Research Support

Grant Writing Course by Research Support— now a three-part course

Based on feedback from previous attendees, the Grant Writing Course has been redesigned: what was previously a full-day course is now a three-part course, allowing more time for each topic and for hands-on practice. The three parts are connected and build on each other; we therefore recommend following all three.

Date, Time and Location

• Part I: Frameworks & Grant Proposal Structure — 19 January 2027, 9:30–12:00
• Part II: Planning, Narrative CV, Writing for Reviewers & Abstract Workshop — 28 January 2027, 9:30–12:00

• Part III: Open Science, Data Management & Valorisation in Grant Writing — 11 January 2027, 9:30–11:30

Please note that, due to logistical reasons, the sessions do not take place in numerical order.All sessions take place at Amsterdam UMC, location AMC. This is the seventh edition of the course; the next edition will take place in June 2027 at Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc.

Content

This grant-writing course is designed to equip you with the essential skills to craft well-structured, clear, concise, and persuasive grant proposals.

Part I introduces writing frameworks that help researchers structure a clear and compelling grant narrative, and shows how to apply them when deconstructing grant proposals and formulating strong aims and objectives. Detailed agenda for this session here.

Part II covers grant planning, the narrative CV, and writing techniques that convince reviewers, and concludes with an interactive workshop in which participants pair up to review and refine each other's grant abstracts. Detailed agenda for this session here.

Part III covers the key concepts of open science, data management, and valorisation that researchers need to address in their grant proposals — from open access publishing and FAIR data to valorisation plans and intellectual property. Detailed agenda for this session here.

By the end of the course, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the grant-writing process, practical tools to enhance their proposals, and constructive feedback on their abstracts.

Who can participate

This course is intended for Amsterdam UMC postdocs and final-year PhD students, and is designed to benefit both beginners and experienced grant writers. Please note that participation is restricted to researchers affiliated with Amsterdam UMC. VU and UvA students and staff cannot participate, unless they are affiliated with Amsterdam UMC.

Preparation

For the abstract workshop in Part II, participants are required to bring a printed copy of an abstract for their upcoming grant application, following the specifications of the relevant funding body. If you do not have a specific grant application in progress, please write an abstract for a project you would like to be funded. Please note: this should not be an abstract of a paper, but specifically for a grant application.

Registration

Registrations are open via this link. We strongly recommend that participants who register for Part II also register for Part I, as the abstract workshop uses the writing framework explained in Part I.

More courses for Amsterdam UMC researchers

Amsterdam UMC researchers can find additional training on research funding — such as the quarterly Finding Funding session — on the Research Grant Academy page on the Amsterdam UMC intranet.

Organizers

This course is organized by the Research Policy Office and Research Grant Support, and will be taught by Amsterdam UMC staff from four Research Support Domains: Research Grant Support (Bart Jordi and Silvia Calpe), Medical Library (Lieuwe Kool), Research Data Management (Meriem Manaï, Elize Vlanic), and Valorisation (Michelle Meeks).

For more information about this course, please contact the organizer Silvia Calpe (RGS, s.calpe@amsterdamumc.nl).

Post-doctoral researchers are given opportunity to discuss work-related non-research issues in groups of peers under guidance of a policy advisor of the Research Policy Office. These meetings are designed to connect peers and create a confidential environment for open discussion and reflection.

Course overview

Intervision is a form of peer learning that helps to create a safe and reflective space to tackle a common challenge or problem. During intervision you will get support from peers (fellow postdoctoral researchers), reflect and discuss issues without hierarchical differences. You get insight and find possible solutions to the cases, which could be recognizable for everyone in the group. At the end of each session, the case presenter and all other participants find new and helpful ways to address an issue at their workplace.

Please make sure you are available during these meetings.

Dates

Discussed together with the group

Number of participants

Groups will consist of 4-8 participants.

Registration

Please register here.

For more information contact

researchsupport@amsterdamumc.nl

University Teaching Qualification VUin English

Basis Kwalificatie Onderwijs UvA

Basis Kwalificatie Onderwijs VUmcDo you need an English spoken BKO-course?In case you are employed by Amsterdam UMC, you are teaching in a (English spoken) bachelor or master program and you need an English spoken BKO-course, please explain your situation in an email to aanmelden.bko@amsterdamumc.nl

Are you a PhD or Postdoc and have you ever thought about the impact your research can have outside of academia? Would you like to explore how you can increase the impact you’re already making?

IXA offers a new modular learning path on getting involved in valorisation and creating impact particularly suitable for late phase PhD students and postdocs who want to become proficient in valorising their research.

The objective

To inspire you and make you aware of the power that comes with creating value and impact through your research.

The Learning Path is composed of 2 modules of a total of 3 workshops interspersed with online information.

The first Module focuses on impact, what it means for you, how to create it, the challenges you’ll encounter and how to take the first steps to create impact. Module 2, consisting of two workshops, guides you in concretising your ideas or research results into a plan. You will make a stakeholder analysis and learn about the support available within the knowledge institute.

No costs

Participation is free of charge. Registration is required, so is cancellation if you are not able to attend.

For other questions contact Christine Schalkx or Caroline Kleine Staarman at: programs@ixa.nl.

Amsterdam UMC considers it important that you, as an employee, can influence your own career and development. There is a variety of opportunities available to you, e.g. by understanding or further developing your qualities, or exploring career opportunities.

Functioneren & persoonlijke ontwikkeling (intranet, in Dutch)

Intranet VUmc–GoodHabitz (Online training)

Supervision courses are important if you want to supervise PhD candidates and master students. The courses can be found on the doctoral school website: Superb Supervision; several courses or inspiration meetings on mentoring your PhD Candidate (amsterdamumc.org)

Inspired Supervision: Inspiration meetings for Experienced Supervisors of PhD Students VU Centre for Teaching & Learning - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Amsterdam UMC offers various leadership courses to improve your guidance of more junior researchers and how to balance your work with new additional responsibilities.

Leiderschapsontwikkeling (tulpintranet.nl)

Amsterdam UMC, Locatie VUmc - Cursus Projectmanagement in de zorg

Amsterdam UMC, Locatie VUmc - Basismodule Spin in het web & Vervolgmodule Projectmatig werken

Are you interested in exploring your career opportunities inside or outside Amsterdam UMC? Would you like help in developing your transferable skills to increase your career chances in or beyond academia? Are you looking for courses to develop your communication skills or? Look which Personal Development courses suit your needs or sign up for a mentoring program. Alternatively, you can choose to reflect on your how to use your strengths and surpass your weaknesses to benefit your career during individual coaching sessions with a coach from the Amsterdam UMC coachpool.

If you have questions regarding your career trajectory, make sure you contact the career trajectory team (loopbaanontwikkeling) loopbaanontwikkeling@amsterdamumc.nl or coachpool@amsterdamumc.nl (English and Dutch)

Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc - courses on Research Integrity

The VIRT2UE course explores what it entails to perform ‘good’ research as a researcher and discusses the moral dilemmas encountered in research. Moreover, it explains what it means to act professionally and with integrity.

As a researcher from Amsterdam UMC you have access to a variety of support services including consultations, tools and training from the Research Data Management Team (Research Data Management Amsterdam UMC). You can request such RDM support through the RDM Helpdesk. An extensive overview of courses offered by RDM can be found here.