Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi)

1Organizers & audience of this program
WPI-ASHBi & WPI-iCeMS

both part of the WPI Institutions in Kyoto University

This seminar is open to
Kyoto University members& non-Kyoto University members

WPI requires the WPI institutions to share their knowledge
with other Japanese institutions
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Research Acceleration Unit at WPI-ASHBi
We aim to support research acceleration of early-stage researchers in JapanMar 12, 2021

Illustration
Tadashi Ogawa
Professor

Introduction of useful tool
for making figures in biology

Jun 25, 2021

Press Release

How to make & share yourresearch achievements
globally

Tomoki Shimizu (center)
Junior Associate Professor

Makoto Shida (left)

Jul 30, 2021 (today)

Hiromi Inoue (right)

How to tell your researcheffectively in your grant
proposal

University Research Administrator
Research Coordinator

Grant Writing

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[Key message]

Convincing your research plan to the reviewers!
Important factors of proposal

Your Idea
Ability

Storytelling
Skill

Today
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KAKENHI Writing Seminar
Part 1

Part 2

KAKENHI overview& evaluation system

Writing tips forearly-stage researchers

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Agenda: KAKENHI Writing Seminar
1. Overview & Proposal Format
2. Evaluation System (Kiban C & Wakate)
3. Preparing an Effective Proposal

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Agenda: KAKENHI Writing Seminar
1. Overview & Proposal Format
2. Evaluation System (Kiban C & Wakate)
3. Preparing an Effective Proposal

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KAKENHI is your main research funding in Japan
Government
Research Funding

KAKENHI Kiban Categories
Category

Duration

Grant Size

Kiban S5Y

JPY 50 – 200M

Kiban A3 – 5YJPY 20 – 50M

Kiban B3 – 5YJPY 5 – 20M

Kiban C3 – 5Y≦JPY 5M

Wakate2 – 5Y≦JPY 5M(Early Career)

FY2019 Total 436B JPY
White Paper on Science and Technology 2019, MEXT

+ other special categories
KAKENHI web: https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/grants01.html

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Category suitable for Early-Career Scientists

Kiban C

Category(Scientific Research C)

Wakate(Early Career)

EligibilityNone< 8 years after
PhD acquisition

Project duration

3–5Y

2–5Y

Grant size

≦JPY 5M≦JPY 5M

Allocation Rate

FY2019 66.9%

FY2019 64.9%

Success rate

FY2020 28.4%

FY 2020 40.1%(total amount)(% of proposed amount)(FY2019)

FY2019 28.2%

FY2019 40.0%

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Application Format: Kiban C & Wakate
Note: The format below is FY2021. See next page for the new format!
Part 1

Executive Summary,Objectives, Method,“Key Scientific Question”, etc.

Part 2

Research history, research
field trends, etc.

Part 3

Past achievements/honors,
research environment, team,etc.

Part 4

Human Right Protection, Legal
Compliance etc.

Research
Proposal

BackgroundFeasibility

Compliance3 pages

1 page2 pages

1 pages

Total 7 pages

We will mention about “Key Scientific Question” in chapter 3
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[NEW] FY2022 Application Format: Kiban C & Wakate
The contents for Part 2 in the past has been merged to Part 1 in FY2022!
Part 1

Part 2

Executive Summary,Objectives, Method,“Key Scientific Question”, etc.

Research
Proposal+
Background4 pages

Past achievements/honors,
research environment, team,etc.

Part 3

Human Right Protection, Legal
Compliance etc.

Feasibility

Compliance2 pages

1 pagesmerged1 pageTotal 7 pages

We will mention about “Key Scientific Question” in chapter 3
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[NEW] FY2022 Application Format: Kiban C & Wakate
The contents for Part 2 in the past has been merged to Part 1 in FY2022!
Part 1

Executive Summary,Objectives, Method,“Key Scientific Question”, etc.

Research
Proposal+
BackgroundPart 2

Past achievements/honors,
research environment, team,etc.

Part 3

Human Right Protection, Legal
Compliance etc.

Feasibility

Compliance

4 pages

2 pages

1 pageMain Body

Supporting Evidences

You can say that InstitutePartfor1theisAdvanced
main
body & Part 2-3 supports Part121
Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi)

Agenda: KAKENHI Writing Seminar
1. Overview & Proposal Format
2. Evaluation System (Kiban C & Wakate)
3. Preparing an Effective Proposal

ApplicantReviewer

Rabbit & Frog Icons: https://chojugiga.com/
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Evaluation system: A black box?
ApplicantEvaluation

Selected30-40%

Black box
Not
Selected
60-70%

Rabbit Icons: https://chojugiga.com/

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Evaluation system: A black box?
ApplicantReviewers
A

