1. SPARC: Support Program for Advancing Research and Collaboration BROWN BAG INFORMATION SESSION Thursday, September 12, 2013 Presented by: Dr. Margaret McLaughlin, Associate Dean for Research and Outreach Dr. Melanie Killen, Professor, HDQM

2.  Primary goal is to assist students with the costs associated with completing their dissertation research.  Also, intended to give students experience in preparing a grant proposal and learning about the process of grant review and funding.

3.  Doctoral student in good standing  Advanced to candidacy  Conducting research directly related to the dissertation

4.  Graduate Student Research Award Application ◦ A dissertation is an independent project in collaboration with the advisor ◦ Download ALL forms first and create a plan for the proposal; contact your advisor, talk to your budget person ◦ Submit as complete a proposal as feasible  Read the fine print! ◦ 3-5 page description  Research topic, questions, hypotheses  Design, methods, activities  Contributions and career goals

5. Required application materials  Application  Biosketch Template  Budget Narrative Template  Budget Template

6.  NIH format (shortened CV)  Geared for a faculty member; fill out what is relevant for you  Honors, awards; pack it in  Positions: Graduate student research assistantships, research positions  Publications: papers under review; in press  Conference papers  Proofread!

7.  List your reasonable expenditures and costs  Consider everything; talk to other students and your advisor  Unanticipated costs arise so think it through Travel to schools ◦ Reimbursement to schools ◦ Software licenses ◦ Audio recorders or video equipment ◦ Illustrator costs for stimuli ◦ Workshop participation

8.  Clearly stated problem  Methodology is robust and feasible  Research is related to dissertation project  Budget is reasonable and well justified  Connection to career goals in higher education and research

9.  All applications are screened prior to review to ensure each application is complete and all requirements have been met.  Three faculty members, representing each of the departments, independently review and evaluate all applications using a review form.

10.  Review committee meets and discusses each proposal and makes a final decision. ◦ OVERALL SCORE: 0 1 2 3 4 N/A ◦ proposal should be funded: ◦ Definitely ◦ Yes, but for a lesser amount $ ◦ Yes, if funds are still available after funding ◦ Yes, for this semester with minor revisions ◦ No, but encourage resubmission ◦ Not without major revision ◦ Definitely not

11.  Committee decision and feedback is provided to Dr. Margaret McLaughlin, who prepares the award letters  If revisions are required, students may resubmit and the resubmission is reviewed by Dr. McLaughlin and/or selected members of the review committee  Awardee process –grant award letter, funds will be distributed directly into student account

12.  Feedback is wonderful!  Take a deep breath and exhale  You learn from it and your research is enhanced by it  Work on the revisions in consultation with your advisor  You are launching your academic career  Good luck!

13.  Good luck and happy writing!  SPARC website http://education.umd.edu/ResearchInfo/ResourceOpportunites/ SPARC/index.html http://education.umd.edu/ResearchInfo/ResourceOpportunites/ SPARC/index.html