This workshop equips postdocs with a practical understanding of NIH culture, funding priorities, and the grant review process, with hands-on guidance for developing competitive applications. Participants will learn how to align their research with NIH institutes, craft strong Specific Aims, interpret reviewer feedback, and leave with concrete next steps for advancing their own NIH grant submissions.
Note: We recommend attending in person (either at UP or Hershey), as activity breakouts will take place on site. Participants joining via Zoom may use this time for a break.
Tentative Agenda:
1:00 – 1:10 pm, Welcome & Introductions
1:10 – 1:40 pm, Understanding the NIH Culture and Funding Priorities
Demystifying NIH language, institutes, awards, roster of panelists, panel review & PubMed
Using NIH RePORTER and grants.gov to align your research with funder priorities
1:40 – 2:10 pm, Small Group Exercise: Identify 1–2 potential NIH institutes/calls for your project and explore current funded projects
2:10 – 2:25 pm, What Makes a Fundable Idea?
Distinguishing between manuscript and grant writing
Introduction to the core elements of successful grant applications
2:25 – 2:40 pm, Break
2:50 – 3:40 pm, Specific Aims
Anatomy of a Specific Aims page
Small Group Peer Review Activity: Evaluate and revise real or sample Specific Aims pages using a guided rubric
Facilitated debrief: Lessons from strong and weak aims
3:30 – 4:00 pm, Navigating the Review Process
How NIH review panels work
Scoring system demystified
What reviewers say behind closed doors - cultural norms
Discussion/Q&A
4:00 – 4:40 pm, Advanced Strategies for Success
Responding to reviewer comments
Resubmissions and timing
Leveraging feedback from mentors and colleagues
Mini Exercise: Draft a personal action step or timeline for your grant development
4:40 – 5:00 pm, Wrap-Up and Q&A
Summary of key takeaways
Final questions and resources
Speaker & Facilitator Bios:
Dr. Cheryl Thompson serves as the Associate Director for Population Sciences for the Penn State Cancer Institute and Professor in Public Health Sciences at Penn State College of Medicine. She is a genetic and molecular epidemiologist who is interested in the intersection of behavioral, lifestyle and environmental factors with inherited variation to influence individual risk of cancer or cancer outcomes. Email: cthompson11@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
Dr. Gail Thomas is a Professor of Medicine and Director of Postdoctoral Affairs at the Penn State College of Medicine. She studies how the body’s nervous system and muscles work together to control the heart and blood pressure, especially during exercise and in disease. Email: gdt114@psu.edu
Dr. Jennifer Nicholas is Penn State's Director of Postdoctoral Affairs. She applies her PhD in Workforce Education and Development to practitioner work in postdoctoral career coaching, career and professional development programming, and change management. Email: jun149@psu.edu