Small Group Work 9/8/15

Contributing Group Members: Nader Abdel-Jaber, Azhar Toqeer, and Rachel West
1. Research potential private funding opportunities by searching the Foundation
Directory available through our librarys website of subscription databases:
https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/search/member-index
Identify at least two prospective funders.

Structural and Architectural Engineering (SAE)

NSF: Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
Alcoa Foundation

2. In your small group, debate the merits and challenges of potential public and
private funding opportunities that you have researched. In 15 minutes or less of
additional discussion, work toward a consensus about the one for which you
intend to draft a formal proposal for project #1 in this course.

We discussed that the problem at hand is mainly one of occupant comfort

and structures. The more minor categories are productivity and behavior,
respectively. Based on these categories that the problem fits into, we
determined that the Structural and Architectural Engineering (SAE) is the
most promising funding opportunity available for this particular project.

3. Design and complete a proposal opportunity worksheet of the type presented

in Chapter Two of the Johnson-Sheehan text for the grant opportunity for which
you intend to draft a formal proposal. The readers for this document, in addition
to your fellow group members, will include me as your instructor and,
potentially, the Architecture and Engineering faculty with whom we are
collaborating.
Please see below.
4. Design and complete a reader analysis worksheet of the kind presented in
Chapter Three of the Johnson-Sheehan text for the grant opportunity for which

you intend to draft a formal proposal. The only readers for this document will be
your fellow group members and me as your instructor.
Please see below.
5. Locate a sample proposal of the kind you will draft and begin a table of contents.
Then create a first draft of a project schedule that includes a clear division of
labor within the group for drafting and editing tasks for the remaining weeks of
Project #1.
Please see below.
6. Submit your responses to each of the above on our course Moodle page as a
series of documents. Include the names of all group members who contributed
to todays in-class work on each document.

PROPOSAL OPPORTUNITY WORKSHEET

Instructions: Draw who, what, where, when answers directly from client, RFP, or POC. If you
dont know answers to these questions, write a question mark next to information you dont
know.
WHO: Group members, Dr. Wickliff, Dr. Dale Brentrup, Mona Azarbayjani
WHAT: An agency that can provide funding through a grant for research that focuses on
occupant comfort and improved structural and sustainable building development.
WHERE: National Science Foundation
WHEN: Either September 115 or February 1-16 (yearly proposal windows)
WHY: The SAE is looking for grantseekers who can increase the structural stability while
maintaining a high level of occupant comfort.

Project Title: TBD

Solicitation Number: Not given
Date Advertised or Received: August 26, 2015

Client: Structural and Architectural Engineering (SAE)

Point of Contact (POC): Kishor Mehta
Deadline for Proposal Submission: September 1-15 or February 1-16
Address for Proposal Submission: The POC email is kimehta@nsf.gov

Summary of Proposal Opportunity

(In this area, specify any objectives mentioned by the client, RFP, or POC)
Advances knowledge and innovation in structural and architectural engineering and design
construction, operation, and maintenance of structures. Interested in research in sustainable
structures that improves the energy, the efficiency, and the cost-effectiveness of structures.

Comments and Recommendations

(In this area, speculate about why the client is requesting the work. Also, speculate about what
kind of projects might meet the clients needs.)
The client is requesting the work because they want to increase the sustainability of structures
and in doing so, increase productivity in human work and activities through better
environmental strategies and higher levels of occupant comfort.

Accept or Reject
(In this area, state whether a proposal should be written or not. Offer a rationale for your
decision.)

A proposal should be written because research in the end-users needs and wants will lead to
the necessary materials for the environment and structure. From there, once we have the
requirements needed, we may come up with the overall design for the structure of the building
at hand. As such, we can effectively combine the structural, behavioral, environmental, and
material elements to produce more holistic research.
Reviewer:
Phone Number:
Email Address:

Reviewer Initials:

Date Reviewed:

Reader Analysis Worksheet

Readers

Dr. Wickliff

Group Members

Motives
To teach grant
and proposal
writing in a
hands-on way,
while helping the
architecture
department get
the grant they
need.

Values
Education,
success in
proposal writing

To write an
effective
proposal,
increase our
professional
skillsets, create a
great portfolio
for future job
searches, and to
get an A from
this project.

Learning
experience,
success

Attitudes
Positive attitude
and outlook
because he is
trying to assist a
colleague
searching for a
grant, which in
the process
teaches his
students.
Positive attitude
optimism (with
some hints of
anxiety)

Emotions
Interested,
Passionate

Budding
inspiration,
anticipation

Table of Contents and Project Schedule

Sample grant proposals to the NSF:
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/earlycareer/research/NSFgrants.html#reu
Table of Contents
Summary
Organizations History and Background
Project Description
Project Timeline
Budget
Conclusion

Project Schedule
Week of September 15: Everyone brings in three questions for Dr. Brentrup; ask Dr.
Brentrup our questions during the Q&A; we continue solidifying the actual foundation
we will be seeking funding from as a group.
Week of September 22: Organizations History and Background Nader will write the
history of the organization, Azhar will research the budget, and Rachel will write the
project description.
Week of September 29: Compile work from each group member and create a first draft
of the proposal.
Week of October 6: Nader will do more research on and edit the budget, Azhar will do
more research on and edit the project description, and Rachel will do more research on
and edit the history of the organization (essentially, we will be switching roles to make
sure that the original researcher/writer didnt miss anything in the first draft).
Week of October 13: Summary and conclusion; covering final details as a group.
Week of October 20: Collaborative final editing as a group.