Does any of this sound like you?
- You know you should get some funding but you can never find the time while researching, writing papers, and supporting others... the right moment never seems to come.
- You never had the need to get your own funding. You know it's important, but everything seems important!
- You may have applied for some grants, but you never felt you had an innovative idea or enough experience, so you never tried the big calls.
- You're tired of spending countless hours writing grant proposals that never seem to get approved. You know you're missing something but just don't know what!
If reading any of this made you think "how does she know?!", keep reading. You're not alone, and I have something for you!
You're a postdoc or have your own group...
Writing keeps being the most important task of your job. Only now the type of writing has changed. You know that at this stage of your career, writing grant proposals and review papers is a must.
But you cannot find the time to write among all the other responsibilities. You feel constantly juggling. The experiments. Teaching. Supervision... The messy middle.
You don't want to write in the weekend and evenings. Especially, when there is no guarantee that will be funded...
Imagine this...
You have a system to write your grant proposal. So you go and write it knowing what goes where.
You have peace of mind knowing that your ideas will get funded. Maybe not by this call. Maybe not in this round. But you know they will.
You know how to manage your time, energy and this project, so you don't sacrifice your nights and weekends.
It's time to write a project again. And you know all the steps you need to take to get the money!
The truth is, writing a successful grant proposal requires more than just technical writing skills
It requires the right mindset to sell your ideas and you as the ideal candidate.
It requires a project management approach to keep moving through the different phases while managing your time, energy, and the people that will help you
And it requires a deep understanding of what funding agencies are looking for.
Without this combination of skills, even the most talented scientists struggle to secure the funding they need to advance their work.
Many scientists like you face similar challenges in their careers, but fortunately, you don't need to do this alone. And that's why we've created...
The academic launchpad
March-June 2024
A 4-month coaching program to help you write a project proposal, with motivation to do it and confidence that sooner or later will work out
Only a few spots available!
Proudly trusted by scholars at
1. THE CURRICULUM
You'll have access to our online platform where you can watch at your own pace the video lessons. These lessons are structured around 4 topics with several short video lessons of 10-20 min for easy watching. Each lesson includes points for you to take action: writing parts of your proposal, arranging work with collaborators, planning your time, or reflecting on the workbook. You'll also have access to extra resources, like examples of submitted proposals and evaluators' comments.
Here are some of the lessons inside each topic:
BELIEVE
- Why you and this idea
- Goals and your BHAG
- Changing the mindset around rejection & impostor syndrome
CREATE
- Your blue ocean
- The three-keyword framework
- Network and collaborators
WRITE
- Fundamentals of scientific writing
- The different sections
- Writing a Narrative CV
SELL
- Storytelling in academic writing
- Copywriting and voice of customer
- Personal branding, marketing & sales
This is a UNIQUE curriculum that comes from merging:
1) 15 years of experience working in top institutions, reviewing grant applications, getting my own funding, and also being rejected.
2) The work I've done at "I focus and write" since 2020. Helping hundreds of scientists to focus and write with a mindful approach. But also learning about marketing and sales strategies that you can apply to write your proposal 🙌🏼
Plus, currently (not sure for how long!) once you join the Academic Launchpad, you get lifetime access to all of the program materials – which means you can revise the materials to write your next project.
2. THE SUPPORT
One of the characteristics of our programs is the SUPPORT you get, and it will be a strong component of the Academic Launchpad. Because of that, we ONLY HAVE A FEW SPOTS available. This support happens in different ways:
1) A private podcast with answers to all the questions I get.
Because at this level you're probably very busy, I'll ask you to send me your questions. Then every week I'll record an audio in a private podcast with answers to those questions. This is a unique opportunity to discover aspects you didn´t think about while being inspired by others.
2) 1-on1 private coaching with Ana.
You can schedule 1 private meeting with me each month (a total of 4 calls of 50 min). These calls are to help you clarify your idea, define your strategy and discuss your progress.
3) Feedback on your writing
We will revise once the proposal you write during the time of the program. We, because I do this together with our amazing editors Dr. Judith Pell and Dr. Alison Haughton. Together we have more than 40 years of experience as researchers and similar experience as editors!
4) Asynchronous private support
We also love to support you via email, slack either through text, voice or video on anything that has you blocked!
See what some of our past clients say...
To write a project like an ERC you need someone next to you who knows how to tell the story in a convincing way. Being an excellent scientist is not enough. I had the idea, but Ana’s help was invaluable in showcasing that idea. And at a personal level, the weekly coaching makes all the difference...from the moments of “I cannot continue”, to the moments of “Ana, I just had this crazy idea in my sleep”. If you still have doubts, ask her to show you any paragraph of my before and after 😂
Dr. Ainhoa Martinez-Medina
Group leader at IRNASA-CSIC (Spain)
Project: ERC consolidator (FUNDED 🎊)
I participated in the first edition of the Academic Launchpad to write a Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellowship. I found the course content very useful and the co-working sessions great. But for me, the best part was counting on Ana’s support (and Judy’s), always so positive and kind, always with encouraging words. As a result of her feedback, I was able to improve and polish my CV and proposal, as well as (perhaps more importantly) quiet my imposter syndrome.
