The agencies solicit peer reviewers by either contacting the Principal Investigators of funded grants, or by self-nomination.

If you are an applicant seeking funding and want insight into the review process to increase your own chances of success, go ahead and nominate yourself as a reviewer! Here are the details.

Although the NIH states that they want to recruit the most “accomplished, broad-thinking and creative scientists and experts” to serve as peer reviewers, they only ask that a description of their areas of expertise and an NIH style biosketch be submitted with the application. Likewise, NSF also requests that you state your areas of expertise and submit your CV as part of the application process. The simplicity of this beckons one to become part of their database of reviewers.

In order to get the essential knowledge you need for how the review process works, and maybe even meet the program officer that you’d like to send your proposal to, I suggest you apply to become a reviewer. Oh, and did I mention that you might get paid a couple hundred bucks for this (or at least get reimbursed for your travel expenses)?

Best of luck, and don’t forget to contact The Isis Group with any questions or comments.

The SBIR/STTR program is a government program that hands out $2B each year to small businesses. Want to compete for a piece of that pie, but don’t know where to start?

Here is a set of questions on six different aspects of your application that you should think through before you begin your SBIR Adventure.

1- Product. What product would you develop using SBIR funding? First, what are your company’s strengths and areas of interest? How can you align that with the goals of the agencies? Perhaps an easy way to start is to pick a therapeutic area, find the agency at NIH that is responsible for that area, then check out their website to see what they’re interested in. To get all of this at a glance, browse the topics in the most recent Omnibus solicitation. Call the program managers and talk to them about what your company does and see how your interests and expertise can match the interests of the agency. Check the RePORTER database for abstracts of projects that got funded from that agency. Then pick one product to work on for one application to one agency.

2- Significance. How does the proposed project address an important problem? What is the significance of your product to human health? Define the problem, with your company’s solution in mind.

3- Innovation. What is innovative about your product? What is the critical barrier to progress in this field? How does the project seek to shift or challenge current research or clinical practice paradigms? Will you employ novel technologies or approaches? Read more here to help you decide if your project is innovative or not.

4- Approach. Design a plan to establish proof-of-concept for your product. Make a list of specific aims for the project and present milestones for each aim with metrics for each (read more on writing your specific aims here). What methods will you use to establish technical and commercial feasibility? Does your company have proprietary technologies that it will use in the course of the project? How is the expertise of the PI and the team going to contribute to the success of the project? Is it feasible to accomplish this project in the proposed budget and time? Address potential issues and propose alternative strategies.

5- Competition. Who are your competitors? What is your competitive advantage over other companies who have already developed, or want to develop, a similar product? Examine things like the expertise, facilities, equipment and capabilities of the PI and team, the collaborators, consultants and any other groups that will be involved, and how each of these will contribute to the probability of success of the proposal. Be sure your technology and proposed product is patent protected before applying.

6- Commercialization. Does the proposed project have the potential to lead to a marketable therapeutic, device, diagnostic, process or service? How will you commercialize your product?

Keep in mind that grant writing requires commitment and perseverance.

If you need assistance, just contact The Isis Group!

Courtesy of Flikr - Creative Commons

The new SBIR/STTR reauthorization bill has passed and now allows venture capital-backed companies to apply for SBIR/STTR funding (see what the SBA has to say on implementation here). The company’s founders (and your Board) are telling you that the company needs to pursue non-dilutive funding. So, naturally, you are starting to think about SBIR and STTR grants.

First, you must remember that this is the government. Do you realize you need no less than SEVEN logins to apply for a grant? It is an alphabet soup of sorts – EIN/TID, DUNS, CCR (E-Biz POC), MPIN, AOR (grants.gov), eRA Commons (PI, SO, AO)…

Here’s a guide to help you make sense of all this.

Below is a description of the various login/passwords/codes needed to apply for an SBIR or STTR grant electronically. They are listed in the order that they are needed, as the process must be completed in a stepwise fashion.

EIN/TID: Employer Identification Number/Tax Identification Number

This is similar to a social security number for businesses. You need it to open a business bank account, pay taxes, etc. It is highly likely that your company already has an EIN. If not, you can apply online and obtain one instantly. It takes up to 2 weeks for the IRS to recognize the new EIN; however, you do not need to wait to get your DUNS number.

