Writing Tools

Grant Pacing Workshop

Pace yourself smoothly to completionof your grant application
Grant Pacing Workshops are designed to help scholars maintain steady progress towards completion of an application.

F WORKSHOP

We invite early career researchers (pre- and postdoc) preparing an individual fellowship award (NRSA F series or equivalent) submission to join us for in-person workshops designed to help you prepare the best possible grant. The goal of the workshop is to introduce the participant to grant terminology and help the grant writer develop a plan to make steady progress to completion of their application.

TOPICS FOR F WORKSHOP
Reading an FOA
Understanding the Required Components
Demystifying the Grant Process
Vanderbilt’s submission process
Making a customized grant preparation timeline
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
Using task lists to ensure continuous momentum

K & R WORKSHOPS

The Grant Pacing Workshops are designed to help you prepare the best possible grant. These workshops include two half-day, in-person workshop sessions. Between sessions, Dr. Bastarache and the Edge team will be available to connect you to Edge resources.

TOPICS FOR K & R WORKSHOPS
Creating a grant preparation timeline
Using task lists to ensure momentum
Avoiding common pitfalls
Crafting a Career Development Plan
Constructing a budget & justification

The goal of the workshops is to help you keep steady progress to completion of your application for grant submission deadlines.

Open to Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Meharry Medical College postdoctoral fellows and early career faculty.

Sessions
Fellowship (F32, F31, F30, AHA)

APRIL 2026 SUBMISSIONS
January 12, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

AUGUST 2026 SUBMISSIONS

DECEMBER 2026 SUBMISSIONS

REGISTER FOR F WORKSHOP
Career Development Award (K)

JUNE 2026 SUBMISSIONS

Session 1 | February, 2026

Session 2 | February, 2026

REGISTRATION COMING SOON

EDGE REVIEWS

EDGE REVIEW SURVEY ON INTENT
Due March 19, 2026

EDGE REVIEW MATERIALS
Due April 9, 2026

EDGE REVIEWER VIDEO
Received by May 12, 2026

Independent Investigator Award (R01)

JUNE 2026 SUBMISSIONS

Session 1 | February, 2026

Session 2 | February, 2026

REGISTRATION COMING SOON

EDGE REVIEWS

EDGE REVIEW SURVEY ON INTENT
Due March 19, 2026

EDGE REVIEW MATERIALS
Due April 9, 2026

EDGE REVIEWER VIDEO
Received by May 12, 2026

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A registration email with workshop dates typically goes out one month before the first workshop of a series.  Email Verna Wright to be placed on the distribution list for future series or with inquiries.

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eNotebook

  • available upon registration; contact Adrienne Babcock. A registration email with exact workshop dates typically goes out one month before the first workshop of a series. Email Verna Wright to be placed on the distribution list.

Video Library

  • For a link to a Timeline demonstration and/or a Budget Justification discussion (both Zoom recordings), please email Verna Wright

Checklists

Handouts

Resource Links

Writing, Editorial, Personal, and Other Types of Assistance

Questions

Email the Edge team at info@edgeforscholars.org

upcoming Grant Pacing Workshop events [ view all events ]
November 4, 2025 | 12:00 pm (In-Person) Dr. Rangaraj Ramanujam | VUMC Strategy & Innovation Center, 3401 West End, Suite 290
Workshop
Faculty Life
Communication
Early career faculty
RCR
November 12, 2025 | 12:00 pm (Virtual) Dr. Sean Collins
EFS Seminar
Grants & Funding
Pre/Post Doc
Early career faculty
November 13, 2025 | 5:00 pm
Edge Review
Pre/Post Doc
Early career faculty
Mid career faculty
Senior faculty
November 19, 2025 | 12:00 pm (Virtual) Dr. Bill Heerman
EFS Seminar
Grants & Funding
Faculty Life
Writing & Publishing
Mentoring
Doing Research
Management & Leadership
Networking & Collaboration
Early career faculty
December 3, 2025 | 12:00 pm (Virtual) Panel
EFS Seminar
Doing Research
Pre/Post Doc
Early career faculty
December 4, 2025 | 5:00 pm Must have submitted survey of intent by November 13
Edge Review
Pre/Post Doc
Early career faculty
Mid career faculty
Senior faculty
December 8, 2025 | 11:00 am (In-Person) Dr. Todd Edwards | Room MCE 8380 A & B
Mentoring
Mid career faculty
Senior faculty
January 12, 2026 | 9:00 am (In-Person) Ms. Melissa Krasnove & Dr. Todd Edwards | 2525 West End, 1040
Grant Pacing Workshop
Grants & Funding
Pre/Post Doc
January 21, 2026 | 12:00 pm (Virtual) Panel
EFS Seminar
Mentoring
Early career faculty
RCR
January 28, 2026 | 12:00 pm (Virtual) Panel
EFS Seminar
Mentoring
Early career faculty
RCR
February 4, 2026 | 12:00 pm Mr. Craig Boerner
EFS Seminar
Communication
Pre/Post Doc
Early career faculty
February 11, 2026 | 12:00 pm (Virtual) Dr. Bill Cooper
EFS Seminar
Pre/Post Doc
February 25, 2026 | 12:00 pm (Virtual) Dr. Tatsuki Koyama
EFS Seminar
Doing Research
Pre/Post Doc
Early career faculty
March 4, 2026 | 12:00 pm (Virtual) Panel
EFS Seminar
Grants & Funding
Pre/Post Doc
Early career faculty
March 19, 2026 | 5:00 pm
Edge Review
Pre/Post Doc
Early career faculty
Mid career faculty
Senior faculty
April 8, 2026 | 12:00 pm (Virtual) Panel
EFS Seminar
Grants & Funding
Pre/Post Doc
April 9, 2026 | 5:00 pm Must have submitted survey of intent by March 19
Edge Review
Pre/Post Doc
Early career faculty
Mid career faculty
Senior faculty
April 29, 2026 | 12:00 pm (Virtual) TBA
EFS Seminar
Faculty Life
Writing & Publishing
Doing Research
Networking & Collaboration
Pre/Post Doc
Early career faculty
July 23, 2026 | 5:00 pm
Edge Review
Pre/Post Doc
Early career faculty
Mid career faculty
Senior faculty
August 13, 2026 | 5:00 pm Must have submitted survey of intent by July 23
Edge Review
Pre/Post Doc
Early career faculty
Mid career faculty
Senior faculty
Pace yourself smoothly to the completion of a grant.
Testimonials
The project management strategy of backing out the timeline and including specific dates for completion of tasks works well.

~ Grant Pacing Workshop Participant

As a new investigator with a K award, it's hard to get a grasp on all the pieces involved in submitting your first R01 proposal. The workshop really helped me get a handle on the scale and scope of this task, as well as resources available within Vanderbilt to help me as I go through the process.”

~ Grant Pacing Workshop Participant

Breaking everything down into smaller pieces is really useful.

~ Grant Pacing Workshop Participant

MAPPING THE PATH FOR K OR R SUBMISSION
pro tips for creating custom timelines
Success

Assistant Professor

Department
Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology
Award Type
  • K23

Instructor

Department
Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
Award Type
  • K08

Assistant Professor

Department
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Psychology
Award Type
  • R01 Recipient

Assistant Professor

Department
Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
Award Type
  • R01 Recipient



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