Research grant writing – training and guidance

for researchers and institutions

Writing research grant applications is hard

Research grant funding is fiercely competitive, but submitting competitive research grant applications is essential for the success of both researchers and institutions.

The complexity and variety of grant funding can be confusing, even for experienced researchers. Plus, writing a research grant application is much more complicated than writing a research paper – an exciting research idea is only part of what you need to write about in a successful grant application.

The training and guidance researchers need

Our training and guidance for writing research grant applications take advantage of first-hand insight from a former researcher and manager of research grant funding who understands research grant funding from both of these perspectives.

Dr Chris St Pourçain

Dr Chris St Pourçain

Experienced independent trainer, consultant and editor

Catalyst Science Editing is the portfolio of training and consultancy services I designed to help researchers write competitive research grant applications.

I have seen the research grant funding process from both sides: as a successful grant applicant (as Principal Investigator) and for 10 years as a manager of the research grant application and assessment process for the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) – the largest funder of non-medical bioscience in the UK.

I have read hundreds of grant applications and seen many hundreds more assessed in hundreds of hours of research funding committees.

Explore our services

For Institutions

Support for your researcher development programme

  • Group training for writing research grant applications
  • Grants clinics – a day for your researchers to have individual guidance and advice for their research grant applications
  • Editing for research grant applications and research papers for journals
  • Consultancy – individual guidance and advice for your researchers’ grant applications
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For Individuals

Support outside your institution

If your institution or department is not providing training for writing research grant applications, you can still take advantage of our services.

  • Self-paced, online training for writing research grant applications
  • Editing for research grant applications and research papers for journals
  • Consultancy – individual guidance and advice for your research grant applications
Click the icons below to find out more

TrainingGrants clinicEditingConsultancy

Different ways to learn

We can deliver our training online or in person

We have training options to suit every budget. Our training courses can be adapted to your needs, whether you run researcher development for the whole institution or a small department.

Individuals can learn outside their institution’s training programme and access our online training when it suits them.

Training for groups
Training for individuals

Writing research grant applications

  • Online training for groups

    Online trainer-led courses have interactive live Zoom sessions supported by videos, exercises and other material on Moodle.

  • In-person training for groups

    We can offer a 1-day workshop at your institution.

    The availability of this option will depend on travel restrictions and social distancing measures.

  • Self-paced learning

    Self-paced learning uses videos, exercises and other training materials on Moodle.

    Individuals can access training for writing research grant applications even if it is not available at their institution.

    Institutions can use self-paced learning as part of their researcher development programme, allowing researchers to work through the material in their own time.

  • Design your own training package

    Choose the content and delivery method that suit your researchers.

A day of individual guidance and advice

Grants clinics can be online or in-person

A grants clinic gives your researchers the opportunity to get advice and feedback on their research grant applications and the funding process.

Grants clinics are a cost-effective way of helping your researchers to write grant applications.

Grants clinic options

Research grants clinic

  • Researchers book an appointment

    A grants clinic has appointments that researchers can book in advance. They provide any documents and information needed for the discussion.

  • Advice and guidance for researchers

    Researchers receive guidance and advice on their research grant applications and the research grant funding process. Applications can be at any stage – being planned, being written, submitted or unsuccessful.

  • Reinforces our training

    A grants clinic complements and reinforces our training for writing research grants.

    Add a grants clinic to our training for writing research grants and maximise the benefits for your researchers.

    The grants clinic gives researchers the opportunity to discuss their own research grant applications and apply what they have learned in the training course.

  • Standalone grants clinics

    A grants clinic can be a standalone event open to all your researchers.

    Holding regular grants clinics is an effective way to support researchers throughout the year and can be a valuable addition to your researcher support programme.

Your research ideas explained clearly

We can edit research grant applications and research papers

Even the most exciting and innovative research ideas may not be fully appreciated if they are not explained clearly.

Clear writing and presentation make it easier for reviewers and funding committee members to understand your research ideas.

Our editing service helps you to write research grant applications and research papers clearly.

Editing options

Editing for research grant applications and research papers

  • Editing for everyone

    Writing research grant applications and research papers can be difficult, even for people who have English as their first language.

    Our editing service can help researchers who are native speakers of English and those who have English as an additional language.

    We check for language errors, consistency, a logical flow, a clear order and layout, and the readability and clarity of figures and tables.

  • Express service

    Have a tight deadline? Get your edited document returned within 3 days with our express service.

Help for individuals and research groups

Consultancy sessions can be online or in-person

Individual researchers can get advice and feedback on their research grant applications and the funding process from Dr Chris St Pourçain.

Chris has first-hand insight as a former researcher and manager of research grant funding and understands research grant funding from both of these perspectives.

Consultancy options

Research grant writing consultancy

  • Advice and guidance for researchers

    We can advise researchers on their research grant applications and the grant funding process. Applications can be at any stage – being planned, being written, submitted or unsuccessful.

  • Individuals

    We can help researchers at all levels, from early career researchers writing their first research grant application to experienced group leaders.

  • Research groups and departments

    We can facilitate discussions in your research group or department to help you make decisions about developing your researchers’ research grant writing abilities.

    We can also facilitate discussions about strategies and processes to monitor the quality of research grant applications submitted by your research group or department.

  • On-going or one-off sessions

    We can advise you over the phone, by email, in Zoom or Teams sessions, or in-person.

    Advice can be given in a one-off session or on-going sessions.

Find out more

If you’d like to book training or a grants clinic for your organisation, or for yourself, or want a research grant application or research paper edited, please get in touch.

We are happy to answer any questions about our training, grants clinics, editing or consultancy, including customisations.

You can use our contact form or email us:

info@catalystscienceediting.com

Contact us


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