Retrace why and how you became interested in a subject area. This initial reflection can help turn a general feeling of interest or curiosity into a concrete research question. Evidence of your passion for your work will also make your application stand out.
Develop a key research question or hypothesis. What are you seeking to study or do? You can refine by considering scope, methods, and deliverables.
Research funding sources by field, location, and topic. Consider tangential fields and topics and try alternate search terms.
Establish realistic goals. What can you reasonably accomplish given the amount of time and funding you will have?
Assess your needs. Clearly state why funding is vital to the project and the impact it will have on your work. Try to avoid over and underselling this impact and be as realistic and specific as possible.
Articulate the value. Why is your research/project important? What is its significance?