DUNS: Data Universal Number System

This number registers you with Dun & Bradstreet’s business database as a government contractor or grant recipient, and allows the government to keep track of how much money goes to what company. If your organization does not have a DUNS number, you will need to go to the D&B website to request one (takes 1 business day). To get a DUNS number immediately, make a request by phone (1-866-705-5711). You must wait at least 24hr before using your DUNS number to proceed to the next step. TIP: To limit unsolicited spam, you can request that your company’s information be excluded from D&B’s marketing lists, which are shared with numerous other organizations.

CCR: Central Contractor Registration

You must register with this organization in order to submit grants electronically. In registering with the CCR, you must decide who will be the E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC). To begin, go to this website and click “Create New Registration”. Before applying, be sure to gather all the information that is needed to complete the registration. Here is a checklist. It includes things like the company’s bank account and credit card information as well as other Small Business Administration (SBA)-related information and goods and services codes (e.g. NAICS). Registering with the CCR can take up to 5 business days (assuming you already have an EIN). Here is a nice checklist for registration with the CCR. You will be notified by email to renew your CCR registration every year.

MPIN: Marketing Personal Identification Number

Upon registering with CCR, you will create an MPIN. Keep track of this number! The EBiz-POC will then use the MPIN to assign/approve the AOR on grants.gov.

AOR: Authorized Organization Representative

The AOR will have the authority to actually submit the grant. The E-Biz POC authorizes who will become the AOR. The AOR must create a grants.gov login for the organization. Then you must wait at least 1 business day before moving on to the next step. The E-Biz POC can then log in to grants.gov and approve them as an AOR. Emails are automatically sent to prompt login approval, so this process can be completed quickly.

eRA Commons: Electronic Research Administration

This is the electronic submission portal for grants. Someone of authority at the company is designated as the SO (Signing Official), who then fills out the registration form for the company with eRA Commons. The SO must then print the registration, sign it, and submit it by fax. The NIH then validates your information and notifies the SO via email. The SO can then create other accounts that are needed, for example, for the PI (Principal Investigator), AA (Accounts Administrator) and/or the AO (Administrative Official). At a minimum, you will need an SO and PI. Each role has different privileges (see a list here). For example, the SO can submit the grant, but the PI can only view it. Note that same person can be the E-Biz POC, AOR and PI. However, a different person must be the SO (it actually can be the same person, but a different login must be created). Begin the process of obtaining these logins for your organization and the individuals who will be involved in the grant as soon as possible as the eRA Commons registration can take up to 4 weeks.

This entire process is free and only needs to be done once, but as you can see, it can take up to 4-6 weeks to complete. Here is a good place to start.

The next step is to decide what product your company would like to fund. I’ll write more on this topic in my next blog post.

Until then, contact The Isis Group for further questions, and good luck!

Image - Flickr/Creative Commons

The April 5 deadline for the NIH Omnibus solicitation is approaching, so now is the time to start thinking about preparing your application. As a follow-up to a post last year on Five Tips for First-Time SBIR/STTR Grant Applicants, I have compiled four more tips that you should consider when assembling your application.

1. Scour the RePORTER database. By law, abstracts and award amounts of funded proposals are public information. That is why the NIH set up the Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORT) website. Use this to your advantage. Search the RePORTER database for funded proposals that are similar to yours. What was the scope of work? What were their aims? And importantly, how much money were they awarded? This will give you an idea of what constitutes a fundable project. While you’re at it, check out these other resources for SBIR/STTR applicants.
2. Assemble a high-quality team. Choose your PI wisely. The NIH now allows for multiple PIs so choose the PI(s) that have the specific expertise that is most relevant for the work outlined in the proposal, even if they don’t have a Ph.D. Then, add Senior/Key people and Other Significant Contributors (OSCs) to your application (biosketches must be included for all). Note: reviewers will see this list in the order they are entered on the application, so enter the best-known names first. Then, supplement your team with the collaborators and consultants you need in order to convince the reviewers that you have all the expertise that is necessary to complete the work you propose. You get bonus points if you select a partner or organization with a track record, particularly if they have already received SBIR funding. Life science and healthcare IT companies incubating in the Venture Development Center at the University of Massachusetts led by Bill Brah were brainstorming on how to write a winning SBIR grant proposal and came up with this bonus tip. I wholeheartedly agree.
3. Get letters of support. And I don’t mean a letter that says “Joe’s a great guy” or one from your Ph.D. advisor saying what a top-notch scientist you are. An article published in Nature last year stated that letters of support must be included in your application from “all collaborators, consultants, potential customers, investors, commercial partners, key opinion leaders as well as other organizations involved in helping patients.” The letters need to be specific, defining exactly how that person or organization will be contributing and why, as well as what they will receive in return, if applicable.
4. Be persistent. So your application didn’t even get scored last time? Don’t give up! Carefully analyze your Summary Statement and then get on the phone with the program manager and get some answers. What did the second reviewer mean by this comment? How can we further align our goals with the goals of the agency? What would make the proposal fundable? Should we reapply? If you decide to resubmit, remember you only get one chance. Put your best foot forward. Address each and every comment from the reviewers in your resubmission. Include any recent data to support the application. Add a key consultant and fill any gaps mentioned by the reviewers. The SBIR/STTR programs are highly competitive. I know one entrepreneur who applied 10 times before she got funding. Although venture capital-backed companies can now apply, the good news is that the amount of award and the overall amount allocated to the SBIR/STTR program both increased after passage of the NDAA, so keep at it.

