Grant Writing Experience
If you would like to gain valuable experience in the grant-writing process, please consider a few opportunities offered through U-M courses:
Pharmacology 502: Introduction to Scientific Communication
Pharmacology 502 introduces second-year graduate students to essential scientific communication skills. Beginning with the relatively easy task of learning to search the literature over the Internet and ending with the challenges of writing an NRSA grant application and giving a short seminar, each student will develop confidence in both written and spoken scientific communication. Class meetings alternate between presentations by local experts on various topics and student presentations of their work in progress. In-depth analysis of student writing and presentation skills will be provided in class by the instructor, by other students working in small groups, as well as by guest scientists. Through a series of assignments, each student will write a grant over the course of the semester on a topic of his or her choice. By the end of the term each student will have polished and revised the proposal to a high quality product that will be presented both orally and in written form to the rest of the class. Finally, each student will participate in a mock study section to constructively evaluate each other's grants.
Physiology 555: Integrative Biology and Genomics
The recent completion of the human genome opens the door to exciting new opportunities in the biomedical sciences. Integrative Genomics focuses on the study of functional biology in genetically engineered animal models. An appreciation of genetic variables, including gender and genetic background, biological variables, including organ function and issues relating to aging, and environmental variables, including, nutrition, exercise, stress, and pathogens is a central feature of the class. It is the study of the inherent complexities of genes, biology, and environment in animals that forms the unique underpinnings of the exciting new field of Integrative Genomics. The course features limited class size, and faculty from several different departments in the Medical School. Unique educational features of the class include student developed grants, oral presentations, student-led study section evaluations of grants, and no tests.
Biochem 650: Mechanisms of Eukaryotic Gene Expression
Topics will cover eukaryotic RNA polymerases, general transcriptional factors, mechanisms of transcriptional regulation, and chromatin structure and modification/remodeling. An emphasis will be placed on structural aspects of transcription and polymerase function. The course will be taught through a combination of lectures and discussions of the current literature.
