Betty S. Lai, PhD Profile picture
Assoc Prof. Tweets on how to navigate academia & get support for incredible ideas. Grant writing advice via my book and newsletter: https://t.co/CCusUljHum
Kartik Motwani Profile picture 1 subscribed
Jan 3, 2023 11 tweets 3 min read
For 2023, want to write a fundable grant?

Awesome. Grants let you call the shots and gain control over your career.

Here are 7 things scholars need to know about grant writing.

@OpenAcademics @PhD_Genie This list is based on research I did while writing The Grant Writing Guide (@PrincetonUPress).

I interviewed 100 grant writing experts for the book. This thread includes their best advice for scholars.
Aug 31, 2022 10 tweets 5 min read
How do you write a grant in a team?

Was chatting with @Chell_Meyer about how team writing norms are unclear (Who writes what? How much?). This makes collaborating hard.

Here are tips I learned interviewing 100 experts about grant writing:
@OpenAcademics @PhD_Genie 1. Do your homework.

Before you even agree to a collaboration, find out what others say about this person. Especially ask their trainees and postdocs.

Are they a kind person? Do they care about others succeeding (not just themselves)?
Aug 3, 2022 10 tweets 3 min read
Starting a tenure track job?

Here’s 7 things you need to know:

@OpenAcademics @PhD_Genie #PhDLife 1. Start networking.
You need people to know your work well enough to write you letters for promotion. They can’t be close colleagues. You have to network.

Fellow introverts, try this: ask people to be on your panels, email people when you like their paper, say hi after talks.
May 10, 2022 11 tweets 3 min read
You shouldn’t have to stay up all night to have a scholarly career.

Here’s how to write more and faster, without sacrificing sleep:

@openacademics @phd_genie #PhDLife Productivity matters because people don’t always understand the value of what we do. Papers and books help people “see” our contributions.

7 tips for increasing your productivity:
Apr 28, 2022 8 tweets 3 min read
Wondering how long your first book will take to write?

Great! Here’s what I learned writing my first book.

Sharing it case it may help you. Knowledge is power. @OpenAcademics @PhD_Genie 1. Hearing how many months/years it took someone to write a book doesn’t help you.

It took me 1.5 years to write my first book. But was that writing daily? Once a week?

But luckily I tracked HOURS of writing too.

Here’s my writing time breakdown.
Jan 5, 2022 10 tweets 3 min read
Want to write a fundable grant in 2022?

Excellent! Grants let you call the shots and get more control over your scholarly career.

Here's what you need to know to succeed at grant writing.

@OpenAcademics @PhD_Genie 1. Find the Right Grant Opportunities

This is the most important step. A bad target means you won't be funded. Even if your grant is phenomenal.

Here are 5 ways to find good targets. 1. Search up the chain. 2. Search in house. 3. Start with th
Dec 2, 2021 9 tweets 3 min read
Want to publish your first scholarly book?

Awesome! I just submitted a draft of my first book to Princeton U. Press.

Here's what I've learned so far, in case it may help you. Information is power. @OpenAcademics @PhD_Genie 1. Where do you start?

There are many ways to get your book published. If you want to publish with a scholarly press (e.g., Princeton University Press, University of Chicago Press), you need to write a book proposal.