Introduction | Application Process | Evaluation Criteria

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Applications Due
Monday, March 30, 2009

Introduction

The Bureau of Educational Research has limited funds available, on a competitive basis, for Graduate Research Assistant Support for Summer 2009, Fall 2009, and Spring 2010. Up to three (3) awards will be made. Proposals for graduate hourly wages or percent time assistantships (maximum .25 FTE for one semester) are permitted*.

The purpose of the Graduate Research Assistant Support program is to increase faculty research capacity by enabling them to hire research assistants to help with specific new research projects. The program also seeks to provide graduate students with high quality research experiences. Highest priority will be given to those applications where other funding sources are not available (such as the Campus Research Board, Scholars Travel Fund, Faculty Fellows Program or external grants and contracts), and additional funding would not duplicate funding available from other sources. Joint applications for collaborative projects will be considered. In preparing and evaluating applications:

•       The primary focus should be on the importance of the project. This can be viewed in terms of the soundness of the proposed research, the magnitude of its potential contribution to the field, and in some cases, its importance for a particular faculty member. For example - it may be that at this time graduate student support would help a faculty person start, maintain or finish a particular project that otherwise would not be possible.

•       A secondary focus should be on the quality of the experiences for graduate students. Opportunities for co-authorship, gaining experience with a particular methodology, or participation in a study closely related to one’s dissertation or area of interest are all indicators of quality experiences. The graduate student’s duties should be clearly described along with potential benefits that may accrue.

•       As with all these competitions, student and faculty outcomes will be highly valued. Projects that seem reasonable in scope for the time that funding is given, those that have clearly delineated goals, outcomes, and responsibilities for the involved parties, and those with tangible products are desirable. All funded faculty will be asked to submit a 1-page final report within 30 days of the end of their funded period.

*You must contact the Office of Budget and Resource Planning, or your departmental Business Contact to confirm these rates.

Application Process

To apply applicants should submit a proposal that includes the following:

1. Applicant name, address, telephone number and e-mail.
2. Title of project.
3. Brief description of project (no more than 1000 words). The description should include major objectives and activities to be completed and a description of how a graduate research assistant will increase faculty’s capacity to carry out the project. Also include how the funds will impact faculty’s research capacity and the potential longer term impact of the project for the student, faculty, the field and proposed products or interim outcomes.
4. A detailed description of graduate student responsibilities and activities. 
5. Budget and justification.
6. Sources of past and future support. (List funds obtained or pending in support of the specific project proposed and funding obtained in general in support of similar projects/research stream. Describe the types of funding including the funder name, dates, amounts, project title and brief project description.)

Submit six hard copies of the proposal to Paige Spangler in the Bureau of Educational Research in 38 Education Building. The deadline for receipt of proposals is March 30, 2009.

Evaluation Criteria

In preparing and evaluating applications:

• The primary focus should be on the importance of the project. This can be viewed in terms of the soundness of the proposed research, the magnitude of its potential contribution of the field, and in some cases, its importance for a particular faculty member. For example - it may be that at this time graduate student support would help a faculty person start, maintain or finish a particular project that otherwise would not be possible.
• A second focus should be on the quality of the experiences for graduate students. Opportunities for co-authorship, gaining experience with a particular methodology, or participation in a study closely related to one’s dissertation or area of interest are all indicators of quality experiences. The grad student’s duties should be clearly described along with potential benefits that may accrue.
• As with all these competitions, student and faculty outcomes will be highly valued. Projects that seem reasonable in scope for the time that funding is given, those that have clearly delineated goals, outcomes, and responsibilities for involved parties, and those with tangible products are desirable. All funded faculty will be asked to submit a 1-page final report within 30 days of the end of their funded period.

The College Research Committee will review applications and awards will be made on or before April 30, 2009.