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2024 Summer Research Challenge Guidelines

Fostering Competitive Grant Proposals

The College of Health Sciences and Professions (CHSP) announces the Summer Research Challenge, a program designed to support faculty in developing competitive grant proposals for external funding. This program offers distinct tracks for both pre-tenure and post-tenure faculty members.

Program Goals:

  • Enhance faculty expertise in crafting compelling grant proposals.
  • Increase the number of competitive grant submissions from CHSP faculty.
  • Foster successful grant awards to support research endeavors.

Eligibility:

  • Pre-Tenure Track: CHSP faculty members within the tenure track who are within their first 4 years of appointment.
  • Post-Tenure Track: Established CHSP faculty members with a record of scholarship but limited recent external funding.

Program Components:

  1. Specific Aims Page Development: Participants will submit a Specific Aims page for a pre-identified funding opportunity aligned with their research interests. This page will be the focus of intensive feedback and development during the program.
  2. Summer Workshop Series: All participants will attend a mandatory three-day summer workshop series for their track.
    • For the pre-tenure track the workshops will cover essential grant writing skills and participants will be paired with a senior faculty to receive feedback throughout the workshop.
    • For the post-tenure track the workshops will equip established investigators with skills to refine research interests for current funding landscapes, develop strategic proposals for complex grants, and leverage peer mentorship to strengthen proposals to ensure fit for funding mechanisms.

Challenge Funds and Stipend:

To incentivize participation and support research development, the program will offer:

  • Challenge Funds: Each participant will receive a $1000 stipend to support research activities related to their chosen funding opportunity. This could include funding for pilot data collection, travel to research collaborators, or other relevant research expenses.
  • Stipend: A $500 stipend will be provided to each participant to recognize their time commitment and effort throughout the program.

Application Process:

Interested faculty members should submit the following application materials:

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Brief Research Statement: Briefly describe your research area and highlight your long-term goals.
  • Selected Funding Opportunity: Identify a specific funding opportunity you are interested in pursuing.
  • Draft Specific Aims Page (Optional): A draft of your Specific Aims page for the chosen funding opportunity (strongly encouraged).

Selection Criteria:

Proposals will be reviewed by a faculty committee based on the following criteria:

  • Applicant's qualifications and research potential.
  • Clarity and focus of the chosen funding opportunity.
  • Quality of the draft Specific Aims page (if submitted).
  • Potential for successful grant application based on the research focus and funding opportunity alignment.

Timeline:

  • Application Deadline: May 1, 2025
  • Participant Notification: May 15, 2025
  • Summer Workshop Series: TBD

Benefits:

Participation in the Summer Research Challenge offers numerous advantages:

  • Develop expertise in crafting competitive grant proposals.
  • Receive targeted feedback and guidance on your specific research aims.
  • Gain valuable knowledge about navigating the grant application process.
  • Secure funding to support your research development activities.
  • Connect with experienced researchers and mentors.

Expected Outcomes:

Participation in the Summer Research Challenge has the following expectations:

  • Submit a competitive grant proposal with indirects (foundation or federal) to a relevant funding agency within 10 months of workshop completion.
    • To maximize the effectiveness of the Summer Research Challenge, participation in internal CHSP funding opportunities (including internal grants, awards, open access funds, etc.) will be unavailable for one year following program completion if a competitive grant proposal (foundation or federal) is not submitted to a relevant funding agency within 10 months.
  • Submit a report to the Associate Dean for Research on the use of the $1000 challenge funds.

Contact

For questions regarding this program, please contact the Associate Dean for Research; Janet Simon; simonj1@ohio.edu