Part 2

Writing Tips for
Early-stage Researchers

Daniel Packwood
PI/Junior Associate Professor
WPI-iCeMS, Kyoto University
Re se arch Acce le ration U nit, Institute for the Ad vance d Stud y of Human B iology (W PI-ASHB i)

Kakenhi tips for young researchers
Daniel Packwood
dpackwood@icems.kyoto-u.ac.jp

1Self-introduction
Senior lecturer and PI at iCeMS,
Kyoto University (2016 -)JST PRESTO (Collaborative Math)(2014 – 2018)
Assistant Professor at Tohoku
University (2012 – 2016)
JSPS Postdoc at Kyoto University
Graduate School of Science（2010‐2012）

University of Canterbury (PhD 2010)
Major: Chemistry, Minor: Statistics

2

Why obtain research grants?

As well as paying for your research costs, research grants show that• you have a sound long-term research plan,• that people believe your research will yield exciting outcomes, and• that your work has some community support.
It is hard to demonstrate these things from your publication record alone.

3

Kakenhi is the main source of public researchfunding in Japan
Main categories:

Target position:

Kiban S

Senior professor

Kiban A

Professor

Kiban B

Associate professor

Kiban C

Assistant / associate
professor

Wakate (early career)

Postdoc / assistantprofessor(+ other special categories)

As you go throughyour career, youwork your way up
from Wakate toKiban S.
4

My mixed Kakenhi history…
Occasional misses!

Occasional hits!
2014: Young researchers B (Wakate B)
Charge transport inside of organic crystals

2017: Challenging Research (Chosentekihouga)
Molecular transport network based upon amathematical model

2016: Shingakujyutsu Koubo
Nanostructure control with Bayesian
optimisation

2017: Young researcher A (Wakate A)
Computational platform for work functioncontrol

2018: Young researchers (Wakate)Thin-film deposition system combining
experiment and information science

2018: Shingakujyutsu Koubo
Determination of nanopore atomic structure
via a math-materials collaboration

2020: Kiban C
Quantum annealing for functional
molecular assemblies

2019: Kiban B
Molecular assembly control by fusion ofcomputation and machine learning+ others!

+ others!

All established researchers have a long list of acceptance and rejections.
If you miss once, just re-think your strategy and try again.

5

What do you need to write?
Wakate application form: https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-grantsinaid/03_keikaku/data/r05/s-21.docx

4 pages

2 pages

1 pageProposal (main part):
Summary, goal, background, methods, how
did you choose this project?

Feasibility:
Past achievements andcurrent research
environment

Compliance:
Human rights
protections, etc
6Kakenhi tips
Planning your writing
When writing
When submitting7Remember that the evaluators are really busy!
https://ex02.net/archives/23

Really try to appreciate the evaluator’s situation. They have a miserable job.
How can you explain your idea in an exciting and interesting way?

8

Understand that you are not writing a paper

Paper: Present a new result to specialists

Proposal: Sell an idea

Result is supported by analysis and formalism.
Effort required to read it.

Idea is sold through rhetoric and visuals.
Little effort required to read it.

Significance and impact are secondary.

Significance and impact are paramount9Clarify where your idea comes from
Past research
Next step

Simulation of
nanomaterial assembly

Future vision

Project idea
Previous step
Simulation using aquantum computer•Your idea should come from two sources:
your past research and your future vision.

•Your past research determines what next steps
are available to you. Your future vision
determines which of those steps you should take.

•If you don’t have a future vision, you should
think of one first.

Designnanomaterials
with ultrafast
simulations“…the circumstances leading to conception of
the present research proposal…”
Image sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-assembly;
https://algoanalytics.com/quantumAnnealers.html; https://news.cnrs.fr/articles/thenew-challenges-of-spintronics;
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/03/20/reviewed-oled-tv-made-in- 10
america/6568445/

Roughly determine the elements of your proposal
https://www.brickcat.com/set-10662/

In previous research I
developed a new approach toself-assembly simulations
using machine learning andstochastic search techniques.

The convergence of solid-statephysics and materials chemistry
has been preceding over recentyears. A new direction – to realisenovel functionality by precisealignment of molecules – hasemerged.

Click
togetherFirst draft

The database will be
constructed from theCambridge Online Crystal
Database, which contains
thousands of organic crystal
structures.

