OSGP Services

OGSP editors work collaboratively with scientific investigators to produce effective and persuasive grant applications that have a competitive edge in securing extramural funding. Working with OGSP editors is also a mentoring experience that can improve an investigator’s skills in using language, formatting and visuals to effectively deliver a message to the target audience.

Editorial Services Offered

Editorial services are available for multiple types of writing projects, but OGSP’s first priority is to help investigators succeed in the highly competitive process of securing extramural grant funding. The OGSP team of editors can help researchers clarify and refine the presentation of their hypotheses, data, and conclusions, resulting in compelling applications that highlight the strengths of their proposed research and ideas. Editorial services range from grammatical assistance (e.g., for a scientist whose native language is not English) to substantive editing and suggestions for reorganization of text.

• Provide substantive editing to clearly and persuasively present research, including logical scientific arguments, bases for hypotheses, and experimental design
• Collaborate with investigators to develop organizational strategies and graphics that enhance clarity and effectiveness of written work
• Edit text for style, grammar, and content
• Consult with investigators regarding document organization and data presentation
• Ensure responsiveness and adherence to guidelines (e.g., for a funding agency or journal)
• Electronically format text and figures

Support Services Offered

• Create electronic templates according to guidelines (e.g., for a funding agency or journal)
• Assist investigators with identifying appropriate funding sources
• For large grant applications (e.g., center and program project grants)
  • Provide project management, coordination, and scheduling
  • Manage forms and supporting documentation, enter budget information, and assemble and oversee production of the final document

Types of Projects Supported by OGSP

OGSP primarily focuses on grant applications for extramural funding, but staff members have broad expertise in reviewing projects from grants to annual reports.

• Grant proposals ranging from individual-investigator grants to large institutional or center grants, as well as applications to private or governmental funding agencies
• Competitive letters of intent
• Manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals or books
• Progress reports for funded grants

Workshops and Training

OGSP offers several workshops to help investigators improve their grantsmanship and scientific communication skills.

• "Planning and Preparing a Successful Grant Application for NIH," a 4-part lecture and interactive workshop series for faculty investigators; a separate, condensed series is offered for postdoctoral fellows
• Preparing an NIH grant application for resubmission
• Preparing budgets and forms for NIH applications
• Preparing manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication 

Priorities for Scheduling Projects

All OGSP projects are prioritized based on the following principles:

• Type of project: grant proposals take priority over manuscripts for peer-reviewed publications
• Type of grants: large center or program project grants have priority over individual investigators’ applications
• Projects covered by annual retainers or service agreements: when projects compete for limited time, projects from groups with a service agreement will take precedence over projects from groups without a service agreement
• Multiple projects from one scientist: investigators requesting assistance for more than one application within a short time frame (2 to 4 weeks) should assume that a maximum of one of the projects will be supported (subject to other OGSP priorities)