B

C

D

Top
rated

1st Stage

Borderlines

Selected30-40%

2nd Stage
Not
Selected
60-70%

Low
rated

Rabbit & Frog Icons: https://chojugiga.com/

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How #1: The evaluation in the 1st stage
ApplicantReviewers
A

B

C

D

Top

1st Stage

Borderlines

Selected30-40%③

2nd Stage
Not
Selected
60-70%

Low

Rabbit & Frog Icons: https://chojugiga.com/

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1st stage: Sorting applications using the “overall score”
Reviewers must mark 2 type of scores
Absolute Scoring

Proportional Scoring

3 Rating Elements

Overall Score(Individual: Score 1 - 4)
of Research Project

Validityof Research Method

Appropriatenessof Ability to Conduct Researchand Research Environment

4

20%

3

40%

2

30%

1

Influence

Academic ImportanceGood 10%Poor

You/team’s capability (achievements, expertise, etc)
Access to necessary equipment, facilities, etc
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How #2: The evaluation in the 2nd stage
Reviewers
A

B

C

D

Top

1st Stage

Borderlines

Selected30-40%

2nd Stage
Not
Selected
60-70%

Low

Rabbit & Frog Icons: https://chojugiga.com/

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2nd stage: Re-evaluation using scores & comments of others
In 2nd stage, each reviewer receives
1st stage scores & comments of ALL 4 reviewers

A

B

C

D

Overall
Score

Comments

3
4

Reviewer A
Comment

2
4

Reviewer B
Comment

2
4

Reviewer C
Comment

3
1

Reviewer D
Comment

2nd Stage Score

Re-evaluationA

Top priority

B

RecommendCCan be selected

D

None of aboveｰ

Stakeholder
Frog Icons: https://chojugiga.com/

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Who are your Reviewers?
ApplicantWho?

Reviewers
A

B

C

D

Top

1st Stage

Borderlines

Selected30-40%

2nd Stage

Low

Not
Selected
60-70%

Rabbit & Frog Icons:
https://chojugiga.com/
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Select your reviewer section wisely to receive appropriate evaluation
Broad section
A-K
Medium sized section 01-64(in total, 306 Basic Sections)past reviewers can be found at
KAKENHI website(Japanese only)
https://www.jsps.go.jp/jgrantsinaid/14_kouho/meibo.html

43050
Reviewers
43050 Genome biology-related

A

B

C

D

https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/data/09/2022/review_section_table_e.pdf
Rabbit & Frog Icons: https://chojugiga.com/
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Evaluation system: Same 4 reviewers evaluating in 2 stages
ApplicantReviewers
A

B

C

D

Top

1st Stage

Borderlines

Selected30-40%

2nd Stage
Not
Selected
60-70%

Low

Rabbit & Frog Icons: https://chojugiga.com/

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Agenda: KAKENHI Writing Seminar
1. Overview & Proposal Format
2. Evaluation System (Kiban C & Wakate)
3. Preparing an Effective Proposal

ApplicantReviewer

Rabbit & Frog Icons: https://chojugiga.com/
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Preparing an Effective Proposal: Effective storytelling

Effective Storytelling is essential in making
the reviewer to resonate with your story.
Before you start writing, please take time indeveloping your storytelling strategy!

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Storytelling: What must be fulfilled in a proposal?
ApplicantYour point of view

Specific Problem
that you want to tackle

Your Solution(Unique & solid)

You need areviewer’s pointof view!

Rabbit & Frog Icons: https://chojugiga.com/
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Storytelling: What must be fulfilled in a proposal?
Reviewer

ApplicantYour point of view

Specific Problem
that you want to tackle

Your Solution(Unique & solid)

Reviewer’s point of view
Academic
Importance

You need areviewer’s
point
Validityof view!

Appropriateness

Need to satisfy both components!
Rabbit & Frog Icons: https://chojugiga.com/
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Academic Importance: Address why people should listen to you
Large unsolved issue(Resonating theme) Wow!

Specific
Critical Problem
Problemthat you unmet
want to needs)
tackle(Specific

Your Solution(Unique & solid)

Wow!

Academic
Importance
Validity
Appropriateness

Large potential impact(To science & society)

Frog Icons: https://chojugiga.com/
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Validity & Appropriateness: Address why your plan is feasible
Large unsolved issue(Resonating theme)

Critical Problem

Academic
Importance

Explain thefeasibility of(Specific unmet needs)

Validity

Research plan/methods

Your Solution(Unique & solid)

You/team’s capability
Research environment

Large potential impact

AppropriatenessI see!