“Building a Lego Tank (no music, no filters)” from YouTube•

Before starting on the proposal proper, make a list of the main points that you willprobably need to make. Then write a candidate paragraph for each point.

•This will help you later when writing – you can ‘click’ the paragraphs together like Legoblocks to form a rough first draft. It will also help keep your writing focused.
11

Kakenhi tips
Planning your writing
When writing
When submitting

12

On the first page, articulate the vision of your project and sell it
Vision of your project
Past researchNext step

Project idea

Project idea
(step towards the big dream)

Previous step

Future vision

Big dream

Quantum computer

Molecule
Molecules

Nanomaterial

Simulate nanomaterial
assembly using a quantumcomputer

Big impacts
Artificial cells

Printed electronics

Nanomaterial

Simulate nanomaterial assembly
within seconds (impossible withordinary computers)
Image sources:
Ultrahigh density memory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-assembly
https://algoanalytics.com/quantumAnnealers.html
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2018/11/14/creating-life-from-the-bottom-up-can-we-make-cells-from-scratch/https://news.cnrs.fr/articles/the-new-challenges-of-spintronics
13
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/03/20/reviewed-oled-tv-made-in-america/6568445/

My first page:

Vision of your project

Large
scope
Specific
focus
Large
scope
Big
dream
Impacts
Obstacle
to bigdream

This project + impacts
This research aims to lay-down a foundation for the discovery ofnovel materials [impacts] which runs on a quantum computer.
More concretely, I will create a quantum algorithm which canquickly simulate on-surface self-assembly [this project].
Topic (big dream), problem (obstacle to big dream), solution(this project), impact
This project + obstacle to big dream
14Address the core parts (background, method, etc) from pg. 2 onwards
Methods
figureBackgroundanddifficulties
figureProjectsummary
figureOverall vision andsummary of project

Anothermethods
figure (figureabout
research
environment
might havebeen better)

Impacts
figure(timeline
figuremight
have beenbetter)

Background and difficulties, how thisproject will overcome the difficulties

Research plan (methods,rough timeline), project
originality, impacts.

How did I come up with thisidea?

Try to have one figure per major section
The first figure should summarize the project(background, method, main goal).
Project should be clear by glancing at the15figures.

A closer look at my page 2 (background and current difficulties)
Project goals stated explicitly, highlighted with a box.
A short explanation of the significance of the goals is included(repeating content from page 1).
One point per paragraph. Write simple and unambiguous English
sentences. Write in a way that Japanese scientists speak English.
Prioritize communication over grammar and style.
“The convergence of solid-state physics and materials chemistry
has been proceeding over recent years. A new direction – to realize
novel functions by precise alignment of molecules – has emerged”.

Mention the essential technical points, but move on quickly
from them.
“Density functional theory-levels of accuracy are required, due topresence of metal surface states. However, …”

16

Put one line of space between paragraphs. This help theevaluator to find the part of the proposal that they areinterested in (specific problem, previous attempts, etc).

Kakenhi tips
Planning your writingWhen writing
When submitting

17

Familiarise yourself with E-radhttps://www-shinsei.jsps.go.jp/kaken/index.html•E-rad is the website where you submit your proposal. This is where you will upload your PDF
proposal, insert a title, choose your section, and enter your budget request.

•Access requires an ID and password. Your university administration provides this18

Enter an appropriate budget

Budget request for equipment,
consumables, items, labour, others(units of 1000 yen)

Recalculatebutton(click it afterentering yourbudget)

Details of equipment tobe purchased

Details of consumables
to be purchased

Necessity of the budget(how you will use it, connection
with research plan)

https://www.
mext.go.jp/content/1395971_02.pdf

Your budget request is enteredinto the E-rad system at the timeof submission (separately fromthe main proposal document)
The budget should correspond withyour research plan. E.g., if you planon performing simulations in Year 2,
then you would budget for acomputer in Year 2.
⇐ You need to justify your budget
using the box at the bottom(important – this forms part of theevaluation).
19

Final comments20• These tips are only based on my experience and do not guarantee
success. You should take time to find what works for you.
• You should put a good effort into writing Kakenhi. It brings important
career benefits and is a great chance to clarify your research direction.
Good luck!
21