Proposal Development Tools
Proposal Development Resources
Hanover Research
In order to provide resources for faculty and staff, Auburn University has partnered with Hanover Research for a number of grant development solutions including: Pre-proposal Support; Proposal Development; and Capacity Building. Their full-service grant development solutions are available to set goals, build strategies to achieve key grant seeking objectives, and develop grant proposals that are well-planned, researched, and written. For information regarding Hanover’s core capabilities and project time lines, click here.
Does Hanover have experience with a wide range of funders?
- Yes. Hanover has experience with a wide range of funders - private, nonprofit, and federal - including but not limited to NSF, NIH, AHRQ, DOD, and PCORI.
How does a PI request this service?
- If you are interested in seeking Hanover’s assistance, please contact Tony Ventimiglia (334-844-5954 or ventiaf@auburn.edu).
How does Hanover approach proposal reviews?
- A Hanover grants consultant may address general scientific elements of a proposal, such as:
- Construct or structure of the hypothesis and methodology. While Hanover does not purport to provide “scientific reviews” that evaluate the specific science underpinning proposals, its grants consultants will flag where they think research questions, aims, and hypotheses could be strengthened and better aligned.
- Literature review. Hanover grants consultants will note places where a citation is needed and has not been included.
- Clarity and focus. When they suspect that narrative content lacks sufficient clarity, consistency, or rigor, Hanover grants consultants will pose questions to encourage the PI to verify the science, and/or suggest a review by a senior colleague or program officer.
Is there a cost to the individual PI for the service?
- No. The cost of this service is provided through the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development.
What is the turnaround time for Hanover's services?
- The turnaround time for Hanover’s services varies by service type. A REVIEW is generally turned around 10 business days from the date Hanover receives all requested grant documents. A REVISION provides an added level of support and as such, is generally turned around 15 business days from the date Hanover receives all requested grant documents.
The GLC is an on-demand grant development training portal for faculty enrollees who can access self-paced, interactive modules with step-by-step guidance and templates. There are a variety of grantsmanship topics, NIH, and NSF CAREER modules. Contact Christine Cline at clc0165@auburn.edu for registration information.
NIH Modules
- Three short overview modules designed to increase your knowledge about NIH and R-Series grants.
- A series of proposal builder modules designed to aid you in writing your specific aims and research strategy sections of a grant.
NSF CAREER Module
- The course provides a comprehensive overview of the NSF CAREER Program. There are numerous resources as well as modules that help learners write each of the proposal sections.
Grant Essentials
Nine short modules designed to help learners increase general grantsmanship knowledge. Learners can work at their own pace. Each one can be finished in just a few minutes or all can be completed in approximately two hours. Additional resource materials are available that can be downloaded by users.
- Introduction to Grant Seeking
- Laying the Groundwork
- Prospecting
- Concept Development
- Logic Model Development
- Program Officer Outreach
Essentials of Competitive Proposals - Resubmissions
- Grant Stewardship
Hanover webinars focus on a variety of research topics including essentials of grant writing, funder-specific tips, project and collaboration management and career development.
Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS)
The Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) based at UAB is a large center funded by the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program -- one of 62 nationwide and the only CTSA in Alabama. Auburn University is a partner within the CCTS Partner Network which crosses institutional boundaries to improve human health and health care delivery. CCTS is available to assist AU biomedical scientists with project and proposal development at both early and late stages. The Research Commons page of the CCTS website provides a number of resources (and contact information).
Awarded Grants Databases
This is a public-access website in which faculty share copies of proposals submitted to various international sponsors (including U.S. Federal Agencies) that principal investigators can view to review the structure/format of sponsor-specific proposals. The list includes both funded and unfunded proposals (as reflected in the table).
This is a free electronic tool that draws from a variety of databases to allow searches of NIH-funded research projects and access to publications and patents resulting from NIH funding. Search projects by state, fiscal year, principal investigator (PI), organization, agency or project number.
It is updated weekly with the latest project information.
NIH Reporter Tool
NIH NIAID Sample Applications & More
This database includes information on all current and past NSF grants. Users can search using a range of search criteria - key text words, PI, state, dates, organization, NSF program or project code.
NSF Award Search
Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences Sample Proposal
Foundations & Gifts
A database of awarded corporate and foundation grants is available through the Corporate and Foundation Relations Office. For more information about these types of grants or about a specific corporate or private funder, please contact - Evan Havard, Development Officer/Corporate Foundations Relations, University Advancement, (334)844-8765.
Data Management Tools
The Data Management Plan Tool (DMPTool) is a source of DMP templates for various agencies and sample public DMPs.
Managing your research data is an effective strategy for ensuring that it will be usable, preserved, maintained, and accessible throughout the life cycle of a research project and for future generations of scientific research.
Moreover, federal funding agencies are now requiring data management plans as part of grant proposal packages. The Auburn University Libraries, in conjunction with the Offices of Sponsored Programs and Proposal Services and Faculty Support have developed an NSF-specific Data Management Plan (DMP). This template is intended to help AU researchers draft effective data management plans for the NSF and other funding agencies with similar requirements. The template addresses the six points mentioned in the original NSF guidelines: role and responsibilities, types of data, data formats and metadata, policies for public access, policies and provisions for re-use and re-distribution, and plans for archiving and preservation.
The Auburn University Libraries has created a Research Data Services subject guide which provides additional information.
Federal Requirements
Common Forms
Common Forms Overview
In response to the National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM-33), the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) and NSF developed common disclosure forms for the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support sections of an application for Federal research and development grants and/or cooperative agreements.
- NSF, DOD & NASA currently require the use of Common Forms.
- NIH and DOE are scheduled to adopt Common Form use May 2025.
