Jumping Higher Than Required: The Value of Early Grant Applications
“A horse only jumps as high as it has to,” I say, nodding at John, one of the participants in my grant writing workshop. He looks thoughtful. He just asked me whether applying for a small travel grant would make sense even if his professor has enough third-party funding to finance a last-minute trip to Mars – should NASA ever come knocking.
Skills you learn from writing grant proposals are also beneficial for non-academic careers
Most of the doctoral students in my workshops have never submitted a grant application. They seem to think submitting a grant application is like preparing for an event as distant – and perhaps unpleasant – as the end of the world.
However, writing such applications is a valuable skill that can benefit your career. Whether you want to stay in academia, work for an NGO, or enter the private sector, this experience brings significant advantages.
In science, submitting applications is about more than just funding. It’s about paving the way to your own future. Studies show that people receiving small grants early on are more likely to get larger ones later. These early wins signal that funders recognize your research and that you can manage projects and resources. They also show that you can make a compelling case for why your work is important.
Skills you learn from writing grant proposals are also beneficial for non-academic careers—even if you never apply for another grant. They show that you can clearly articulate how your project aligns with and advances an organization’s strategic mission. For example, you might pitch a new idea to senior management or develop a project for a socially relevant cause. It’s not just about securing funding but changing your mindset. You learn to work out where your interests overlap with those of the other side. These are sought-after skills whether you end up in academia or trade your lab coat for a blazer in the business world. It’s worth jumping a little higher than you need to every now and then. Write your first grant applications as early as possible.
This article was first published in Nachrichten aus der Chemie (issue 12-2024). See here the German original.
If you´re interested in the tricks in the application process, you might be interested in our workshop Grant writing.