is "The optimal solution for small businesses," the marketing objectives might include increasing brand awareness, attracting potential customers, or boosting sales among small businesses.
The message and value also guide the selection of appropriate communication channels to reach the target audience. For example, if the marketing message is "Eco-friendly products," the business might choose communication channels such as social media, environmental TV programs, or green events.
Defining the message and value is a crucial part of the marketing plan, ensuring that the company's message is effectively communicated to the target audience and delivers value to them.
USP stands for Unique Selling Proposition, which is a critical factor that distinguishes a company's product from competitors' offerings, aiming to attract customers and boost sales. The USP should highlight genuine differences that are valuable to customers and can be substantiated.
Once the USP is identified, it must be clearly and compellingly communicated in marketing campaigns. The USP should be consistently reflected across all marketing activities, including branding, product development, communications, and sales.
For example, Abbott's USP is "Milk for Outstanding Growth." This USP clearly conveys the benefits of Abbott products, specifically their ability to support superior physical and cognitive development in children.
Marketing tools and channels are the means by which a business reaches and communicates its message to the target audience. Choosing the right tools and channels will help the business achieve its goals more effectively and efficiently. To select the appropriate marketing tools and channels, consider factors such as:
Product/Service Characteristics: Some tools and channels may be better suited for certain types of products but not for others.
Budget: Determine the marketing budget and evaluate which tools and channels can be accommodated within it.
Customer Objectives: Based on research and understanding of the customers, identify the communication channels they frequently use. For example, if the target audience frequently uses social media, advertising on social platforms might be a good choice.
Marketing Goals: For instance, if the goal is to increase website traffic, search engine optimization (SEO) might be a suitable option.
First, review the overall financial situation and determine the amount available for marketing activities. If the exact figure is unclear, assess available financial resources, necessary capital, and future revenue forecasts. Estimate the costs for each marketing activity in the initial plan, such as advertising costs, content development, website development, and design expenses. Ensure that the budget is allocated appropriately and aligns with the company’s marketing objectives..
This stage involves specifying the concrete activities and steps required to achieve marketing objectives. Define the start and end dates for marketing activities, clearly assign responsibilities, and ensure coordination among relevant departments. It is essential that the activities outlined in the implementation plan are carried out consistently and effectively.
Evaluation typically involves comparing performance metrics, such as sales figures, website traffic, and social media engagement, against the goals set in the marketing plan. By comparing actual data with initial expectations and objectives, the business can assess whether the plan has been successful or needs adjustment.
Based on the evaluation results, adjust the marketing plan to improve effectiveness. Adjustments may include changing communication channels, reallocating resources, or redistributing the budget as needed. Finally, report the results to stakeholders, such as partners, shareholders, and the management team, to provide insights for making decisions on future marketing plans and strategies
A marketing plan is a detailed document that outlines the activities and strategies a business will use to achieve its marketing objectives. It includes methods and strategies for generating product/service awareness, attracting potential customers, and increasing sales.
A marketing plan defines components such as marketing objectives, target markets, marketing strategies, marketing tools and channels, budget, and implementation timeline.
The marketing plan is a crucial tool that helps a business achieve its business goals. It clarifies objectives, target audiences, and market approach. Additionally, it enables the business to measure the effectiveness of marketing efforts and make necessary adjustments.
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Problem-Solving Diagram (PPDAC)
IMAGES
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A good budget shows the assessors that you have thought about your research in detail and, if it is done well, it can serve as a great, convincing overview of the project. Here are five steps to create a simple budget for your research project. 1. List your activities. Make a list of everything that you plan to do in the project, and who is ...
What is a Proposal Budget and why is it needed? Before we get started talking about all the pieces of a budget, let's make sure that we're on the same page about what a budget actually is. A budget is a financial proposal that reflects the work proposed. It outlines the expected project costs in detail, and should mirror the project description.
Here's an example outline of a research plan you might put together: Project title. Project members involved in the research plan. Purpose of the project (provide a summary of the research plan's intent) Objective 1 (provide a short description for each objective) Objective 2. Objective 3.
Planning of the research budget begins with an innovative research question, objectives and design of the study. Before starting to write a budget plan, it is essential to understand the expectations of funding agencies, University/Institute and the team of researchers. It is imperative to keep in mind that the research proposal will be ...
A research proposal budget is a financial plan that details the costs of a research project. Including both direct and indirect costs in your budget is crucial for accuracy. Justifying each budget item helps in gaining approval from stakeholders. Avoiding common budgeting mistakes can improve the chances of funding success.
View the budget as a flexible tool to help the department administrator and scientific team plan for the project and understand what can and cannot be accomplished with the available funding. Sponsors utilize the budget during the technical review of the project to evaluate the reasonability of the project costs.
A research proposal serves as a blueprint and guide for your research plan, helping you get organized and feel confident in the path forward you choose to take. Table of contents. Research proposal purpose; Research proposal examples ... chances are you will have to include a detailed budget. This shows your estimates of how much each part of ...
Step 4: Write a summary. Prepare a project summary that serves as your research project guide. This invaluable tool aids recruitment interviews, meetings, and field studies. With a well-structured summary, you can stay on track during interactions, ensuring you address key project aspects.