Dr. Iria Sala
Research Associate at Strathclyde University
Project: Marie Curie (in review)
3. THE WORKSHOPS
The first Thursday of each month between March and June we'll have a 2-hour group call in Zoom from 15.00-17.00 (Amsterdam time) where we'll do a specific workshop to help you implement key aspects of the program, answer any questions you have, and meet the other participants. These are the topics we'll cover:
1) Welcome call, where I'll give feedback about the struggles each participant has.
2) Project management class, to plan together the tasks, deadlines and people involved in writing this project.
3) Marketing workshop, to develop your marketing plan so you can let the world know about your ideas and maximize the opportunities.
4) Goal-setting workshop, so you will finish the program by having clear goals and the steps to get there.
4. THE BONUSES (time-limited ⏰)
Bonus #1: Write a review-type paper
Not sure if in future editions it will be available
This bonus alone is worth the price of the full program. The two pieces of writing that will help you launch your academic career are a project proposal and a review-type paper. These articles will boost your visibility and authority in the field, plus they can be published much faster than an experimental paper.
The idea generation process and several of the phases of writing a project are the same as for writing a review-type paper. And with the bonus I'll give you strategies to write that article, optimizing current or future efforts of a proposal. Either direction is worth your time and effort!
Some of the current participants have actually started writing a review-type of paper! See what they say after only 1 month:
" Before the course and during the first couple of weeks, I felt it was unlikely to organize this review. Now, I think it can be real. I've learned how to organize a review manuscript from zero. For example, find the topic of the review, prepare the outline, the invitation request, and deal with collaborators... All these steps were unknown to me"
"Writing the review has become an achievable task in my mind! I have started deliberately using your copywriting methods as well as storytelling. I think this has improved my writing. And my new boss says I write well, probably because of these!"
Bonus #2: Co-working membership
Only when you or your institution pay before December 15th ⏰
During the 4 months of the program, you can also take part in our co-working membership SUSTAIN. There are at least 4 co-working sessions per week that you can use as accountability to book time for your writing. And in each of them, you have a chance to interact with us and with the amazing community of mindful scientists that are members 🎊 You can see a provisional schedule here.
See some of the things our participants shared after only 1 month of being in the program!
“Without the course, I wouldn't force myself to find the time to work on the project. But more importantly, after every lesson, I feel a boost of energy, motivation, and creativity. And in the next working session, I checked the slides again and they guide my work and help me keep focus”
"I am really enjoying it and finding it useful! I know it is difficult with me on such a different time zone, and it is worse than taking part in the class live, but I find it really helpful the care you take in making sure I have time to speak with you!"
"I always struggle to talk about myself on the narrative CV. After having my narrative CV revised by Ana, I noticed an improvement in the coherence of the text and felt better about it. Getting feedback from somebody I trust was a great help!"
"I've noticed a significant improvement in my writing. Now I'm more conscious of the writing process and of how to sell my idea better. Plus I've advanced positively from the detachment of my bosses"
Ready to write your project proposal?
We only have a few spots available!
What´s included:
- Lifetime access to the Academic Launchpad curriculum
- 4 months of support via Zoom, email & Slack
- Private podcast with Q&A episodes
- Feedback and discussion of your proposal
- An amazing community to write together and interact in Slack
- Bonus 1: Course to write a review paper
- Bonus 2: 4 months in our co-working membership Sustain
Apply now!
If you're like "Yes, I want this!", please apply by sending me a private message. Since my emails keep being sent to the spam, I ask you to do so ideally via WhatsApp, and otherwise via Instagram or Linkedin. Then we can assess if indeed we can help with your goals, and we'll complete the registration.
Please click on one of the buttons below to start our conversation about the The Academic Launchpad 🎊
Do you want extra support?
We can also customize the program for you by adding extra coaching sessions and revisions of your text. Some of our clients have done that with weekly or biweekly sessions. If you'd like that, let me know when you message me and we can customize the package!
Here more nice words from our clients!
Writing this vici with Ana has been a unique experience, plus a fun one! Having a plan to follow, sending pieces of text, getting hers and Judy's feedback, and then discussing kept me on track in the busy schedule of being an associate professor. And I was surprised that even after so many years in research I learned new things about writing!