(To science & society)

Frog Icons: https://chojugiga.com/
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Storytelling: Storyline structure to explain both views“Hourglass” like structure

Large unsolved issue

Large scope(Resonating theme)

Specific
Critical Problem
Problemthat you unmet
want to needs)
tackle(Specific

Specific
focusYour Solution(Unique & solid)

Large potential impact(To science & society)

Academic
Importance
Validity
Appropriateness

Large scope

Modified from Scanlan C, “The hourglass: serving the news, serving the reader” Poynter, 2003
https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2003/the-hourglass-serving-the-news-serving-the-reader/

Use the “Large-Specified-Large”
scope to make your story 29
Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi)

Convince your 3 Elements through 2 “Wow!”s & 1 “I see!”
Large unsolved issue

Large scope(Resonating theme) Wow!

Specific
Critical Problem
Problemthat you unmet
want to needs)
tackle(Specific

Your Solution(Unique & solid)

Specific
I see! focus

Wow!

Large potential impact(To science & society)

Academic
Importance
Validity
Appropriateness

Large scope
Frog Icons: https://chojugiga.com/

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What is the “Key Scientific Question” in your application?
KAKENHI requests you to describe the“Key Scientific Question” in your application

Large unsolved issue(Resonating theme)

Specific
Critical Problem
Problemthat you unmet
want to needs)
tackle(Specific

Your Solution(Unique & solid)

Academic
Importance
Validity
Appropriateness

Large potential impact(To science & society)

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What is the “Key Scientific Question” in your application?
Large unsolved issue(Resonating theme)

Critical Problem(Specific unmet needs)

Academic
Importance
Other ways

Your Solution(Unique & solid)

Large potential impact(To science & society)

Validity
Appropriateness
Modified from Ogawa T, “My experience as a reviewer”
KAKENHI Preparation in Advance, 2018

Rabbit Icons: https://chojugiga.com/

Make a question with an answer in which your way is “the only way”
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by showing“why other ways don’t work”

Useful tips in preparing an effective proposal

Tip #1: Use an Outline Framework
Tip #2: Grant Writing is different from Academic Writing
Tip #3: Use “Easy-to-understand Format & Language”
Tip #4: Obtain Third Person’s View via Feedback

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Tip #1: Use an outline framework
Sample of an Outline Framework

Past①

Present③

Introduction/Issue

Common knowledge,
scientific background, etc.

Future⑤Your Solution

Theme of your proposal

Predicted results
What can be achieved

Corresponding②④

Critical Problem
Unmet needs ofother research(domestic/global)⑥

Your strength

Key findings,
research environment

Potential Impact
to Science & Society

Modified from Ono E, “科研費研究計画調書のグラフィックデザイン”
K-CONNEX Seminar, 2017

Check to see Instituteif youhave “every component” in your story 34
for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi)

Tip #2: Grant Writing is different from Academic Writing
What you need to convey is different
Academic Writing
Past oriented

vsGrant Writing
Future oriented

Work that has been done

Work that should be done

Theme-centered

Project-centered

Theory and thesis

Objectives and activities

Few length constraints

Strict length constraints

Specialized terminology

Accessible Language

Verbosity rewarded“Insider jargon”

Brevity rewarded

Easily understood

Modified from Porter R, “Why Academics Have a Hard Time Writing Good Grant Proposals”
The Journal of Research Administration, vol 38, 2, 2007

In Grant Writing,you need to sell “your future plan”
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Tip #3: Use “Easy-to-understand Format & Language”△

Family50 proposals×7p=

over 350p!!

△

Research

Wow! I can understand quickly!
Modified from Ogawa T, “My experience as a reviewer”
KAKENHI Preparation in Advance, 2018
Frog Icons: https://chojugiga.com/

Effective placement of summary, headers and figures
for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi)
will help Institutereviewers
capture the story at a glance36Tip #4: Obtain Third Person’s View via Feedback
Check to see how much of your proposal
is understood by others

3rd person view
feedback

Colleague,
URA, etc
Rabbit & Porcupine Icons: https://chojugiga.com/

Having others check your document is important
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to avoid
your story to become ego-centric37

Convince your 3 Elements through 2 “Wow!”s & 1 “I see!”
Large unsolved issue

Large scope(Resonating theme) Wow!

Specific
Critical Problem
Problemthat you unmet
want to needs)
tackle(Specific

Your Solution(Unique & solid)

Specific
I see! focus

Wow!

