Dean’s Small Grant Award

 

The small grants program at the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing at UMass Chan Medical School was originally established by the Research Advisory Committee (GSN S-REPP), now referred to as S-REPP (Scholarship-Research, Education, Practice, Policy), to support faculty pilot work that has the potential to (1) lead to future funding and (2) jump-start an emerging program of research or scholarship project. One $5,000 award is available. All faculty (who are voting members of the GSN faculty assembly) are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to faculty who have a history of limited research or scholarship funding. A review committee will be appointed by the Dean to determine the merit of the proposal. Please discuss your plans for submission with the Associate Dean of Research & Innovation. A mock review should be completed before the final application is submitted. There is a rolling deadline for submission. The funds will be made available prior to the next fiscal year.

Proposal Guidelines:  

The proposal should be no more than 5 pages (single-spaced 12 pt font, 1 inch margins on all sides) in length including Tables and Figures.

The proposal should contain the following:

1. Title Page
2. Abstract (150-word maximum) (not included in the 5-page limit)
3. Background Significance

A concise review of the literature focusing on the need for the proposed work and the importance of the work for advancing the field in this area.

1. Specific Aims
2. Methods (including timeline)
3. Human Subjects Considerations (brief overview)
4. Budget and Budget Justification (not included in 5-page limit, please see below)
5. References (not included in the 5-page limit)
6. Copies of instruments/questionnaires may be included in an Appendix
7. Biosketch using NIH updated form (make sure to indicate any present or past funding)

A brief cover letter should accompany the proposal. This letter should address how your project will meet the goals of the small grant program (lead to future funding and jump-start your program of research). Please put your name on the title page only (do not put your name or any identifying information in the body of the proposal).  Anyone receiving funds from the small grant award commits to submitting a final report to S-REPP, presenting the results at a GSN SIIG and submitting a manuscript for publication to a peer-reviewed journal. Please submit your proposal by email to: terese.aronowitz@umassmed.edu.

Budget Narrative.  The narrative is a description that includes a justification for all itemized expenses including personnel.  Each section of the narrative should: (1) list the specific items or project personnel noted below, (2) describe why the items or personnel are essential to the conduct of the study, and (3) include any cost calculations. 

Budget and Budget Justification:

Please note that budget justification excludes support for salary and wages for the recipient.

The budget will be monitored by the GSN S-REPP administrative assistant with written updates reported semi-annually to the chair of S-REEP.

Sample of budget items for consideration:

• Administrative or research assistant (RA) support: Please provide the following information: 1) name of staff member or RA occupying the position, if available; 2) % time devoted to project; 3) percentage of time budgeted for this program; 4) total months of salary budgeted; and 5) total salary requested.

Please note:

Written approval must be obtained from the administrative assistant’s supervisor for any personnel employed in the GSN prior to establishing a written agreement for services and must be obtained annually in order to reestablish the written agreement.

• Consultant fee: Hiring an individual to give professional or expertise for grant purposes.

Please note type of consultant, how many hours, nature of services to be rendered, relevance to the study purpose, and specific tasks and deliverables.

• Equipment: All budget requests should individually list each item requested and provide the following information: 1) number needed; 2) unit cost of each item; and 3) total amount requested. Also, provide a justification for the use of each item and relate it to specific study objectives.
• Supplies: Individually list each item requested and provide the following information: 1) specify the type of item, as appropriate; 2) number needed; 3) unit cost of each item; and 4) total amount requested. Examples include: photocopying, telephone, postage, computer time, paper, envelopes, transcription devices, etc.
• Travel: Only reasonable travel for data collection will be considered. Specify the purpose, personnel involved, distance, number of trips, mode of travel, and cost of travel.  Travel for conference attendance or presentations will not be considered.
• Software: Request software only if the institution does not provide it. Software purchases will be considered if the unit price reflects the current discounted or retail rate.
• Other: Examples: lab fees, standardized testing, or reimbursement of study participants. Honorarium support request should be in line with IRB institution policy. Transcription services for numbers of hours. Publication fees are not allowed for budget consideration.