• new training announcement

Hellooo!

For the past two years I’ve been actively helping scientists with grants and fundraising. My clients, who are almost always active scientists, often struggle with articulating the impact of their research when writing research proposals. Because when you are deep in the process of drafting a research proposal, it’s easy to focus solely on the science. BUT the approach required for a successful application varies significantly depending on the funding agency. Whether you are targeting the ERC, NWO, or UKRI, understanding these nuances is critical for success.

This is exactly why a “copy-paste” approach to sections like impact and communication simply doesn’t work.

A special welcome to new joiners of this newsletter. 🤗
My name is Pranoti and I’m the founder of The Science Talk.
My mission is to empower and enable scientists to share their stories in digital spaces with confidence and ease. 🧡

Same Goal, Different Approaches

The requirements for different funding bodies are distinct, and as a scientist, these are differences you cannot afford to overlook:

• Horizon Europe & ERC: While communication may not be a mandatory, explicitly mentioned section in every ERC proposal, you are being evaluated as a Principal Investigator. Here, your goal is to showcase yourself as a rising or established academic leader.
• NWO (Netherlands): For talent programs and open competitions, the impact section is vital—often carrying as much as 25% of the total weighting. This requires a dedicated, robust strategy.
• UKRI (United Kingdom): Impact isn’t just a checkbox; it needs to be expertly woven into the very fabric of your proposal to demonstrate the broader value of your work.

To help you navigate these differences, I have written a comprehensive summary blog post. It breaks down the specific requirements for various agencies and offers actionable advice on how to tailor your outreach and impact strategies to meet their unique expectations.

Understanding that different grant applications need different approaches is the first step toward a winning proposal. I hope this free resource helps you sharpen your next submission!

Cheers,
Pranoti Kshirsagar Founder, The Science Talk

PS: If, apart from my email, you also need help strengthen impact strategy, I think you’ll be happy about:

1. Impact strategy for research proposalswhere I work with principal investigators who want professional science communication that matches the ambition and budget of their grant proposal. More details are on my website.
2. I’m floating an additional online training session Personal Branding for Scientists in the Age of AI on June 23rd 9:30AM CEST. Register here!
3. My Claude CV System is available now. This is the exact system I use for job applications. AI does the heavy lifting while content & creativity to articulate my expertise stay with me. Get the system👇

Claude CV System

What’s inside:

✅ Proprietary CV customisation framework

✅ Job description matching & keyword alignment

✅ Approval gates to maintain authenticity

Get the system - €49