These morning email shenanigans reminded me to talk about writing big grants. So I have some unpopular opinions about big grants:
1) It's still a one-person led grant. The main PI has to be on board and fully behind whatever is being done. The rest of the team is replaceable. If you are not a PI on the big grant, it's best to remember that.
2) A big grant is the proof that too many chefs in the kitchen is bad. Know your place. If you don't agree with the direction or what will be done, take yourself out of the project.
3) Too many meetings can be detrimental. Mostly you need 2: first to present the idea and see who is in, the second to divvy up the work. The work is trying to figure out how each person's past work and experience fits in with the big picture.
4) If you are setting up recurring meetings, understand that not everyone will be able to make it each time.
5) If you are the PI, you need to present the idea. Do not expect a group of dozen investigators with a dozen biases to agree on what should be done. You decide what should be done and they decide if they are on board or not.
6) If you want to be the PI, you better have the PI cred. Compare your career and accomplishments with the PIs of the same big grants that have already been funded. Assistant profs will always draw "but do they have the experience to lead the project of this size" criticism.
7) Big grants have a big organizational focus. In other sense, who will herd the cats? Have an answer for that. Big name PI (someone who wields some power) is good but you also need someone who will do the everyday minutia so include an administrative role (i.e. program manager)
8) How will you show that your institution is supportive of the effort proposed? LOS are always great but have some concrete examples: $, space, positions, protected time...
9) Have one person writing the grant - it's ok to have each person draft a section of how their work will fit the overall scope but having a project that reads as if it is written by twelve different people is bad. Have one person (RDS? scientific writer? PI?) write.
10) Be clear on the budget beforehand. This is how much everyone is getting. Save some wiggle room.
11) Commit to a deadline. It will seem that it can't possibly come together. Commit to it anyway.
And for one popular opinions: always, ALWAYS talk to the PO before you start writing the grant.