National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM-33)
NSPM-33 Implementation Guidance Reference Table
Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program MEMO
Biographical Sketch Common Form
The Biographical Sketch Common Form provides instructions for the submission of a biographical sketch by each individual identified as a senior/key person on a Federally funded research project. The biographical sketch is used to assess how well-qualified the individual, team, or organization is to conduct the proposed activities.
Quick Overview of Biographical Sketch Common Form.docx
Complete Biographical Sketch Common Form
Current and Pending (Other) Support Common Form
The Current and Pending (Other) Support information is used to assess the capacity of any conflicts of commitment that may impact the ability of the individual to carry out the research effort as proposed. The information also helps assess any potential scientific and budgetary overlap/duplication with the project being proposed.
Quick Overview of Current & Pending Support Common Form Overview.docx
Complete Current & Pending Common Form
NSF Biographical Sketch Common Forms Overview
a. Common Form NSF SCV Biographical Sketch 24-1 must be completed in SciENcv.
b. Click NSF Biographical Sketch and copy the information from the current document to the newer version which will produce a pdf compliant version that can be attached to the proposal in Research.gov.
c. Each senior/key personnel must include a BioSketch and certify.
d. The page limitation has been removed (formerly 3-page limit) as has the Synergistic section (now uploaded as a separate attachment).
e. NSF requires use of ORCiD for the Persistent Identifier (PID) of the senior/key personnel
PAPPG (NSF 24-1) Biographical Sketch, Chapter II.D.2.h(i)
NSF Current & Pending (Other) Support Overview
a. Common Form NSF Current & Pending Support must be created in SciENcv.
b. Click NSF Current & Pending (Other) Support; information will automatically populate a new form
c. NSF requires use of ORCiD for the Persistent Identifier (PID) of the senior/key personnel.
d. A distinct submission must be provided for each proposal and active project, as well as for in- kind contributions. There is no specific page limitation for this section of the application, certain fields have character limitations for consistency and fairness.
PAPPG (NSF 24-1) Current and Pending (Other) Support, Chapter II.D.2.h(ii)
Current NIH Guidance for May 2025 Implementation
NIH will implement the Common Forms without change to any collection fields.
General Information
a. NIH will require the use of Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv) to complete Common Forms (i.e., Biographical Sketch, Current and Pending (Other) Support) and the NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement to produce digitally certified PDF(s) for use in application submission.
b. NIH will require all Senior/Key Personnel to enter their ORCID ID into SciENcv in the Persistent Identifier (PID) section of the Common Forms.
c. NIH will require all Senior/Key Personnel to link their ORCID ID to their eRA Commons Personal Profile.
d. NIH currently plans to continue collecting three required agency specific data elements (i.e. Personal Statement, Contributions to Science, and Honors) to assess qualifications. These data elements will be collected separately from the Common Forms on a new NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement.
NIH Biographical Sketch
a. NIH will no longer accept the NIH Biographical Sketch format page.
b. NIH will require the use of the Common Form for Biographical Sketch.
c. NIH will require the use of a new NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement to collect the “Personal Statement,” “Contributions to Science,” and “Honors” statements.
NIH Current and Pending (Other) Support
a. NIH will no longer accept the NIH Other Support format page.
b. NIH will require the use of the Common Form for Current and Pending (Other) Support.
The Department of Defense (DOD) has issued a Grant Information Notice sharing their implementation of the Common Disclosure form(s).
As of November 1, 2024, all notices of funding opportunities for assistance awards (grants/cooperative agreements) for the purpose of Research and Development (R&D) will reflect that all proposals submitted therein will require the use of the Common Disclosure form(s).
As of April 1, 2025, DOD will require the use of ORCID ID’s for all senior or key personnel listed in a proposal for an assistance award for R&D.
Effective October 1, 2024, NASA implemented mandatory use of the Common Disclosure form(s) for Biographical Sketches/Current & Pending Support.
Guidance was issued in the Implementation of Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations which includes updates to the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM) .
Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv) & Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCiD)
Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae - SciENcv - is an application in My NCBI that helps users create online professional profiles that can be made public to share with others.
Benefits:
- Document education, employment, research activities, publications, honors, research grants, and other professional contributions in one place.
- Create multiple SciENcv profiles in official biographical sketch formats -
- Create NSF Current and Pending Support document.
- Populate SciENcv profile information by linking to previously established accounts with NIH eRA Commons, NSF, and ORCiD.
- Users control what data is public and edit and maintain all biosketch information.
Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCiD)
ORCiD is a non-profit entity (no cost to sign up or use it) that provides a unique, persistent digital identifier that distinguishes you from every other researcher. Through integration in key research workflows such as grant submission, it supports automated linkages between you and your professional activities.
“Enter once, re-use often” – the ultimate goal is that, by connecting information to and from ORCiD records from other systems that researchers already use, we can improve the accuracy of the information and reduce the administrative burden.
- Improve discoverability of your work (and increase citations!)
- Ensure accurate attribution of your work
- Consolidate all your information in one place - no need to type in same information over and over
- Automatically update your research profile
- Required by an increasing number of publishers and funding agencies (e.g., Science, The Royal Society, PLoS)
- Required by many funding agencies (e.g., NSF, NIH)
- Protect your scholarly identity
Patricia Hartman of AU Libraries provides ORCiD support for researchers.
Send us Your CV Program at AU
AU Libraries offers faculty the opportunity to complete ORCID profiles.
1. Register for your ORCID account (Use the institutional single sign on!)
2. Click your name in the top right corner and select "Trusted Parties"
3. Scroll down to "Trusted Individuals" and add orcid@auburn.edu
4. Send a copy of your CV to orcid@auburn.edu to ensure all of your works, educational background and work history is included
