Table Of ContentAdvice for the Novice
Investigator
Advice for the Novice
Investigator
Examples Taken from Movement
Sciences
Nick Stergiou
CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
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Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data
Names: Stergiou, Nicholas, author.
Title: Advice for the novice investigator : examples taken from movement
sciences / by Nick Stergiou.
Description: Boca Raton : Taylor & Francis, a CRC title, part of the Taylor &
Francis imprint, a member of the Taylor & Francis Group, the academic
division of T&F Informa, plc, 2019. | Includes bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019017959 | ISBN 9781138626188 (hardback : acid-free
paper) |
ISBN 9781315229690 (e-book)
Subjects: LCSH: Science—Vocational guidance.
Classification: LCC Q147 .S73 2019 | DDC 502.3—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019017959
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at
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This book is dedicated to all my students, past, present, and future.
Contents
Preface ..............................................................................................................xiii
Author .............................................................................................................xvii
Chapter 1 Strong inference ..........................................................................1
1.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................1
1.2 Strong inference: The Definition ...........................................................2
1.3 Examples of strong inference .................................................................4
1.3.1 Molecular biology ......................................................................4
1.3.2 Motor control and development ..............................................4
1.3.3 Biomechanics and orthopedic surgery ...................................7
1.4 Additional thoughts on strong inference .............................................8
1.5 Strong inference – take-home messages ............................................10
References ..........................................................................................................10
Chapter 2 Getting your grant proposals funded ...................................13
2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................13
2.2 Why is grant writing important? ........................................................13
2.3 Motivation for grant writing ................................................................16
2.4 Where is the money? .............................................................................17
2.5 Tips for successful proposals for any funding agency .....................18
2.5.1 Step 1: Create your grant’s notebook ....................................19
2.5.2 Step 2: Getting you and your science ready for review .....20
2.5.3 Step 3: Look at the scientific mandates of the work
you propose ..............................................................................20
2.5.4 Step 4: Making a grant proposal ...........................................21
2.5.5 Step 5: An application emerges… ..........................................22
2.5.6 Step 6: Get that grant out! .......................................................23
2.5.7 Step 7: REST, don’t quit, REST, don’t quit! ............................24
2.6 Tips for getting funding .......................................................................24
2.7 Assess your grant application ..............................................................27
2.8 Research advance: At Pitt, scientists decode the secret of
getting grants – marketing helps university win $350 million
a year from the NIH ..............................................................................30
vii
viii Contents
2.9 Characteristics of a successful grantsperson .....................................32
References ..........................................................................................................33
Chapter 3 Writing grant proposals ...........................................................35
3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................35
3.2 The basics ................................................................................................35
3.2.1 Specific Aims and hypotheses ...............................................36
3.2.2 Hypothesis examples ..............................................................37
3.3 Writing grant proposals for the NIH ..................................................38
3.3.1 NIH basics .................................................................................38
3.3.2 Why has NIH been so successful? ........................................39
3.3.3 NIH type of awards .................................................................40
3.3.3.1 The R01 award .........................................................40
3.3.3.2 The R15 award .........................................................41
3.3.3.3 The R03 award .........................................................43
3.3.3.4 The R21 award .........................................................43
3.3.3.5 The Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA .............................43
3.3.3.6 The Career Development Awards (Ks) ................44
3.3.4 The K25 grant – an example ...................................................47
3.3.4.1 Section 1. Introduction to revised application ......48
3.3.4.2 Section 2. The candidate ........................................52
3.3.4.3 Section 3. The research plan/strategy ..................58
3.3.5 Understanding the NIH grant application submission
process .......................................................................................61
3.3.5.1 Additional hints for a successful submission
process ......................................................................62
3.3.6 U nderstanding the NIH grant application review process ...63
3.3.6.1 The cover letter ........................................................64
3.3.6.2 The Study Section ...................................................65
3.3.6.3 The meeting of the Study Section – what
happens behind closed doors ...............................67
3.3.7 Main review criteria ................................................................68
3.3.8 Exercise: A mini proposal review for the NIH grant
titled “The Six Million Dollar Corpse,” originally
devised by Dr. Thomas Buchanan from the
University of Delaware and respectfully revised by
Dr. Nick Stergiou from the University of Nebraska at
Omaha .......................................................................................71
3.4 Top Ten common reviewer concerns ..................................................74
3.5 A ten-step plan for losers – originally devised by Dr. Thomas
Buchanan from the University of Delaware and respectfully
revised by Dr. Nick Stergiou from the University of Nebraska
at Omaha .................................................................................................75
References ..........................................................................................................77
Contents ix
Chapter 4 Writing manuscripts .................................................................79
4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................79
4.2 The scientific manuscript .....................................................................79
4.2.1 Title ............................................................................................79
4.2.2 Abstract .....................................................................................80
4.2.3 Introduction ..............................................................................80
4.2.3.1 Additional hints for the introduction ..................81
4.2.4 Methods ....................................................................................82
4.2.4.1 Additional hints for the methods .........................82
4.2.5 Results .......................................................................................83
4.2.5.1 Additional hints for the results .............................83
4.2.6 Discussion .................................................................................84
4.2.6.1 Additional hints for the discussion ......................84
4.3 General tips on effective writing .........................................................85
4.3.1 Additional general hints for effective writing ....................86
4.4 The cover letter .......................................................................................87
4.4.1 Suggesting or excluding potential reviewers ......................88
4.5 The references – citing the literature in your manuscript ...............89
4.6 What is the impact of your published manuscript? .........................89
4.7 Additional publishing tips ...................................................................91
4.7.1 When do I publish? ..................................................................91
4.7.2 How do you know if it is too soon?.......................................92
4.7.3 Surviving the review process ................................................92
4.7.4 How do you deal with rejection? ...........................................93
4.7.5 Teaching improves research writing in graduate
students ................................................................................93
4.7.6 Choosing the right environment for writing .......................94
4.7.7 Writing help ..............................................................................95
References ..........................................................................................................96
Additional Readings ........................................................................................97
Chapter 5 Ethics ............................................................................................99
5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................99
5.2 Responsible conduct in research .........................................................99
5.3 Authorship ............................................................................................101
5.3.1 Why do we have problems with authorship? ....................102
5.3.2 Determining authorship credit ............................................103
5.3.3 Who should get authorship? ................................................104
5.3.4 What would the authorities say? .........................................108
5.3.5 Additional issues ....................................................................110
5.3.5.1 Honorary authorship in major journals .............110
5.3.5.2 Misrepresentation of authorship among
applicants to training programs ..........................110
5.3.6 Managing authorship .............................................................110
