West Virginia University graduate students will have the opportunity to develop a critical professional skillgrantsmanshipin a new course offered for the first time during the Summer B session.

The course,Grants and Grantsmanship(PLSC 593A, CRN 71337 ), was developed by Dale Karlson, an assistant professor of genetics and developmental biology in the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences.

The course covers all of the steps in the grant-writing process,Karlson said.Students will learn how to prepare a proposal that will logically convey their plans of study.

Karlson designed the course to fill what he saw as a critical need for student scholars.

Masters and doctoral students who plan to pursue careers in research will need to know how to prepare a persuasive grant proposal as they enter that competitive arena,Karlson said.With this course, they’ll have a solid foundation in grantsmanship that gives them an advantage.

Students will also be able to use this course to help prepare proposals for their graduate plans of study.

As a result of this course, they can hand in a proposal to their graduate committee, and they can also consider taking it to the next level for funding,Karlson explained.

The course will cover issues such as identifying funding sources, making key interpersonal contacts with funding agencies, assessing competition, and finding the right agency and opportunity to fund ideas. Students will practice developing and selling key ideas, study all steps of grant preparation and application process, learn about the grant review process, and participate in a mock panel review session.

While the course is primarily designed for graduate students, motivated undergraduate students who are performing independent research are encouraged to enroll as well.

Due to time constraints, students will not be able to write a complete proposal during the summer session, but they can continue the course in the form of an independent study during the fall semester. Students who pursue that option will be able to craft a complete grant proposal ready to submit for funding agencies.

It would be a major advantage to students to begin their first permanent position with funding already in place,said Karlson, who conducts research funded by the National Science Foundation.

For additional information, contact Karlson, 304-293-6023, ext. 4335, or dale.karlson@mail.wvu.edu .