Speaking to Your Credentials
Evidencing Relevant Skills & Expertise
Once you have outlined your project, its significance, and your methodology, you will need to speak to your credentials— the experiences, knowledge, and skills that have prepared you to undertake this project. You may have developed these credentials through coursework, internships, or previous research experiences.
Think about all the skills that you may have developed and honed with regards to collecting, analyzing and reporting data. For instance, if you are conducting research in a lab, have you learned relevant lab techniques? If you intend to do interviews, have you conducted interviews previously? If you will be conducting research abroad, have you developed the relevant language skills? If you intend to conduct archival research, have you engaged with primary sources before? Provide us with the details of the experiences and skills that are applicable.
Show, Don’t Tell
In discussing your credentials, remember to show rather than tell. Rather than simply stating that you are more than qualified to undertake this research, you will need to show how. The reviewer will be able to assess your preparedness from these details.
Addressing Any Gaps
If there are any gaps in your skill set, it’s important to address them honestly as well as indicate how you intend to fill those gaps between the time that you submit the proposal and the time that you begin your research. This discussion will demonstrate that you have a deeper, more informed understanding of how to address any limitations and thereby ensure the feasibility of your project.
Your faculty sponsor may help provide guidance with regards to how to address any potential red flags. Take advantage of your faculty sponsor’s expertise!