Best of luck! Now for the last tip: if you need help writing or submitting your application, or just need an unbiased opinion, don’t hesitate to contact The Isis Group!

Courtesy: net_efekt

How many times have you been giving an important presentation and seen glaring errors on the big screen that you swear weren’t there before? Or read one of your emails and cringed because you didn’t give it a once-over before sending? Here, guest blogger (and veteran copywriter) Dan O’Sullivan gives us a few tips on self-editing.

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Like it or not, most of us have to spend at least part of our workday writing. You may be carefully crafting a presentation you’ve been asked to give or just dashing off a few emails over morning coffee.

If whatever it is you’re writing is important — and you don’t have the luxury of an editor watching your back — then you have to spend some time self-editing.

“But I’m not an editor,” I can hear you whine. “I hated English in high school, and I majored in biology in college,” you mutter as the sweat begins dripping down your brow. “If it involves anything more than running Spellcheck, I don’t think I can take it!” you scream.

It’s okay. Relax. You may never be a professional-level editor, but you can at least do a pretty good job. Start by following these five tips. And while you’re at it, always take a few minutes to read your writing aloud. That step alone will help you catch the most embarrassing errors.

1) The sentence that wouldn’t end.
You might not be aware of your transgression as you’re in the middle of it. But when you finally hit the period key and take a look at the serpentine sentence you just birthed, it should be perfectly clear: You’ve created a horrific run-on sentence. Now it’s your duty to slay the beast. Try trimming a few words or, better yet, break it into two or three shorter sentences.

2) I repeat: Don’t repeat that verb.
Anyone who’s written a journal article has probably struggled with this one: verb repetition. It’s so easy to fall back on the same old verbs like show, demonstrate, establish, determine, prove and conclude. Repeating these or other verbs in paragraph after paragraph looks lazy and can bore or even distract the reader. (See what The Isis Group has to say about this very topic)

TIP: Use Microsoft Word’s “Find and Replace” feature. Hit CTRL-F to access this function, type in the word, click “Highlight all items found in” and click “Find All”. All instances of the word you specify will be highlighted. If the verb pops up too often, try substituting some synonyms.

3) You’re bare is hear. I mean, your bear is here.
Way back in junior high, I learned about “homophones.” (Given my 13-year-old tastes in humor, I’m guessing I found this word hilarious.) These pesky creatures are words that sound alike but have different spellings and/or meanings. Aisle, I’ll, isle. There, they’re, their. Two, to, too. You get the idea.

Now don’t get stuck using patience when referring to patients. Do check out The Isis Group’s post on homonyms.

4) When words go missing.
That research paper you slaved over has finally been published, but it’s fatally flawed. Why? You left out the word “it” in that subheading halfway down the left column. And now every time you see that damn research paper, the phantom “it” cries out to you, “How could you have forgotten me? Didn’t you understand how important I was to that subheading?” You would have caught “it” (or missing articles like “a,” “an” or “the”) if you had only read your copy aloud.

TIP: If you ever hear “it” or any other word speaking to you, please consult a good psychiatrist.

5) Unparallel lines.
This is kind of a nitpick, but what the heck. Let’s say you have a list of bullet points. Each one should take the same form. For instance, start each bullet with an active verb (operate), a past-tense verb (operated) or a gerund (operating), but don’t mix the three. And either use a period at the end of each bullet or don’t. My rule of thumb: If the bullet makes a complete sentence, include a period. If not, skip the period.

