Research proposal writer for PhD, master's and grant applications
A research proposal has to convince a panel in a few pages that your question matters, your method works and you can finish on time. This prompt has your todo.is agent turn your notes into a full first draft with aims, background, methods, timeline, ethics and budget, following the rules of the program or funder you are applying to.
The prompt
- Help me write a research proposal from my notes: [YOUR NOTES]. It is for [PROGRAM OR FUNDER], with a limit of [LENGTH LIMIT]. Read the call or program guidelines here: [GUIDELINES LINK OR FILE]. Draft these sections: title, summary, background and gap (with 8 to 12 real sources I can check, with links), aims and research questions, methodology (design, sample, data collection, analysis), timeline as a Gantt-style table, ethics, expected outcomes and impact, and [EXTRA SECTIONS]. Keep claims realistic. Mark anything I need to confirm with "CHECK". Deliver it as a Word document in the required structure, plus a short list of what the panel will most likely look for.
What to change
- [YOUR NOTES]: Paste your idea, question and planned method, or attach notes, a draft or a voice memo.
- [PROGRAM OR FUNDER]: e.g. "PhD in Sociology at a UK university", "a national science foundation early-career grant".
- [LENGTH LIMIT]: e.g. "2,000 words", "6 pages", "1,500 words plus references".
- [GUIDELINES LINK OR FILE]: Link to the call or attach the guidance PDF. Your agent reads the scoring criteria.
- [EXTRA SECTIONS]: e.g. "a budget table", "data management plan", "dissemination plan", or "none".
Example result
- Title
- Reading for pleasure in early secondary school: a mixed-methods study of library programs in 4 schools
- Summary (150 words)
- Reading for pleasure drops sharply between ages 11 and 14. This study tests whether weekly library-led reading clubs change reading habits and attitudes over one school year, and explores how students and teachers experience them...
- Background and gap
- • Reading enjoyment is linked with later literacy (sources 1 to 3)
- • Most interventions target primary schools; evidence for ages 11 to 14 is thin (sources 4 to 6)
- • Gap: few studies combine reading-habit data with students' own explanations
- Aims and research questions
- • RQ1: Do weekly reading clubs change self-reported reading time over one school year?
- • RQ2: How do students describe the effect of the clubs on their reading?
- • RQ3: What helps or blocks the clubs in practice, according to librarians and teachers?
- Methodology
- • Design: mixed methods, comparison of 2 schools with clubs and 2 without
- • Sample: about 400 students aged 11 to 12 (CHECK school access)
- • Data: reading-attitude survey at start and end of year; 6 focus groups; 8 staff interviews
- • Analysis: mixed models for survey change; thematic analysis for focus groups
- Timeline (12 months)
- • Months 1 to 2: ethics approval, school agreements
- • Month 3: baseline survey
- • Months 3 to 11: clubs run; focus groups in months 6 and 10
- • Month 12: follow-up survey, analysis, report
- Ethics
- Parental consent and student assent, anonymous survey IDs, safe data storage (CHECK university policy)
- Expected outcomes and impact
- • A tested, low-cost model schools can copy; a short guide for school librarians
- What the panel will look for
- • A clear gap and realistic sample · a method that answers each RQ · a timeline that fits the funding period
How to do it with todo.is
- Add your notes, the program or funder, the length limit and the guidelines.
- Send it to your agent in todo.is, or by email with the call PDF attached.
- Read the draft, resolve every CHECK mark and open each source before you keep it.
- Ask for changes like "cut to 1,500 words" or "make the impact section stronger for policymakers".
Tips for a better result
- Start from the scoring criteria. Panels score against them, so each criterion should map to a clear section.
- One main question with 2 or 3 sub-questions reads stronger than five equal questions.
- Show feasibility: access to participants, a realistic timeline and skills you already have.
- Rewrite the draft in your own voice. Many programs check that the proposal reflects your own thinking, and some require AI disclosure.
research proposal writer: FAQ
- What are the main parts of a research proposal? Title, summary, background and literature gap, aims and research questions, methodology, timeline, ethics, expected outcomes, and references. Funders often add a budget and impact section.
- How long is a research proposal for a PhD? Often 1,500 to 3,000 words, but it varies a lot by university and country. Always follow the program's stated limit.
- Can it write a grant budget? It can draft a budget table from the costs you give and the funder's rules, with every figure marked to confirm. Your research office should check the final numbers.
- Are the sources real? Your agent searches the web and gives links for every source. Open and read each one before citing it.
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