Dr. Nina Fatouros
Associate Professor at Wageningen University (website)
Project: VICI (in review, after the first phase)
I didn't know what I was getting into when I decided to write an ERC consolidator grant. The help of Ana has been key in keeping me motivated and accountable, and so I've managed to advance section by section. This is an aspect of writing big projects, that I don't know how people do without a coach!
Dr. Javier Gonzalez
Group leader at IRNASA (CSIC)
Project: ERC consolidator (in preparation)
Why you’ll love working with me?
Hey, I’m Ana, and…
I'm the founder of "I focus and write", where we help scientists to focus and write with a mindful approach. One that got us published in Nature here and here. Since 2020 we've worked with hundreds of scientists at different stages in their careers. And since the beginning, they've asked me to create this program to write project proposals.
The Academic Launchpad is born from my more than 15 years of research, mostly working in Wageningen (The Netherlands). Born from writing and getting funding from different sources (including Marie Curie). And from building this business!
But also born from the struggles. The feelings of not being good enough to get some grants. The rejections when they didn´t work. And not being able of making time while having a life, and two small kids.
Now it's your turn to learn!
For who is this course?
The Academic Launchpad is our more advanced program to write a project proposal with confidence that they're on the right track. It's specially designed for:
- Postdocs and scientists with their own group (assistant/associate professor level).
- Scientists that want to apply to a medium-big call. These are some examples of calls I have experience with, either for myself or as a coach for others: Marie Curie, ERC starting grant, ERC consolidator grant, and national funding from The Netherlands (Veni-Vidi-Vici) and Spain.
- Scientists with an affinity to the vision of "I focus and write". Mindful scientists who are ambitious, want to reach their research goals AND also want to have a private life where there is time and energy for rest, fun, and happiness!
But to be honest, this program is probably not for you if you’re searching for:
- Weekly feedback on your writing. I do my best to support you whenever you need help. But please note that this is a program with a medium level of support. If you'd like a coaching package with weekly revision of your writing and progress, let me know, I NOW have a few spots for that! Just message me.
- A grant writer. This is a program where YOU'll learn to write your grants and projects. We will not write those for you. That's not a service we offer in "I focus and write".
- A 100% guarantee that your project will be funded. Nobody can guarantee that, and I'd like to make it clear here too!
Apply now!
If you're like "Yes, I want this!", please apply by sending me a private message. Since my emails keep being sent to the spam, I ask you to do so ideally via WhatsApp, and otherwise via Instagram or Linkedin. Then we can assess if indeed we can help with your goals, and we'll complete the registration.
Please click on one of the buttons below to start our conversation about the The Academic Launchpad 🎊
FAQ
THIS COURSE WOULD BE A BIG INVESTMENT FOR ME. IS IT REALLY WORTH THE PRICE?
Yes! The rejection rate in grants is high. But when that happens, the same proposal can be submitted with minor changes to different calls. Although I cannot guarantee results, I'm confident that the ideas you'll develop first, and then write inside this program, will eventually get funded. If you doubt it, then don't join the program.
IS THIS COURSE SUITABLE FOR ANY RESEARCH FIELD?
The principles of the course apply to any research field, similar to what happens to most scientific writing books. The specific examples I show are mainly from my research field (Ecology, Entomology, Plant Sciences, Agriculture). But you could find those examples in proposals from your field. In addition to researchers from my topic, some of our students work on Marine Biology, Cancer Research, or Law.
I AM A POSTDOC/ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AND HAVE WRITTEN SEVERAL PROJECTS. IS THIS PROGRAM SUITABLE FOR ME?
Absolutely! Some of my clients have found part of the content completely new and that their proposals have become better after implementing what they learned. The program has also extra benefits: 1) accountability and support to keep advancing; 2) continuous feedback on your writing that you may not receive from anyone once you're more advanced in your career.
WILL YOU REVISE THE FULL PROPOSAL?
Yes. Currently, I am revising ONCE everything. But only what you finish within the four months that the program lasts. Our editors, Alison and Judith will give extra feedback for second rounds.
I'M FINISHING MY PHD. COULD I JOIN?
During the PhD, the main goal should be to finish it as timely as possible. If you feel you have that goal under control and would like to start writing a postdoc project, submit the application and I will assess if we can help you.
CAN I GET THIS COURSE FUNDED BY MY INSTITUTION?
You’ll need to check this with your supervisor (plus probably some sort of approval to take a course during your working hours). In my experience, you may get a full or partial funding for this type of courses, but that's out of my control ;)
DO YOU OFFER ANY REFUNDS OR GUARANTEES?
No. Due to the limited spots in the course, I cannot offer a refund. If you are doubting whether joining or not, please send me a message explaining your situation. I’ll do my best to help you make a decision!
Do you have a question that is not answered here? Or would you like to discuss you situation? Just message me at some of the buttons above!
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