What self-editing tips would you add to the list? Let us know.

And if you need assistance with writing or editing your next manuscript or grant, contact The Isis Group.

About Dan O’Sullivan
Dan O’Sullivan is a partner at the Boston-based copywriting agency The Hired Pens and blogs at the semi-popular Lightning and the Lightning Bug.

First, if you’re just starting out and want an overview of the program from an NIH point-of-view, I would highly recommend watching these two YouTube videos.  They were part of a recent webinar series given by the SBIR/STTR program manager Matthew Portnoy, and hosted by the state of Arkansas.  The first video is entitled “The NIH SBIR/STTR program: From Submission to Award” and covers the nuts and bolts of the SBIR/STTR program, and discusses things like eligibility criteria and the review process (http://youtu.be/OfZK8XiHQ4M). The second video is entitled “Successful Electronic Submission of NIH grant applications” and takes you through the process of obtaining the necessary logins and other information you need and then how to submit your grant online (http://youtu.be/6BZSPu_etDU).  Both are very helpful, and Dr. Portnoy lists his contact information as well in case you have additional questions about the webinars or the SBIR/STTR program in general.

The next major resource is the National Council of Entrepreneurial and Tech Transfer – NCET2 (http://www.ncet2.org/). You can get on their email list from a link at the left-hand side of the home page. Visit their Research Commercialization and SBIR Center” at http://center.ncet2.org/. They host numerous free (and some paid) courses and webinars on the SBIR/STTR program not only at NIH, but at other government agencies as well. They also host webinars on University partnerships and startups/spin-outs. It’s free to create a login and if you explore the site, you’ll find archived webinar slides, and can ask questions on SBIR-related topics and follow discussions online.

Even if you are not submitting an application to NIAID, this institute’s website is among the most comprehensive in terms of resources for applicants (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/).  They are the only institute to provide an entire sample SBIR Phase II application (albeit in an outdated format, http://www.niaid.nih.gov/researchfunding/sb/pages/app.aspx). Dr. Gregory Milman has several presentations that provide helpful information on the application process (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/researchfunding/sb/pages/pres.aspx). Additionally, you’ll want to subscribe to their small business awards newsletter, which has information that is applicable to all agencies (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/researchfunding/newsletter/pages/subscribe.aspx).

If you want to stay informed about new programs in all government agencies, the continuing resolutions that keep on continuing, and all things political that have to do with the SBIR/STTR program, subscribe to Rick Shindell’s newsletter, “The SBIR Insider” (http://www.zyn.com/sbir/insider/). Even if you skip over the political discussions, it is still an informative newsletter and archived issues are online. On their website (http://www.zyn.com/sbir/), you can also search solicitation topics and check out the online calendar for nationwide SBIR/STTR events.

Speaking of newsletters, you should also subscribe to the SBIR/STTR Digest email on the NIH listserv (https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa.exe?SUBED1=SBIR-STTR&A=1).  Additionally, I’d also recommend subscribing to the newsletter from the NIH Extramural Nexus (http://nexus.od.nih.gov/all/nexus-by-date/).  They maintain a blog and have other helpful resources such as podcasts on various grant application processes on their website.

And last, but not least, there is the “official” government website for SBIR/STTRs: http://www.sbir.gov. Here, and at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/sbir.htm, you can search solicitations, download applications and get contact information for the program managers for the various institutes. Also, the NIH maintains a database of information from all funded companies that is searchable by state, institute, keyword, etc., and the project’s abstract is published here (http://projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfm). Check this database for the types of projects that are being funded, and most importantly, how much money is actually being awarded (hint: it’s usually a lot more than the $150K/$750K specified in the solicitation!)

Let me know if you have other resources that are helpful. And as always, if you need assistance in writing, editing or submitting your SBIR/STTR grant application, contact The Isis Group!

If you’re wondering whether the grant you’d like to write is an SBIR or STTR, here are some facts to help you decide.

The SBIR/STTR program is a competitive grant program that allows the federal government to assist small businesses with their research and development efforts to help bring products and technologies to commercialization.

Here are the major ways in which the SBIR and STTR programs differ.

