The Good Food Institute 55d ago

Proposal Writing Workshop: Tips and tricks for securing alternative protein funding The Good Food Institute May 5, 2025 Public and philanthropic research funding is highly competitive, and alternative protein researchers often compete alongside applicants from both related and unrelated fields. With increasing pressure on research budgets, particularly in the U.S., developing strong, well-positioned proposals is more important than ever. This half-day virtual workshop was designed to help researchers—especially U.S.-based early-career faculty—develop stronger, more compelling grant proposals. Through expert guidance and peer insights, attendees learn practical strategies for identifying funding opportunities, aligning proposals with agency priorities, and effectively communicating the value of alternative protein research within broader funding frameworks. The program features a program officer's perspective on how funding priorities are set, what reviewers look for, and common pitfalls that can undermine otherwise strong proposals. The workshop also features successful grantees, who share their personal approaches to proposal development and lessons learned from both successful and unsuccessful submissions. The workshop concludes with an overview of collaboration opportunities and resources available through GFI. [0:00] Welcome and the funding landscape [19:01] Program Officer talk, Constance Gewa, PhD [42:58] Program Officer Q&A, Constance Gewa, PhD [57:11] Building the case for alternative protein research [1:28:24] Researcher presentations [1:29:45] Da Chen, PhD [1:55:18] Rosalyn Abbott, PhD [2:14:52] Jing Zhao, PhD [2:37:13] Rohan Shirwaiker, PhD [3:01:17] Researcher panel discussion [4:01:33] Resources available through GFI [4:11:56] Closing Speakers: Nicholas Goldsmith, PhD, Research Funding Partnerships Manager The Good Food Institute Constance Gewa, PhD, Scientific Program Director Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research Bianca Datta, PhD, Senior Scientific Partnerships Manager The Good Food Institute Da Chen, PhD, Assistant Professor Purdue University Rosalyn Abbott, PhD, Associate Professor Carnegie Mellon University Jing Zhao, PhD, Associate Professor San Diego State University Rohan Shirwaiker, PhD, James T. Ryan Distinguished Professor in Industrial & Systems Engineering and Director of Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein North Carolina State University About GFI: The Good Food Institute is a nonprofit think tank working to make the global food system better for the planet, people, and animals. Alongside scientists, businesses, and policymakers, GFI’s teams focus on making plant-based, fermentation-enabled, and cultivated meat delicious, affordable, and accessible. Powered by philanthropy, GFI is an international network of organizations—working across Asia Pacific, Brazil, Europe, India, Israel, and the United States—advancing alternative proteins as an essential solution needed to meet the world’s climate, global health, food security, and biodiversity goals. Learn more at https://gfi.org/