SGS Research Grant Proposal

SGS RESEARCH GRANT PROPOSAL

DENIS M MEDEIROS

DEAN, SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES

UMKC

RULES OF THE GAME

• Maximum request is $7500 to begin July 1, 2014

• Maximum length of proposal is 4 pages that include references, budget, and budget justification

• One extra page for tables and/or figures

• Pay attention to margin requirements (1 inch) and 12 point font.

• Submit as a pdf with cover page

COVER PAGE• Important that this be accurate.

• Don’t forget your title!

• Complete the required information such as anticipated graduation date and the name of your major adviser.

• Need your signature and that of your major adviser

• Complete information on previous degrees awarded

• List any academic honors, awards, or special recognitions received.

• Publications, Presentations, Creative/Artistic work

PROPOSAL OUTLINEI. Introduction

• Problem statement

• Goals and Objectives

• Significance of Research/Creative Activity

II. Background and Literature Review

III. Methods or Approach

IV. Plans for dissemination of results

V. Budget request

VI. Budget justification

VII. References

INTRODUCTION• This is where you entice the reader and sell them on your idea.

• Most important part of the entire proposal.

• Should be ½ to 1/3 of a page—keep it short but to the point!

• What is the issue you are researching as the problem statement.

• Proposals that have a theoretical basis do better.

• Problem addressed should be focused—common mistake is that new grant writers try to do too much

• State the goal of the current proposal. In this case, one goal may be enough.

• Significance can be thought of:

• What gaps in our knowledge about the issue will be closed OR

• How will doing the research move the field forward

• The significance should be the last part of the Introduction statement

BACKGROUND AND LITERATURE REVIEW

• Keep to about 1 page (can be longer if you are including tables and figures from others—remember to cite sources of other data used!).

• Give the reader a sense of what previous research has been conducted

• Challenge is to cite only the most salient references or studies

• Can use sub-headings

• Identify from the literature cited what information is missing that your proposal will address.

• Assert an optimistic tone and one of enthusiasm

METHODS OR APPROACH• Can use an outline form or subheadings

• Include a design statement if appropriate: Design is what will be done

• Can use a diagram to get an idea across

• Methods is how it will be done

• Give an introductory statement to communicate the logic of the project, subjects, samples, etc

• What will be done to accomplish the goal(s) of the proposal?

• Start with the statement “The design will be outlined first, followed by description of the methods to be used” if appropriate

• Can state what the rationale is for the design

• Next section should be a brief description of the methods used.

METHODS OR APPROACH (CONT’D)

• Methods can include issues such as the following

• Recruitment of subjects

• Type of animals used and what will be done

• Development of a questionnaire and determining its validity

• Statistics used to analyze data

• Timeline

DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS

• Publication

• Presentation

• Workshop

• Exhibit

• Does not have to be more than one to two sentences

BUDGET REQUEST

• Use a table subdivided into items such as• Personnel (stipend requested, hourly wages, etc)

• Materials to be purchased to conduct the research

• Travel either for collecting data or going to a meeting

• Contractual---may need to contract out an analysis of some type

• Publication cost if applicable

BUDGET JUSTIFICATION

• For each item listed in your budget, explain why you need the item requested and how you determined the amount!

• You don’t need to complete each category

• If you are requesting the full $7500 as a stipend, explain why you need it. Some on a GTA may want to go from a 0.5 to a 0.25 GTA and use the other dollars to support themselves so they can devote more time to their research.

• Others may not need this as a stipend but want to hire an undergraduate student to help them out.

• See directions on how to calculate hourly wages with fringe benefits included.

REFERENCES

• Are numerous ways of doing this

• Include at least• Author(s) name(s)

• Publication date

• Title of article and journal, book

• Volume and page numbers

Scoring Rubric for SGS Research Grant Proposal

Name of Student:

Title of Proposal:

Directions: Using the 5 point scale below rate each of the following elements of the proposal and the student

1= disagree strongly 2 = disagree 3= neither agree or disagree 4= agree 5=agree strongly

1. The goals or objectives are clearly stated and reasonable Score__________ X 2 = ___________

2. The methodology or approach is

very sound and appropriate Score__________ X 2 = ___________

3. The research is significant and will advance our knowledge Score__________ X 2 = ___________

4. The budget is appropriate and

well justified Score__________ X 2 = ___________

5. Grammar and organization are strong Score__________ X 1 = ___________

6. The adviser’s letter relates confidence that the student can complete the proposed study Score__________ X 1 = ___________

7. The student has an excellent academic Record Score__________ X 1 = ___________

8. The student has demonstrated a number

of honors, awards and other professional accomplishments. Score__________ X 1 = ___________

TOTAL POINTS ________________(60 Max)

Recommendation: ___ Definitely Fund ____ Do Not Fund ____Fund only if resources are available