Remember you almost never get all that you ask for, but only with a track record can you start to add flexibility. Expect Failure Most programs have 5 to 25 percent success rates. Your competition is likely to be very experienced. Each successful award is a chance to gain credibility for your next try or a chance to demonstrate that you shouldn't receive another award. In a highly competitive environment, the impact of negatives is faster than positives.
Presentations plant the flag and publications and products ensure credit and recognition.
Connect your name to your accomplishments. Following the keynote address, the Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities panelists spoke on choosing a research topic, developing the proposal, and looking at the proposal from the reviewer's point of view. Think about the significance of your research topic and how it relates to major debates in the field. Use language that is understandable and straightforward. Spell out future directions.