Thread by @LNivisonSmith

I read alot about grant writing & one critical section is rarely discussed

Career disruption statements

7 ways to help reviewers understand career disruptions to review fairly
🧵

@AcademicMomLife @Momademia
@AcademicChatter

Note, I believe most reviewers want to assess grants fairly.

This 🧵is about writing clearly to help reviewers do this.

Its not magic bullet.
But telling our stories clearly is a small step to a system that acknowledges everyone's opportunity.

1. Be specific with time

I include the month and year so reviewers cannot miscalculate the length of my disruption

❌️"I was on leave from 2020 - 2021" (reviewer might assume 1 year off)

✅️"I was on leave from Feb 2020 to Dec 2021" (reviewer knows its almost 2 years)

2. Avoid just listing dates

Reviewers can calculate leave but its more efficient if I do this for them

❌️I was away Aug '20 to Mar '21 then part time till Dec '21

✅️I was on leave for 7 months & returned at 0.5FTE for 9 months. Thus I've been active for 3.6y of past 5y

3. Specify leave type

I specify if leave was planned/unplanned; how many days is part-time etc. This gives context to the impact of the disruption.

❌️My research stopped during leave

✅️My unplanned leave caused projects to be suddenly halted leading to loss of data

4. Don't just note time lost

Career disruptions cost opportunity. I give specific examples (grant applications, conferences, training)

❌️Being away stopped me getting funded

✅️I missed opportunities for funding as I was on leave during deadlines for major grant rounds

5. Use metrics

Metrics are easier to understand then subjective terms such as productivity.

❌️ My career disruption reduced my productivity

✅️ My career disruption reduced my publication rate from 3 papers/yr to 1 paper/yr

6. Relate to assessment criteria

It helps reviewers to understand the impact of my leave when I relate it to the grant criteria

❌️ My career disruption reduced my conference travel

✅️ My career disruption reduced oppotunities to disseminate my work and maximise its impact

7. Get reviewed

I know my disruptions - I lived them.
But writing it out clearly so a stranger can fully understand it and then interpret my entire grant against it is hard.

I always try to have it reviewed by someone I trust

TL/DR

Tips for writing career disruption statements

1. Be specific with time
2. Dont just list dates
3. Specify leave type
4. Include opportunities lost
5. Use metrics
6. Relate to assessment criteria
7. Get reviewed

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