Research Enrichment and Dissemination(READ)
 Small Grants Program Guidelines
2009-10

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Research Enrichment and Dissemination (READ) program is to:

• encourage interdisciplinary aging research and collaboration
• to assist junior faculty and graduate students (pre- and post-doc) to develop an interest in aging and to begin their research agendas
• in addition to research proposals, encourage junior and senior faculty to develop innovative and creative online or classroom interdisciplinary courses on aging
• this year priority will be given to interdisciplinary intervention research proposals designed to improve health service systems and/or the quality of life of older people

GRANTS AWARDED

Three types of grants will be awarded each year; the period of each award will be two years:

• up to six  $8,000 interdisciplinary intervention research grants
• up to two  $4,000 interdisciplinary course development grants
• up to four $2,000 interdisciplinary graduate student grants per year

ELIGIBILITY

1. Academic appointment at the level of Assistant Professor and above (including emeritus faculty)
2. Pre-doc and post-doc graduate students

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

There will be one submission deadline each year: April 15
             

CRITERIA

$8,000 Research Grants

Major criteria to consider in submitting proposals:

• include participation of two or more disciplines; three or more is encouraged
• results must be submitted for publication and for presentation at a national conference on aging
• research should demonstrate:
  • an intervention or interventions to improve health service systems and/or the quality of life of older people
  • appropriate methodological approach and principles that match the research question (including an IRB application if applicable)
  • synergies/benefits of combining two or more disciplines
  • feasibility of the work, budget plan, and capacity to do the project

$4,000 Course Development Grants

Major criteria to consider in submitting proposals:

• include participation of two or more disciplines; three or more is encouraged
• online capability is encouraged
• course syllabus should include:
  • title of course
  • significance as a relevant and important course in gerontology
  • instructors participating in course (biographical information)
  • anticipated semesters, or enrollment periods
  • library and other resources for student use and accessibility
  • assignments, projects
  • evaluation methods – testing, papers, projects, etc.

$2,000 Graduate Student Grants

Major criteria to consider in submitting proposals:

• include participation of two or more disciplines; three or more is encouraged
• results must be submitted for publication and for presentation at a regional or national conference on aging
• work should demonstrate:
  • significance as a relevant and important topic in gerontology
  • value to the development of your professional career
  • how the work ties into other projects, class work, and/or research

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

All applications must use 12-point font and be single-spaced with one inch margins.  Two copies – one electronic and one hard copy – must be submitted.  The hard copy should include signed letters of support.  Using the format outlined below, send copies to:

              Electronic version:

              oliverd@missouri.edu

              (Assistant Director, MU Interdisciplinary Center on Aging)

              Hard copy version:

              MU Interdisciplinary Center on Aging

              Campus Mail:  DC033.00

              Attention:  David B. Oliver, PhD

              Phone:  573-882-4098

REQUIRED FORMAT

The following format must be used or the application will be returned:

• Cover and abstract pages (include the name and contact information for the finance person and department of the PI who will be the “point person” accountable for expenditures)

• Detailed Plan of Project (Maximum 5 pages)
  • Overall goals and objectives or specific aims
  • Anticipated start and end dates of the project
  • Relevant background and literature/syllabus for course proposals
  • Significance of the project/or of the course being developed
  • Methods and procedures/evaluation of performance for course proposals
  • Citations/required reading, assignments, etc. for course proposals

• Biographical Sketch/Curriculum Vitae (Maximum 2 pages per faculty person or graduate student listed in the proposal)

           Include:

                Education – institutions, degrees, dates

                Employment History – include research and/or professional
                experience
                List of Grants or Fellowships – grantors, dates, and awards

                Relevant publications – titles, all authors, journals, dates

                Courses Taught (for persons submitting course development
                proposals)

• Itemized Budget (Maximum 2 pages)

          Applicants can request up to the amount of the award for which the proposal is being submitted: allowable expenses are described below:

1. Personnel.  Faculty summer salary is allowable; graduate student participation as research assistants will be allowed, and usual routine laboratory and field work, data entry, and computer programming will be allowed
2. Equipment.  Applicant should establish that such equipment is not reasonably available for the proposed project  elsewhere and is critical to completion of the project
3. Computing.  Request for computers will not be allowed
4. Travel.  Foreign and domestic travel is allowable at the lowest round-trip fare; lodging and meal expense is allowable
5. Other.  Consumable supplies, permission fees, publication and copying costs, participant fees, and animal use costs are allowable

• Appendix (Maximum 2 pages, use only if relevant)

REVIEWERS

Every proposal will be peer-reviewed by a panel of interdisciplinary faculty members who have demonstrated success in aging-related research funding.  A period of up to six weeks should be expected between the time of submission and the announcement of an award.

UNUSED FUNDS

At the end of the project period, all funds will revert to the MU Interdisciplinary Center on Aging unless an extension is granted.

Questions should be sent by e-mail to oliverd@missouri.edu.