I believe that methods to be successful in grant writing are not always transparent. This lack of transparency unfairly advantages people who have ‘insider’ knowledge and disadvantages first-gen and low-income students. I've been very fortunate to have mentors and opportunities that have helped me navigate this insider knowledge. So, to help address the lack of transparency in grant writing, I share what I've learned so far, including:

1. Potential grants for biomechanists to target

2. Resources that have been helpful to my development as a grant writer

3. Examples of successful grants

Potential grants

As a first step to grant writing, I encourage trainees to begin developing a spreadsheet with potential targets on it. Search online, ask people at your institution, and ask your collaborators and co-workers to find potential funding mechanisms from the government, your institution, or professional societies in your field. Once you've identified mechanisms, start populating a list of details for each award--when is it due? what are the requirements? what is required in the application? are there specific expectations for formatting or style? Next, map out a timeline of which grants you want to apply to and when. Be realistic! Writing grants can be very time consuming and you need to be efficient with your time when you are also balancing family, work, research, and studies. Target the grants that you think you are most likely to get, that will benefit your career the most (either in terms of necessary funding, training, or prestige), and that will require the least time and energy to prepare.

Here are two example lists and a timeline I made for myself:

• PhD funding mechanisms for biomechanists

• Postdoc funding mechanisms for biomechanists

• Example timeline

These lists likely have overly-specific funding opportunities that you are not eligible for (e.g., institution-specific awards) and probably also miss other awards that you ARE eligible for! Rather than using this as a comprehensive list, think of it as a starting point and a template. And, if you find any awards that are broadly available that you think belong on these lists please let me know so I can add them!

You can also try looking for opportunities on websites such as:

• https://app.trialect.com/

• https://pivot.proquest.com/

• http://www.scholarshipscanada.com/

• https://yconic.com/

• http://www.fundingusstudy.org/

• http://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/scholarships/outside/international.html

Grant writing guides

NIH resources

In my (limited) experience applying for grants within the American/NIH system, I've found that they're looking for a specific formula, which was not clear to me when I started. To help understand the formula, try to find mentors or colleagues that have had success with these funding mechanisms or find resources like grant writing workshops at your institution or from your professional society, for example:

• UC Davis Health's KOHORT program

• Orthopaedic Research Society's "Art of grant writing" course

Or purchase materials that explain the formula and expectations and walk you through how to meet them:

• Grant application writer's workbook: National Institutes of Health version

Or find worksheets that prompt you to structure your writing according to reviewer expectations:

• Harvard catalyst Specific Aims worksheet

Example grants

Here, I share examples of grants I have written to serve as demonstrations or templates for the type of writing that grant reviewers may be expecting. Although the examples I share were successfully funded, I also want to normalize the fact that you won't get every grant you apply to. For example, the ASB GIA I share below was my third attempt at getting that award! Don't get discouraged! With grants I always find it particularly hard to stomach rejection, it feels the most vulnerable to have someone evaluate not just your work, but also your very ideas and potential as a researcher. You also rarely get the chance to address reviewer comments (or even see their feedback) so it can be quite frustrating. But there's so much that goes into getting funded: Format, scope, politics, XXX... And, everyone struggles with rejection! So, just try to identify what information is useful from the rejection, learn what you can, and try again!

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

• Canada Graduate Scholarship (Doctoral)

• Canada Graduate Scholarship (Master's)

American Society of Biomechanics

• Graduate Student Research Grant

International Society of Biomechanics

• Matching Dissertation Grant

American College of Sports Medicine

• Doctoral Student Research Grant