Research Project Grants
Eligibility, Terms, and Application Information
The Research Committee solicits and reviews candidates for research project grant support in order to promote and stimulate excellence in the field of health science librarianship and the information sciences. Grants may be used to support all or part of the costs of a study, up to a maximum of $1000. SC/MLA may award more than one grant in a year for a maximum of $1000 in any one year. Each grant has up to two years to be completed.
Eligibility:
- Preference is given to applicants who are practicing health sciences librarians with at least two years of professional experience.
- The applicant must be a current member of SC/MLA.
Terms:
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The scope and nature of the proposed project should give evidence of an established methodology and a viable research design.
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The proposal should contain title, goals, objectives, methodology, significance, and budget of project; vital and special qualifications of the researcher; evidence of knowledge of the state of the art and existing published literature on the proposed research topic; and a description of the proposed means of disseminating the results.
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The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications:
- Regarding the Proposed Project: originality, importance to the profession, soundness of experimental design and detail, and feasibility of scope.
- Regarding the Applicant: education and training, experience, research competence, research potential, and previous productivity. The name of at least one professional reference must be provided from a person capable of providing an evaluation of the applicant’s knowledge of the topic and an assessment of the applicant’s research skills.
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Grants will not be given to support an activity that is operational in nature or has only local usefulness.
- The award will be disbursed in one payment, at the chapter’s annual fall meeting.
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Quarterly reports to the Research Committee are required (e.g., by February 1, May 1, August 1, October 1). These reports should document completed project activities, list expenses to date, and provide a list of activities planned for the next quarters. A final report to the Research Committee is due documenting the year’s work on the funded project. The report should include complete financial accounting, as well as interim or final project results.
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At the conclusion of the project, a summary report must be submitted for publication to Southern Expressions, the newsletter of SC/MLA. Recognition of the Southern Chapter's support must be given in any publications originating from this project.
- Applications will be acknowledged upon receipt.
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Depending on the review of the received applications, the Committee may recommend that awards not be presented in a given year.
Application Information:
The SC/MLA Research Project Grants are awarded at the Annual Meeting. Before submitting a full application for a research grant, applicants must submit, by May 15th, a letter of intent. By June 15, if the letter of intent is accepted, applicants will be assigned a volunteer research mentor and invited to submit a full proposal. The full proposal is due by August 1.
Research Proposal Instructions:
Please prepare your research proposal according to the following outline:
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Cover Sheet:
- Title of proposed research project; and
- Name, institutional affiliation, position, mailing address, phone, and email address for each person associated with the project.
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Project Description:
- Provide a brief description of the research project;
- Describe the major concepts and goals and the significance of the proposed study - include a review of the published literature on the research topic;
- Describe the proposed research methodology and study population - enclose a copy of any proposed research instrument; and
- Provide a timeline (up to two years) for the project that specifies the major stages of the project, their anticipated completion dates, and members of the research team responsible for each.
- Describe the plan for disseminating research results, which must include a summary report for publication in Southern Expressions, the newsletter of SC/MLA.
- Indicate institutional support to be provided by the researcher's home institution or other agencies.
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Budget:
- Submit a detailed budget providing a breakdown for all the anticipated costs; and
- Provide a narrative justification for each budget item.
Reporting Requirements:
Quarterly reports to the Research Committee are required (e.g., by February 1, May 1, August 1, October 1). These reports should document completed project activities, list expenses to date, and provide a list of activities planned for the next quarters. A final report to the Research Committee is due documenting the year’s work on the funded project. The report should include complete financial accounting, as well as interim or final project results.
Checklist of Enclosures:
- Cover sheet
- Research Project Proposal
- Budget
- Brief narrative describing the research qualifications and experience of each person associated with the research project
- Curriculum vita for each investigator
- Name and contact information of one professional reference capable of providing an evaluation of the primary researcher's knowledge of the topic and an assessment of the applicant's research skills.
- Survey or other research instrument example (if included in research design)
By August 1, submit completed application packet to the Research Committee Chair.
DONATE: Donate to the Research Grant fund.