Budget
In terms of the total budget of government agencies offering these programs, SBIRs are a greater percentage (2.5%), but a lesser dollar amount (>$100M/yr) when compared to STTRs, which are 0.3% of the total budget, but dispense >$1B/yr. This is because of the varying budgets of the government agencies, and the fact that eleven government agencies offer an SBIR program, but only six of those offer an STTR program. The Department of Defense (DOD) has the largest budget for SBIR/STTR programs, with HHS coming in second (includes NIH, FDA and CDC).

Grant Monies
The SBIR program dispenses $150K for 6 months for Phase I, and $1M for 2 years for Phase II. In contrast, the STTR program dispenses $100K for 1 year (longer time frame but less money than SBIR), and $750K for 2 years. Take into consideration the fact that an academic institution has a high overhead, resulting in less funds for the actual project on an STTR grant.

PI (Principal Investigator)
The SBIR guidelines state that the PI must be at least 51% employed by the small business. This rules out any full-time University professor being listed as the PI on an SBIR grant. However, the suggested effort by the PI on the project is at least 10%. Unlike the SBIR program, STTR does not require the PI to be employed by the small business. In fact, a full-time University employee can be the PI on an STTR grant (where, in most cases, an effort of 10% would not be rejected by the University).

Partnering
SBIR guidelines require that the small business use at least 66% of the R&D budget, while the STTR program specifies that the small business perform at least 40%, and the research institution perform at least 30% of the R&D budget. For SBIRs, this leaves <33% of the R&D budget for outsourcing, which can include work done at Universities and other research institutions. This means that just because you are collaborating with a University doesn’t mean you have to write an STTR grant. However, the collaboration budget for an SBIR with a University must come out of the outsourced percentage. For STTRs, the remaining 30% of the budget is discretionary, and therefore can be used at the small business, the University, or an outsourcing partner. These guidelines are for both STTR Phase I and Phase II. In Phase II, SBIR budgets allow for 50% outsourcing.

IP (Intellectual Property)
This topic is one of the major differences between SBIR and STTR grants. The STTR program requires that the small business and the University or partnering institution establish an agreement detailing the allocation of IP as well as the rights to carry out further research, development and/or commercialization studies. In general, patents should always be filed prior to submission of either an SBIR or STTR. Additionally, the small business should either already own the relevant IP or have a license or other agreement allowing them to commercialize technology coming from it. And just because the inventor of the technology described in the grant is from a University doesn’t mean you must apply for an STTR.

The last few facts:
A “U.S. research institution” can be a college or University, a non-profit research organization or a federal research and development center (such as DARPA, funded by the DOD).

Keep in mind that the applicant organization is always the small business. A University cannot apply for a STTR grant.

Lastly, be sure to check out the federal government’s official SBIR/STTR website. Most of the guidelines here are for the NIH. Check the guidelines of the specific agency you are interested in before applying, and when in doubt, talk to the agency!

And if you need further assistance, contact The Isis Group!

As a follow up to my “Three Tricks for Tricky Word Choices” post, I thought I’d expand on the topic to clarify four groups of homonyms that can be confusing. As a scientist – and not an English major – you may knowingly (or unknowingly) misuse these words when writing your next manuscript or grant.

Each of the four sets of homonyms includes a possessive word and a contraction (remember those terms?). The possessive word means “belonging to me/us/him/her/it” and the contraction contains an apostrophe, and means the word is short for something else.

The simplest way to figure out which to use is to replace the contraction with the longer phrase, and if the sentence still sounds the same, then it is being used correctly. Alternatively, replace the possessive word with my/our/him/his/her(s)/it (depending on which word you’re using) and the sentence should still make sense grammatically (but may not make sense logically!).

Here are the four homonym sets and some examples of correct usage.

There, their, and they’re

There refers to a place or location. Their indicates possession (belongs to them), and they’re is a contraction short for “they are”. Example: They’re both wearing their lab coats and goggles that they got from the cabinet over there.

Your and you’re

Your indicates possession (belongs to you). You’re is short for “you are”. (Why didn’t I include yore in this group? This word, meaning “in time long past” or “obsolete”, is essentially, well, obsolete). Example: You’re going to get in trouble with the safety officer if you don’t put on your lab coat and goggles.

Whose and who’s

Whose is possessive, and who’s is short for “who is” or “who has”. Example: Whose safety goggles are these? Who’s going to put away this new box of safety goggles?