Large potential impact(To science & society)

Academic
Importance
Validity
Appropriateness

Large scope
Frog Icons: https://chojugiga.com/

Now, let’s get
the practical tips based on experience!
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AppendicesInstitute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi)

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App 1-1. KAKENHI Research Categories

Specially Promoted
Research

Scientific Research on
Innovative Areas

Scientific Research(S/A/B/C)

Early Career Scientists

Challenging Research(Pioneering/Explanatory)

Research Activity
Start-up
KAKENHI Grants-in Aid for Scientific Research Pamphlet, JSPS
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/data/kakenhi_pamph_e.pdf

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App 1-2. Useful links on KAKENHI• KAKENHI proposal documents

https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/grants09.html• Restriction on Parallel Grant Application

https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/data/09/2022/table_of_restriction_e.pdf• KAKENHI Review Section Table

https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/data/09/2022/review_section_table_e.pdf• KAKENHI past reviewer list (in Japanese)

https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-grantsinaid/14_kouho/meibo.html• KAKENHI Peer Review Process

https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/grants03.html• KAKENHI Review Process & Assessment Criteria

https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/data/2021/r3hyoutei03_en_general.pdf

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App 1-3. FY2022 Proposal Format: Part 1
Note: New format has been introduced for FY2022 applications!

Research Proposal

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App 1-3 FY2022 Proposal Format: Part 1 Notes
Note: New format has been introduced for FY2022 applications!
1.

<Note 1>

Read and understand the following important notes carefully before preparing your Research Proposal
Document.

KAKENHI funding aims to promote scientific research in all fields based on original ideas of researchers. The grants
provide financial support for creative and pioneering research projects that will become the foundation of social
development.
In KAKENHI, research theme setting is at the applicant’s discretion. As such, KAKENHI research proposals areevaluated based not only on their scientific significance, but also on their originality and creativity. Accordingly,
in the Research Proposal Document forms for the “Scientific Research” and “Early-Career Scientists” categories,
applicants are required to state: What kind of key scientific question(s) is set against the relevant scientific background (such as research trends
and new developments)?
 What are the scientific originality and creativity of the proposal?
 What was the research development leading to the conception of the research idea?
 What are the research trends (domestic and overseas) and the positioning of this research in the relevant field?
In the review process, research proposals will be screened either by Comprehensive Review or Two-Stage Document
Review. Reviewers strive to grasp the essence of the proposed research through exchange of opinions among them,evaluate such merits as scientific significance, originality and creativity, and comprehensively place their
judgments taking account of the feasibility of the research plan and the applicant’s ability to conduct research.
In applying for KAKENHI, applicants are advised to take note of the above, and to read the Application Proceduresfor Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research and the explanations of review criteria and the annotations in the application
form in preparing their Research Proposal Documents, so that the scientific merits and other points in the research
proposal will be appropriately conveyed to the reviewers.
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App 1-3 FY2022 Proposal Format: Part 1 Notes
Note: New format has been introduced for FY2022 applications!

<Note 2>

Note 2:
1. Read carefully the “Procedures for Preparing and Entering a Research Proposal Document” when preparing the
document.
2.

The document should be written with font size 10-point or larger.

3.

The title and instructions on the upper part of each page should be left intact.

4.

Do not exceed the maximum number of pages specified in the instructions. In case blank page(s) occur, leavethem as they are (do not eliminate any page).

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App 1-3. FY2022 Proposal Format: Part 2
Note: New format has been introduced for FY2022 applications!

Feasibility* Note:1.

The description in this column is to explain the feasibility of the research plan. On citing research achievements(research papers, books, patents, invited talks, etc.) they should be given not as an exhaustive list but assupporting evidence to prove the applicant’s ability to conduct the proposed research.

2.

Sufficient information should be given so that the reviewers can identify the research achievements.
In the case of a research paper, for example, the relevant bibliographic information, including the title of thepaper, the author(s), the title and the volume of the journal, the publication year, and the pages of the article
should be given.

3.

The research papers that can be cited are only those already published or accepted for publication.
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App 1-3. FY2022 Proposal Format: Part 3
Note: New format has been introduced for FY2022 applications!

Compliance

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App 2. Assessment Criteria (from FY2021 Application)

https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/data/2021/r3hyoutei03_en_general.pdf
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App 2. Assessment Criteria (from FY2021 Application)

https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/data/2021/r3hyoutei03_en_general.pdf
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App 2. Assessment Criteria (from FY2021 Application)

https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/data/2021/r3hyoutei03_en_general.pdf
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App 2. Assessment Criteria (from FY2021 Application)

https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/data/2021/r3hyoutei03_en_general.pdf
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App 3-1 What’s different in Academic Writing & Grant Writing?

Porter R, “Why Academics Have a Hard Time Writing Good Grant Proposals”,
The Journal of Research Administration, vol 38, 2, 2007
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App 3-2 What should be answered in a good abstract?
A good abstract will convey answers to following 5 questions• Which problem are you going to solve?
• Why is it important?
• How will you do it?
• What do you plan to find/achieve?
• Why are your findings important?
Modified from “Writing an abstract”, Australian National University
https://www.anu.edu.au/students/academic-skills/research-writing/journal-article-writing/writing-an-abstract

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