All Grant Applications must be submitted through the ScholarOne application system. Once logged in to the system you will be required to provide the following information.
Requirements for all grants:
- Current AUGS Member Number
- NIH-Style Biosketch (5-page maximum): Include a biographical sketch of the applicant and lead mentor, and if appropriate co-mentor(s) and/or co-investigator(s). See Biographical Sketch Sample for format (this includes a brief Personal Statement) and instructions, at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/biosketch.htm
- Abstract (200 words): A description of the proposed project
- Candidate Information (up to 1 page, see formatting instructions under Research Plan. View examples.): Applicants should demonstrate their commitment to an academic career, and describe how the proposed research project will help them develop into an independent researcher.
- Candidate's Background: describe past accomplishments and experiences relevant to the career development plan (do not need to duplicate detailed information included in the Biosketch)
- Career Goals and Objectives: Including short-term and long-term goals
- Career Development Plan: Explain how past, current and planned activities, including the proposed research, will help ensure career progression to achieve independence as an investigator
- Research Plan (up to 6 pages, excluding the references): A sound research project that is consistent with the candidate’s level of research development and objectives of his/her career development plan should be provided. The research description should demonstrate significance, creativity and approach, as well as the ability of the candidate to carry out the research. Elements of the plan should include:
- Specific aims: Including hypotheses
- Research Strategy: Organize into the following sections:
- Significance: Explain the importance of the problem or critical barrier to progress in the field that the proposed project addresses; Explain how the proposed project will improve scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice; Describe how the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field will be changed if the proposed aims are achieved.
- Innovation: Explain how the application challenges current research or clinical practice paradigms; Describe any novel concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation or interventions to be developed or used, and any advantage over existing methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions.
- Approach: Describe the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the project. Discuss potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success anticipated to achieve the aims.
- If multiple Specific Aims, the applicant may address Significance, Innovation and Approach for each Specific Aim individually, or may address Significance, Innovation and Approach for all of the Specific Aims collectively.
- Include a time table and plan for completing project within the established timeframe
- Applicants whose tenure at a given institution may be shorter than the grant horizon (e.g. Fellows in the 2nd year of a 3 year fellowship), must clearly describe the plan for managing all the elements of the research plan, including how they will manage day-to-day study activity, how results will be collected, analyzed, and shared.
- Arial 11 font and ½ inch margins should be used
- Environment: A description (1 page maximum) of departmental/institutional environment and resources available to the candidate and appropriate to the research, including an account of available space and equipment and a list of key personnel (e.g. Applicant, Mentor, co-investigators, research assistants, research coordinators, consultants). The description should illustrate how the institutional research environment is particularly suited for the development of the candidate's research career and the pursuit of the proposed research plan and/or the candidate's research career.
- Budget: Provide a budget detailing how the grant funds will be used to support the planned project. Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research. Budgets may be adjusted by the Grant Review Committee. Awardees may apply for $5,000 up to $20,000 for one or two-year grants based on the Grant Review Committee’s assessment of the proposed budget. Award monies may be used toward: purchases of equipment and supplies, laboratory tests, technician/research assistant salaries, Institutional Review Board (IRB) costs, and/or statistical support or other administrative support for the research. Up to $1,500 of the total award may be used for travel purposes to attend an AUGS Annual Meeting during the award period. Budget items NOT allowed:
- Indirect costs to the institution.
- Investigator or mentor salary support
- Other applicant travel related to research
- Mentor's Letter of Support: A statement from the mentor should be provided, and may include his/her qualifications in the research area proposed by the candidate, previous experience as a research supervisor, a description of the nature and extent of supervision that will occur during the proposed award period, and how the mentor will support the candidate’s plan for career progression to move from the mentored stage of his/her career to independent research investigator status. The letter must also describe the nature and extent of the applicant’s contribution to the Research Plan; this description will have significant weight upon scoring of the application.
- Additional Letters of Support: 1 to 2 additional letters may be included from individuals familiar with the applicant’s research activities. One letter must be included from the applicant’s Chairperson or other supervisor, which demonstrates institutional commitment to the candidate, their proposed research and career development plan. Additional letters may be submitted from co-investigators or co-mentors. Letters may address issues of space and effort commitment and a rationale as to why the individual is worthy of the award.
IRB approval is only requested from grant awardees "just in time". Candidates can submit without IRB approval. However, if a candidate is awarded a grant, an IRB approval number must be forwarded prior to receipt of funding. Therefore, candidates are encouraged to apply and obtain IRB approval in advance in order to avoid any delays if funding is awarded.
Submit an Application