Its and it’s

This one is particularly perplexing. Its is possessive, and it’s means “it is” or “it has”. Example: It’s particularly important to wear safety goggles when it’s time for the safety committee to run its monthly inspections.

There – now you’re on your own. It’s easy to refer to these rules next time you need them.

Contact The Isis Group if you require assistance in writing your next manuscript or grant!

Many clients of The Isis Group struggle with this section of their SBIR/STTR grant application. This section deserves extra attention, and not only because it is part of your overall score. In a sense, you are really selling yourself, your institution, your know-how and your idea. How does a scientist put on a sales hat and write a compelling innovation section? Here are some tips.

First, let’s start with the definition of innovation. The SF424 Application guide for SBIR/STTR grants states that innovation is “something new or improved, including research for (1) development of new technologies, (2) refinement of existing technologies, or (3) development of new applications for existing technologies… Explain how the application challenges and seeks to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms. ”

Yes, your idea can be “radical” or “revolutionary”but it doesn’t have to be. On NIAID’s website, there is a set of articles in their “New Investigator” series that are quite helpful. NIAID states that in the innovation section “you do not need to shift a paradigm.” Simply state how you are “improving on or proposing a new application of an existing concept or method.”

Here are three questions to answer to help you write this section.

1. What is the innovation? Spell out which one of the three options listed above from the application guide accurately describes your proposed commercial product. Define what is novel about your hypothesis or approach and how the results of your proposal will be a breakthrough in the field. Identify your competition – research other companies and investigators in the field and scour the latest scientific literature to get up-to-date with their current status. State the challenges in the present way of thinking and how your proposal will overcome the limitations of the current state-of-the-art.  Be sure to use the background and significance sections to set a backdrop for your proposal’s merit.
2. What is your competitive advantage? Describe what you will use to succeed where others may not. First, start with yourself. What makes you better than your counterpart at your competitor’s university or company, or even the investigator down the hall who may be in the same field? Describe the specific expertise you possess that is relevant to the application. Next, move on to your environment. What resources do you have at your disposal that others don’t? Include equipment and facilities relevant to the application. And finally, describe the tools you will use. What experimental methods are you using that you developed in-house? Include the relevant expertise of collaborators, consultants, advisors, and team members. List published manuscripts, intellectual property and anything else you can think of that sets you apart from anyone else who might attempt to do the same thing.
3. How will you ensure success? We’ve all heard the term “barriers to entry”. What are yours? Is your product first-in-class? Is it cheaper? More patient-friendly? Is it more efficient? Will you be the first-to-market? Do you have a strong intellectual property position? What value does your technology or product bring to the industry?

Thinking about the answers to these questions can help you with the innovation part of your next SBIR or STTR grant, but can also help with other NIH grant applications as well.

Good luck! And if you need further assistance, don’t hesitate to contact The Isis Group!

Image courtesy of Ross Mayfield via Flickr

Most of these examples arise from excessive wordiness or the use of unnecessary phrases. Our advice: use the search function in your word processing program, find these phrases, and hit that delete or replace button.

Drawing by Scott Espeseth

First, “Search and Destroy” these phrases:

• “It has been shown that…”
• “It is known that…”
• “It is generally thought that…”
• “It has been reported that…”
• “It was found that…”
• “We believe…”

And yes, I am suggesting you literally find them, and promptly delete them. Really. Your sentence will still convey the same meaning.

On that note, many grant reviewers and journal editors cringe when they see things like “novel”, “this is the first report of…”, “revolutionary”, “cutting-edge”, “innovative”, “state-of-the-art” and words and phrases similar to these. I would highly recommend conducting a mission to “Search and Destroy” the majority of these as well.

Next, “Search and Replace” these phrases with their less wordy counterparts.

At the end of this mission, your manuscript or grant will have a clear and direct tone, allowing you to convey the results of your research more effectively.

By the way, the accompanying graphic for this blog post comes from my cousin-in-law, Scott Espeseth as part of his “endeavors worthwhile” collection. While drawing this graphic, Scott reminisced about “those fidgety ‘doodle’ drawings that we did back in high school on our subject notebooks” (do kids these days even have those anymore? If not, they’re clearly missing out). Most scientists may not be as talented as Scott in our “doodle drawings”, but nonetheless, it provides a great illustration to accompany this post.

Be sure to go on a “Search and Destroy” mission after you’ve finished your manuscript or grant. And if you need help, you can always contact The Isis Group!