Application Guidelines: Annual Awards

Research, Creative Work, Research Travel, Summer Stipend & Graduate Assistantships

 

A.      Sections of the Proposal

  • A project description highlighting the purposes of the project, the means and materials to be used in pursuing it and the applicant’s long-term research trajectory, including application for external funding.
  • All applications must include an itemized budget statement explaining how the award will be used. 
  • Abbreviated curriculum vitae (2 pages only)
  • Statement regarding Human Subjects Approval
  • Click here for Cover Page
  • Click here for Budget Sheet for Research Travel Awards.

Submit five collated, stapled copies of each proposal (an original plus four copies of your entire application), by 5:00 p.m., January 15, 2010, to ISLA, 101 O’Shaughnessey Hall.

Project Description:  The project description must not exceed four single-spaced or, preferably, eight double-spaced pages: minimum margins one inch top, bottom and sides, and minimum type size 12 point, maximum six lines per vertical inch. All pages should be numbered consecutively.  If you are applying for a project in the visual arts, music, theatre or film, you may include two examples of your previous work in the form of slides, photographs, audio, or videotapes.  Examples should be relevant to the project for which funds are being sought. 

The project description should include five main elements: an introduction, background information, the methods to be used, a schedule, and a bibliography.  It should constitute a concrete description—not an example—of what you plan to do; and specify an outcome such as a large grant proposal, an article or book chapter, or a work of art.  You should articulate how the project fits into your ongoing work, and specify the expected outcome of the project within the finite time period of the grant.  Keep in mind that faculty who are not specialists in your particular discipline will review your proposal; therefore, avoiding overly technical language will strengthen your proposal.  ISLA staff are willing to review draft proposals for clarity, content, and compliance with guidelines.  Contact the ISLA office for more specific information.

The following is the suggested outline for the project description:

  • Introduction:  state the objectives of the proposed work and its anticipated significance. Explicitly state the scholarly question to be investigated, the theoretical rationale, the hypothesis to be tested, or the creative endeavor to be undertaken.
  • Background:  provide a brief review of the work that has been done in the area of the project (be sure to include citations and/or footnotes.)  Leave no doubt about your work’s place in and importance to the current state of scholarship, in both your own field and generally.  Note any previous research that you have conducted, and show how this project fits into your own long-range research or teaching plans, including applications for external funding.
  • Methodology:  give a detailed description of the research methods, including statistical and estimation techniques, if any, or creative techniques, and the specific data or resources you plan to use.  Include examples of measures or interview questions, a book outline or prospectus, etc. as appropriate in an attached appendix. (Please label: Appendix.)
  • Schedule:  include specific dates for the initiation and completion of each phase of the project—including phases already completed and phases not supported by this Annual Award.
  • Bibliography:  include the publications cited within the project description.

Budget:  Be sure to include an itemized budget with a justification for the proposed expenses.

Abbreviated Curriculum Vitae (2 pages only):  Include the following information: education, employment history, a list of those publications most relevant to your project, and a list of any Notre Dame internal funding previously awarded to you.

Statement regarding Human Subjects Approval (where applicable): University Human Subjects Approval must be given before ISLA award money is released to the recipient.  At the proposal stage, a statement regarding when a Human Subjects protocol will be submitted to the University should be included.  At the time of award, the recipient will need to have obtained Human Subjects Approval or have submitted a protocol to the University for review.  Guidelines for submitting Human Subjects protocols to the University can be found at the following website: http://www.nd.edu/~research/Training/humans.html.

B. Review Criteria; these issues should be explicitly addressed within the project description and budget justification:

Intellectual Merit:  How important is the proposed activity to furthering knowledge and understanding within its field and possibly across different fields?  Does the proposed activity fit into the faculty member’s long-range program of research?  Does the project explore and/or suggest creative and original ideas?  How well is the idea conceived and organized?

Impact:  What are the possible benefits of the proposed activity?  How will the results be disseminated?  To what extent will the activity promote research, teaching, and learning? Will this project be able to attract funds from external sources?

Methods:  Does the proposed activity use sound methodology to produce effective results? Is the data collection adequate? Are the methodological details (data collection schedules, timelines, interviews, questionnaires, archival research methodology, thorough and clear)?

Schedule:  Is the work plan well thought out?  Can the proposed activity be completed within the specified time frame?

Need:  If the faculty member has a research account, identify level of support and funds remaining in account.

For more information, contact: the Director of ISLA at 631-7531.