TECH 28 — Modern Grant Writing with AI
Quarter: Summer
Instructor(s): Ronjon Nag, Graham Erwin
Date(s): Jul 10—Aug 7
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Thursdays
Grade Restriction: NGR only; no credit/letter grade
Class Meeting Time: 5:30—7:00 pm (PT)
Tuition: $295
Refund Deadline: Jul 12
Unit(s): 0
Status: Open
Quarter: Summer
Day: Thursdays
Duration: 5 weeks
Time: 5:30—7:00 pm (PT)
Date(s): Jul 10—Aug 7
Unit(s): 0
Tuition: $295
Refund Deadline: Jul 12
Instructor(s): Ronjon Nag, Graham Erwin
Grade Restriction: NGR only; no credit/letter grade
Recording Available: Yes
Status: Open
AI is transforming grant writing—turning a time-intensive task into a more strategic, efficient process that elevates both research and storytelling. This hands-on course explores how to integrate AI into every stage of grant development, from identifying funding opportunities and conducting background research to crafting data-driven, persuasive proposals aligned with funder priorities. Students will learn the fundamentals of strong grant writing, including how to develop compelling project concepts, structure narratives, and meet funder expectations. We’ll examine how AI can support expertise—streamlining research, refining language, optimizing budgets, and strengthening review—while preserving the human insight and authenticity essential to successful proposals. Through practical exercises, participants will develop a balanced, technology-enhanced process that improves efficiency without compromising creativity or impact. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to produce stronger, more competitive proposals with greater confidence and clarity.
This course is ideal for grant writers, researchers, and nonprofit professionals. While examples draw from biomedical research, the tools and principles apply across disciplines.
Stanford Continuing Studies has lowered the tuition for this course to expand access to skills that bridge technology and social impact.
RONJON NAG
Adjunct Professor in Genetics, Stanford Medicine
Ronjon Nag has been building AI systems for 40 years and co-founded or advised companies sold to Motorola, RIM/BlackBerry, and Apple. He is a venture capitalist and president of the R42 Group, which invests in and creates AI and longevity companies. He teaches AI, genes, ethics, and venture capital at Stanford Medicine and is a visiting fellow at the Stanford Center for the Study of Language and Information. He received a PhD from Cambridge and is the 2024 Silicon Valley Engineering Hall of Fame inductee. GRAHAM ERWIN
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine
Graham Erwin is an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine and a guest lecturer at Stanford. His research focuses on tandem repeat DNA sequences, guiding new therapeutics and diagnostics for human disease. He was a co-inventor of synthetic transcription factors to treat neurodegenerative diseases, an analog of which is now being tested in human clinical trials. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford. Erwin is a co-founder of Next Thought AI and co-developer of Grant Teacher AI, which helps users develop successful grant proposals.
Textbooks for this course:
There are no required textbooks; however, some fee-based online readings may be assigned.