The Grant Strategist will specialize in supporting faculty within the medical school by assisting in developing grant proposals through all stages of their conceptual development. The Grant Strategist will cultivate relationships with University centers and resources and faculty, learning of their research programs and areas of expertise, to be able to make recommendations that improve the execution and feasibility of a proposal’s study design, and more importantly, enable collaboration and convergent research, to strengthen BU’s research enterprise. Convergent research integrates diverse fields—from, and not limited to, the sciences, engineering, and medicine to public policy and business—to address scientific questions and help solve complex societal challenges. This role also will help faculty articulate their research ideas, hypotheses, and methodologies clearly and compellingly, as well as provide suggestions for substantive improvements to proposals for grammar, readability, consistency, structure, coherence, and alignment with the mission of the funding program. The competent candidate is self-motivated and action-oriented, as the candidate will have opportunities to refine, create, or pilot programs that accelerate the proposal development and writing process for faculty. Depending on the candidate’s qualifications and career aspirations, this role may be classified as either a staff or faculty position.

Key Responsibilities:

• Connect faculty with other faculty and University resources to enhance project impact and success. 
• Collaborate with faculty to develop and refine the narrative of research proposals, to strengthen the scientific arguments and the overall impact of the proposal. 
• Analyze feedback from peer reviewers or funding agencies and assist in revising and resubmitting proposals as necessary. 
• Coordinate with other Proposal Development team members (e.g., budget analysts, grant coordinators) to ensure that the proposal and study design are aligned and well-integrated with the budget and compliance documentation, to enhance its feasibility and chances of project success. 
• Facilitate workshops focused on scientific writing and grant proposal strategies to support faculty development. 

Skills

• Education:
  • Masters’ degree in a related field (e.g., life sciences, health sciences, biomedical sciences, science communications). A Ph.D. in the biological or medical sciences is strongly preferred; to be considered for a faculty position, a Ph.D. is required.

• Experience:
  • Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in scientific writing, particularly within the context of grant proposals. Comparable experience, including but not limited to, research communications and scientific publishing will also be considered. 
  • Demonstrated success in writing or contributing to funded scientific proposals.

• Skills:
  • Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to present complex ideas clearly and persuasively. Sound knowledge of the fundamentals of writing, grammar, syntax, style, and punctuation.
  • Strong interpersonal and organizational skills with attention to detail.
  • Familiarity with scientific literature and research methodologies. Comfortable reading and editing across disciplines beyond their area of specialization. 
  • Can work simultaneously on multiple complex programs and activities in a timely manner with a high degree of quality, while remaining responsive to various deadlines.
  • Empathetic and diplomatic in delivering constructive feedback, with the ability to have straightforward conversations with faculty about their work and incorporate plain-language explanations of the key ideas into these investigators’ proposals.
  • Works both independently and as part of a team.

• Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience in academic or clinical research environments.
  • Familiarity with NIH or other major funding agencies' review criteria.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and examples of their scientific writing or successful grant contributions. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. 

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.