Graduate Student Grant Writing Workshop
Call for Applications Released: Last week of January 2026
Extended Application Deadline: March 31, 2026
Workshop Schedule: May 18–22, 2026; 9:00 AM–12:00 PM, Volker Campus (in-person)
Facilitated by GWI Faculty Fellows
- Dr. Michelle Paquette, Division of Energy, Matter and Systems; and, Missouri Institute for Defense and Energy
- Dr. Joseph Lightner, Department of Health Science
Workshop Overview
The School of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Writing Initiative are launching a one-week, hands-on Grant Writing Workshop designed to boost students’ and postdocs’ excitement, confidence, and practical skills in preparing competitive grant and fellowship applications. This intensive workshop runs May 18–22, 2026; 9:00 AM–12:00 PM daily, and blends short instructional sessions with structured writing time, peer feedback, individualized guidance, and expert facilitation. Our goal is simple: to help you transform a project idea and a real funding opportunity into a concrete, compelling proposal—and help you feel ready and excited to submit your application. Participants will learn how to read and decode funding announcements, write strong research statements and personal narratives, build realistic project plans, understand biosketch/CV expectations, and develop next-step strategies with their advisors. This program supports the broader Graduate Writing Initiative mission to strengthen willingness, knowledge, and ability to pursue external funding and is co-facilitated by the Graduate Writing Specialist and Graduate Writing Initiative Faculty Fellows.
Why Should You Participate?
External funding is a powerful catalyst for academic and professional success. Securing grants and fellowships provides more than financial support. Funding creates flexibility and independence to pursue meaningful research. It is also helpful for travel, fieldwork, conferences, and to build a strong professional profile. Funded scholars consistently publish more and collaborate more widely. This workshop is designed to help participants move from interest to action by developing a competitive, well-structured proposal and a clear submission plan. Participants will leave with a targeted funding opportunity, a strong draft, and the confidence to pursue future funding opportunities throughout their careers.
What Types of Proposals Can You Work On?
All proposals/applications are appropriate. If you’re looking for potential funding opportunities, you can find examples you may want to consider on the following pages.
Proposals can be for nationally or internationally competitive awards, graduate fellowships, traditional early career research proposals, dissertation completion grants, field work, archival work, user facility access, etc.
Not sure what opportunity to apply to or how to conceptualize a potential application? Speak to your UG or grad mentor or program advisor. Book an appointment with Annie Lowe, PhD at the Graduate Writing Initiative. Meet with Misty Vaughn, Manager of Nationally Competitive Awards in 海角论坛's Career Services, to identify funding opportunities and verify eligibility; schedule with Misty through using your 海角论坛 SSO login.
What You'll Do
- Identify and dissect your target funding opportunity or call for applications/proposals
- Build a complete application/proposal plan
- Draft a research statement
- Draft or refine your personal statement, biosketch, and/or CV
- Review peer proposals
- Learn to solicit/receive feedback
- Obtain strategies for soliciting strong recommendation letters
- Learn project planning fundamentals
- Leave with a draft and submission-ready roadmap
To Be Eligible, You Must
- Be a 海角论坛 student or postdoc in any discipline. (Master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral trainees will be prioritized. However, undergraduate students preparing to apply for graduate scholarships or fellowships will be considered if space is available and are encouraged to apply.)
- Identify a specific funding opportunity
- Have mentor/advisor support
- Commit to full participation
Participant Expectations
- Complete brief preparation activities (to include basic conceptualization of activity/project)
- Attend all five in-person sessions
- Bring your application/proposal materials each day
- Complete short homework assignments
- Engage actively in peer review
- After the program: meet with your mentor/advisor to finalize next steps
- After the program: complete short follow-up survey(s)
Submission Instructions
Email the following to the School of Graduate Studies at umkcsgs@umkc.edu with “Grant Writing Seminar” in the subject line. Please include your last name on all file names.
- Application form
- CV (Word or PDF)
- Signed letter of commitment from advisor/mentor
Download the Application (PDF)
Download the Advisor Letter of Commitment Template (PDF)
Questions?
Questions about program fit, preparation, or the application itself can be directed to Dr. Annie Lowe, Graduate Writing Specialist, at annie.lowe@umkc.edu.