Strengthening the research enterprise from proposal concept to award: AHS Research Development announces four tiers of service

Karen Cielo | Posted on September 01, 2026
People sitting around a conference table discussion a proposal

AHS Research Development announces 4 Tiers of Service!

We help faculty develop competitive, high-quality grant proposals through strategic guidance, team-building, customized resources, research huddles, mock reviews, and refinement of proposal content. Our support spans single-PI proposals to large, complex proposals, including those with federal and non-federal sponsors.

General guidelines

  • AHS Research Development focuses on the technical/scientific aspects of the proposals (not the administrative, i.e., budget/justification, biosketches).
  • It’s best to get in contact as early as possible, especially for large/complex (i.e., NIH Us/Ps) or training-related proposals.
  • Tiers plus examples of proposal development support are provided below.

Tier 1: Early-Stage Strategy

  • Personalized consultation—identify/vet funding opportunities, identify potential collaborators, funding strategy
  • Strategic feedback on Specific Aims page (e.g., NIH R01), Project Summary (e.g., NSF) and/or short proposal (e.g., NIH R21, DoD pre-proposal)
  • Resubmission strategy

Tier 2: Feedback on Proposal Concept and Full Proposals

  • Peer feedback on proposal concept through in-person research huddle (ideally, request at least 4 months before due date)
  • Review/editing of Specific Aims page for clarity, logic, flow, and as scientist “outside the field”
  • Peer feedback on full proposal (e.g., NIH R01; NSF standard grant) + mock review session
  • Final draft editing of full proposal or components of longer or more complex proposal (i.e., HRSA, NIH Us/Ps) and feedback on responsiveness to solicitation

Tier 3: Catalyzing large-scale or complex proposals

  • Host/facilitate catalyst huddle to develop initial project concept (i.e., ACL, HRSA, NIH Us/Ps)
  • Team building
  • Facilitate team meetings as needed, especially during development of initial concepts, until a PI takes the lead
  • Organize/facilitate internal/external mock review session

Tier 4 Long-term support for large/complex or training proposals

  • Work as strategic partner on team, including potentially serving as Co-I, as appropriate
  • Provide customized resources
  • Set agendas, provide team communication, meeting follow-ups
  • Review/edit multiple components/drafts
  • Liaise with Grants & Contracts Associates
  • Keep team on track and moving towards successful submission

Please contact Dr. Karen Cielo, Director of Research Development, for more information or to schedule an initial consultation.

Modified on September 01, 2026