Grant and Job Application Hub

The Postdoc Grant and Job Application Hub aims to provide a space for feedback and open discussion on grant, fellowship, and job application materials

While expert feedback is essential, insights from general readers are invaluable in ensuring that your application is clear, engaging, and persuasive to a diverse audience, which is crucial given the variety of backgrounds represented on many review panels.

In this group, we support each other in improving and revising various application materials, such as specific aims page, research strategy, biosketch, CV, cover letter and more.

Ways feedback is helpful

  1. Fresh perspective: readers who aren’t experts in your field can provide valuable insights on general clarity and accessibility of your writing.
  2. Improve readability: feedback can help you adjust your language to make it more engaging and easier to understand.
  3. Catch errors: extra pairs of eyes can spot typos, grammatical errors, or inconsistencies you might have missed.
  4. Enhance persuasiveness: readers can tell you if your story is compelling and clearly communicated.
  5. Identify missing information: readers might notice gaps in your explanation that you’ve overlooked due to familiarity with the subject.
  6. Reality check: readers can give you a sense of how your application might be received by a diverse grant review panel.
  7. Increase confidence: positive feedback can boost your confidence in your application, while constructive criticism allows for improvement.
  8. Practice explaining: discussing your application with readers helps you practice articulating your ideas clearly.

Focus

This is not intended for writing sessions, but rather for providing feedback on already drafted materials.

Meeting Logistics


The group meets on Zoom for a one-hour session. Participants keep their videos on to simulate a real-life meeting space.

  • Meeting Time:
Online, every Monday at 1:00 CT.
  • First 5 minutes: Participants submit and explain their materials (up to 1000 words) and form smaller groups (up to 4 people).
  • Next 45-50 minutes: Dedicated reading time, focusing on reviewing each other’s materials.
  • Final 5-10 minutes: Wrap up by providing general feedback or asking questions as needed.
Sign Up Here

If you have further questions, please contact the group manager Dr. Ranny Ribeiro at rannyele@wustl.edu.