Capacity Building Series: Writing Research Proposals for Competitive Funding

The Office of Research, Innovation, and Commercialization (ORIC), TUF organized an enlightening session for all faculty members on 23 July 2024 at Saleem campus, entitled “Writing Research Proposals for Competitive Funding”. The session featured presentation by Dr Zahir Ahmad Zahir, Professor, Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Vice Chairman/Local Dean of the Confucius Institute at UAF, as the esteemed resource person.

Professor Dr Zahir Ahmad Zahir, a prominent figure in the academic and research community, has secured funding for 25 National/International research projects, authored 5 books, 200+research articles with > 500 Impact Factors, and 20,000+citations and has served as Director ORIC at UAF for 6 years.

Professor Zahir brought his extensive experience and knowledge to the faculty members of TUF and provided insightful guidance on crafting compelling and competitive research proposals, essential for securing funding in today’s highly competitive academic landscape.

During the session, Professor Dr Zahir emphasized the critical components of a successful research proposal, demonstrating the potential impact and significance of the proposed research including clear and concise objectives, innovative approaches, comprehensive literature review, methodological rigor KPIs, logical budgeting, referencing etc.

The session also included interactive discussions on practical aspects of proposal, allowing faculty members to apply the principles learned and receive feedback from Professor Zahir. The session equipped the faculty members with the tools and knowledge to better prepare their research proposal with increased chances of securing competitive funding. Esteemed faculty members had the opportunity to network with Dr Zahir and colleagues, promoting collaboration and idea exchange.

At the end of session, Professor Dr Aman Ullah Malik, Director ORIC, highlighted that ORIC remains committed to promoting a research-driven environment and supporting faculty members in their academic and research pursuits. This session was part of a broader initiative to enhance the research capabilities of the university’s faculty, contributing to the overall growth and development of the academic community. He thanked resource person and faculty members for making the session productive and successful.