Given the central role of scholarship in academic medicine, the CFD has created a dedicated webpage to bring together the information to support your writing needs, projects, and goals.

Upcoming Programs

  • Preparing your Manuscript and Getting it Published
    Monday, April 10, 2023 | 11:00am-12:00pm
    With Elizabeth Phimister, Deputy Editor, New England Journal of Medicine.
    Zoom link
  • Crafting your Faculty of Medicine CV
    Sponsored by the HMS Office for Faculty Affairs
    Monday, April 24, 2023 | 3:30-5:30pm
    This 90-minute presentation, followed by a 30-minute Q&A, highlights some of the best practices for anyone maintaining a Faculty of Medicine CV. Participants will better appreciate how to use the standardized format to their advantage. The session covers the narrative as well as common questions about how to list various activities and achievements.
    Enroll here
  • Effective Writing for Health Care
    Sponsored by Harvard Medical School
    Early Application Deadline: March 22, 2023
    Final Application Deadline: May 24, 2023
    Program Begins:  June 19, 2023
    Featuring faculty editors and contributors from the New England Journal of Medicine, Harvard College Writing Program and prominent publications, this program encompasses a blended learning model to fit into your schedule. Throughout this one-year program, you’ll participate in three workshops, self-paced on-demand sessions, webinars and complete writing exercises to help you achieve your writing goals.
    Register for an info session here
    Enroll here

Recommended Resources on Writing

Consulting service: NIH K Grant Specific Aims Page
NIH K grant applicants, apply to have the specific aims section of your grant reviewed by Harvard faculty who have successfully received NIH grant funding. Offered by Harvard Catalyst's Writing and Communication Center, this service is free for Harvard-affiliated schools and institutions. Learn more and apply for a consultation.
Apply for a consultation

National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD) membership:

Harvard has an institutional membership with the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD), effective Feb. 1, 2022. The pilot membership runs for 3 years, through Jan. 31, 2025. NCFDD’s career development resources, including robust writing support, are available to all Harvard-affiliated faculty, postdoctoral fellows, clinical trainees, staff, and medical, dental, and graduate (master’s/PhD) students.  All you have to do is choose “Harvard” from the options; membership is free
Register here

NCFDD writing resources include these Monday Motivator topics:

 

Noteworthy books and articles on (scientific) writing:
  • We highly recommend this succinct yet thorough guide to excellent writing: 

 The Elements of Style, Strunk and White 



  • This book specifically addresses scientific writing:

 The Craft of Scientific Writing, Alley 




  • Other excellent resources on writing: 

 

How to Write a Lot, Paul J. Silvia




 

Clear and Simple as the Truth: Writing Classic Prose, Francis-Noël Thomas and Mark Turner


 Style: Toward Clarity and Grace, Joseph M. Williams





Guides to writing and publishing:

 

MGH Scientific Writing Group Writing Support

The MGH Scientific Writing Group (SWG), led by Rebecca Ward, PhD, is comprised of Medical/Scientific Writers in the Department of Medicine with specific expertise in cancer immunology, cardiovascular biology, neuroscience, and infectious diseases. Together, they have experience editing and writing manuscripts as well as all types of grants (R01, R21, K99, F31, U19, U01, U54, internal MGH and foundation grants). They assist in the publication of primary articles, reviews, commentaries, perspectives, and book chapters.

In collaboration with the CFD, the MGH SWG provides freelance writing and editing services for MGH faculty and trainees which is fully subsidized by the CFD, up to 5 hours and limited to once annually. Please fill out this brief application
There is no deadline; apply when writing support is needed.

Workshops and Courses on Writing


PAST PRESENTATIONS:


TO CONSULT:

NIH Grant Writers' Seminars and Workshops
 
Sample Resources:

  • Tips Before You Submit: Ever Wondered What Happens During the Scientific Review of an NIH Grant Application? Understanding how peer review works is key to writing a good grant application. In this 44-minute video, NIH Peer Review: “Live” Mock Study Section, scientists have gathered virtually to review three fictional applications in response to a fictional Request For Applications. Watch their discussion to learn how applications are scored, what questions are commonly asked, and what mistakes to avoid in your application.
  • All About Grants Podcast: Considerations for a Research Plan In this NIH All About Grants episode (MP3 / Transcript) a duo of NIH program officers share their advice and experience on developing a research plan for a grant application.
2021 NIH Virtual Seminar on Program Funding and Grants Administration

HMS Office for Postdoctoral Fellows
This resource includes a component on Manuscript & Scientific Writing (Prep Strategies for Writing, Writing for Publication Boot Camp, Cultural Aspects of Writing, and Professional Correspondence for Scientists).

Harvard Catalyst

By cataloguing content from a collection of courses and resources, the Writing and Communication Center provides countless videos, articles, websites, rubrics, and course offerings surrounding funding, written communication, speaking skills, visual media, and professional development.

Multi-year program for K grant awardees seeking independent research funding.

Watch a series of interviews with Harvard researchers as they explain how to create a good research question. Researchers share helpful frameworks, factors to consider, candid advice, and how they've utilized these strategies in their own work.

HMS Effective Writing for Healthcare
This resource is a professional development program launched in 2020-2021, with specialized tracks in (1) Writing for Medical and Scientific Journals, (2) Writing for the Public, and (3) Writing Grant Proposals.

Templates and Samples

Samples of Successful Grants

Promotion-Related Templates and Samples


Fellowship Application


Responses to NIH Review of R01


Resources for an Effective Poster