Budget justification provides more in-depth detail and reason for each cost and is often considered by reviewers as a good indicator of the feasibility of the research. Basic components of a research budget. A research budget contains both direct costs and indirect costs (overhead), but the level of detail varies from sponsor to sponsor.
Uniqueness of the research problem; Best possible plan for solving the problem; Appropriate budget planning . In an attempt to grab the attention of funders, researchers strive to submit innovative research proposals and often overlook other elements when creating a successful grant proposal. One such neglected section is the budget for grant ...
A precise estimate of the budget is really the best approach to win a grant. And importantly, once your proposal has been funded, you will find that having carefully estimated the different costs at the application stage will not only guarantee an optimal use of the funds, but also make the practical implementation of the research project ...
Planning your Budget. Your budget planning starts when you find the research question and decide on a suitable study design. You should also be able to guess the unpredictable charges that can arise while conducting your research (Sudheesh, Devika & Nethra, 2016). There are five main points to keep in mind while planning your research budget:
Start with your Significance and Innovation sections. Then draft the Approach section considering the personnel and skills you'll need for each step. Evaluate your Specific Aims and methods in light of your expected budget (for a new PI, it should be modest, probably under the $250,000 for NIH's modular budget).
The plan will inform you about the expenses of each research item and method. The budget section is the key factor of success or failure for your proposal. For instance, You can manage the items with a spreadsheet. Pointing out and categorizing the direct and indirect costs, at last, will be able to plan and compose a well-scripted budget.
Example: Statistical Consultant - $100/hour, estimated 20 hours Budget: $100 x 20 = $2,000. d) Student Support. If you're involving students in your research, include their stipends or wages. Example: Graduate Student Assistant - $1,500/month for 9 months Budget: $1,500 x 9 = $13,500.
Abstract. Novice investigators may be intimidated by the task of proposal budget preparation. Often a basic understanding of the mechanics of budgeting, paired with a good working relationship with the institution's sponsored programs office, can alleviate much of the stress investigators encounter in developing budgets.
NIH DMS costs should be shared in the appropriate cost category, e.g., personnel, equipment, supplies, and other expenses, following the instructions and providing details as instructed within the applicable form (e.g., R&R Budget Form or PHS 398 Modular Budget Form). In most cases, the DMS Plan oversight at U-M will be provided by the ...
This presentation template is an easy-to-use tool for determining the budget required for psychology research. With this slide, you can allocate a budget for each area, including diagnostic assessment, training, technology and tools, supplies, travel, and workforce. It is a practical, hands-on template with information required to plan the ...
Creating a Budget. In general, while your research proposal outlines the academic significance of your study, the budget and budget narrative show that you have an understanding of what it will cost for you to be able to perform this research. Your proposed budget should identify all the expenses that are necessary and reasonable for the ...
Preparing your Research Budget The exact format of a research project will vary depending on the funding agency and the program. A good first step is to always prepare a research budget in software such as Microsoft Excel. This will allow you to easily change/m odify your budget or adapt it to the format required by the funding program.
Misc. funding is for unexpected expenses. $60. Total. $987.94. I estimated shipping costs to the best of my knowledge. * Costs are estimated based on average costs of the material; final cost may be slightly different. View examples of budgets for undergraduate research proposals at the University of Nevada, Reno.
To enter a budget on a Research.gov . proposal initiated by a Principal Investigator (PI), access the Budget(s) landing page either by clicking the Budget(s) link on the proposal main page or by clicking the Budget(s) link on the proposal menu. Refer to the Budget Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Research.gov About Proposal Preparation and
Download this research project budget template instantly anytime, anywhere, at any device. Create a detailed statement outlining the estimated costs of the research and allot funds to important expenses. Check monthly budget templates for more. Save a lot of time and effort as you do not have to make a budget from scratch.
According to a study published by Grand View Research, the clinical trial industry was valued at $47 billion in 2021, with an estimated annual growth of 5.8% between 2022 and 2030.This value can be attributed to multiple factors, including the average cost of launching a medication or conducting a clinical trial. An article in Mosio notes that developing and launching a new medicine or therapy ...
Routine Maintenance: Plan to spend about 10% of your boat's value annually. For a $50,000 boat, that's roughly $5,000 per year. For a $50,000 boat, that's roughly $5,000 per year. Engine Service: Oil changes, tune-ups, and other engine services can range from $300 to $1,000 per year per engine.
This plan provides short descriptions of projects that are expected to launch in fiscal year (FY) 2025. It reflects decisions by FNS program and research staff and leadership on the best use of available research funding to meet current information needs that are aligned with agency priorities to improve program efficiency, integrity, and ...
Investors in Avis Budget Group, Inc. (CAR Quick Quote CAR - Free Report) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Nov 15, 2025 $50 ...
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Small Business Applicant Assistance Program (AAP) will open for applications on September 9, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. EDT. This program cycle is intended for applicants who plan to submit their Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant applications for the January 5, 2025, submission ...
Muriel Attané, secretary general of the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations, said she is looking forward to working with the new research commissioner in the coming months, including on preparations for FP10 and the next long-term budget, with competitiveness set to have a central role in the discussions.
Product/Service Characteristics: Some tools and channels may be better suited for certain types of products but not for others. Budget: Determine the marketing budget and evaluate which tools and channels can be accommodated within it. Customer Objectives: Based on research and understanding of the customers, identify the communication channels they frequently use.