AI for grant writing

A LaTeX grant-writing workflow with an AI-assisted reviewers.

Overview

This repository helps you organize grant writing into reusable sections, configurable build settings, and reusable review prompts so you can:

1. Draft proposals in modular LaTeX files.
2. Keep references, figures, abstract, timeline, and budget in a predictable layout.
3. Build a main proposal PDF plus standalone attachment PDFs.
4. Run AI-assisted quality checks before submission.

Intended structure

The directory tree shown below:

CV/                                      # CV templates
Information/                             # Grant call details and requirements
Examples/                                # Example proposals
Proposal/
    figures/                             # Figures and diagrams
    literatures/                         # Supporting papers and references
    PDF/                                 # Compiled PDFs
    sections/                            # Modular LaTeX sections
        abstract.tex                     # Standalone abstract PDF source
        budget.tex                       # Standalone budget PDF source
        main.tex                         # Main LaTeX entry point
        main_<id>_<section>.tex          # Section files
        timeline.tex                     # Standalone timeline / Gantt PDF source
        setup/                           # Shared LaTeX setup files
        references.bib                   # Bibliography
    build.sh                             # Build script to compile the proposal
    generate_tex_config.py               # YAML -> TeX config generator
    tex_config.yaml                      # User-editable metadata and layout settings
Review/                                  # AI review prompts, rubrics, examples, and outputs
    examples/nsfc-reviewers/             # Reference skill and reviewer examples
    R1_Language/                         # Review typos, grammar, and clarity
    R2_Citation/                         # Review for appropriate and comprehensive citations
    R3_StateOfTheArt/                    # Review for state-of-the-art awareness
    R4_Innovation/                       # Review for novelty and impact
    R5_Hypothesis/                       # Review for hypothesis clarity and testability
    R6_Methodology/                      # Review for methodology feasibility and rigor
    R7_ResearchFoundation/               # Review for research foundation and preliminary data
    R8_Critical/                         # Critical review of weaknesses and risks
    R8_Constructive/                     # Constructive review with suggestions for improvement
    R10_Significance/                    # Review for significance and potential impact
    Aggergation/                         # Reserved for aggregated review notes
    Requirements/                        # Reserved for grant-specific review checklists
    Reviews/                             # Final review outputs and iteration notes
    metaReviewer.md                      # Master reviewer template
    README.md                            # Review usage guide

Getting Started

1. Edit Proposal/tex_config.yaml to set the proposal title, applicant name, affiliation, and layout parameters. Proposal/build.sh expects python3, latexmk, and a working LaTeX installation in your shell path.
2. Write or replace content in Proposal/sections/main_<id>_<section>.tex.
3. Update Proposal/sections/references.bib with your citations.
4. Build from Proposal/build.sh. This produces:
   • Proposal/PDF/main.pdf
   • Proposal/PDF/abstract.pdf
   • Proposal/PDF/timeline.pdf
   • Proposal/PDF/budget.pdf
5. Use the reviewer prompts in AIReview/RX_XXX/ to generate targeted review notes into AIReview/Reviews/.
6. Iterate on the proposal until both the writing and the reviewer outputs are in good shape.

Customization

• Adjust fonts, spacing, title block content, and margins in Proposal/tex_config.yaml.
• Use a YAML block scalar (|) for multi-line title fields in tex_config.yaml so line breaks become proper TeX title breaks.
• Modify the reviewer instructions under AIReview/RX_XXX/ to match the evaluation criteria of your target funder.
• Use AIReview/metaReviewer.md as the canonical template for defining a reviewer persona.
• Add any additional proposal sections, figures, or reviewer roles as needed.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to ChineseResearchLaTeX for providing flexible and adaptable for various grant writing needs, and we encourage contributions and improvements from the community.