College of Public Health Student Research Scholarship Application Guidelines for the 2009-2010 Academic Year

Purpose of the COPH Student Research Scholarship

The purpose of this research scholarship is to provide funding for degree-seeking COPH students to carry out research for their special project/thesis or dissertation, by defraying some of the costs associated with their research. The scholarship funds may be used to cover expenses that are reasonable and directly related to the student's research (e.g. data collection, travel for data collection, phone calls, survey printing & mailing, on line survey fees, purchase of software packages, special laboratory supplies). Funds may not be used for: salary; travel to professional meetings; or consulting fees.  

Annual Deadline:  The annual deadline for application occurs in January of each year. Deadline for the 2009-2010 academic year:  Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 6:00 pm.

Award Amount:
This award will provide a maximum of $500 for master's level special projects/theses, and a maximum of $1,000 for doctoral dissertation research studies.  Note: For students whose project will involve data collection (e.g. administration of a survey), apply prior to collecting your data. For students whose research will involve secondary data analysis, apply prior to conducting the data analysis.

Award Administration:
The COPH Student Research Scholarship is administered as a competitive internal award within the COPH. Students' proposals are reviewed by a team of faculty and staff with representation from each department.   Students applying for the COPH Student Research Scholarship are advised to prepare a well-written grant proposal, according to the guidelines in this web site and the downloadable application form.

For Assistance:
Students may also feel free to contact Ellen Kent, MPH, Coordinator, Student Research Grants, at ekent@health.usf.edu  (813) 974-6622 if they have specific questions regarding the application.   In addition, students may stop by the COPH Student Research & Service Resource Center adjacent to Mrs. Kent’s office (room 2150H at the COPH) to see examples of funded Student Research Scholarship applications and final reports. (Examples are anonymous, with no personal identifiers.)

Eligibility:

This research scholarship is designed for degree-seeking COPH students who lack other funding/grant support through the University, an outside employer or an external (outside USF) agency to pay for their research expenditures. Please remember that only degree-seeking COPH students who have completed all academic requirements for initiating their special project, thesis or dissertation may apply for the COPH Student Research Scholarship. Students must be registered for their special project, thesis or dissertation for the semester(s) during which they propose conducting their research. Eligible students include:

• A COPH masters or doctoral student working as a USF graduate assistant, but on a project that is NOT directly related to his/her masters or doctoral level research project, and the supervising professor can not cover the student’s research costs;
• A COPH masters or doctoral student who is working as an intern or in a formal job outside of the college, and his/her research project is actually related to the internship/job, but the sponsoring employer can not pay for the costs of the student's research study/project;
• A full-time or part-time student who is not employed, and whose professor is not able to provide funds for the student’s research project;   
• A student in the public health practice program whose employer is unable to cover the costs of the special project.

‘Certifications’ required PRIOR to submitting your application:
Plan ahead! You must complete and be able to provide a copy of your certification with your application for:

• Certification in Human Subjects Training (Also known as IRB training)
• Live Vertebrate training (if applicable)
• Biohazard training (if applicable)

Helpful Hints:

• Students should adhere to the page and formatting limitations provided in the application form.
• Students are advised to ask others to review their proposal (e.g. an academic or research advisor, or another student.  Be sure to allow enough time to accommodate these reviews.)
• This is a highly competitive process. Neatness and spelling are very important.
• Revisions or additions will NOT be accepted after the due date.
• Make sure all attachments are included.
• Failure to disclose complete and accurate information may result in loss of the SRS award.
• Signature form must be complete and delivered with the hard copies.
• Questions? Feel free to contact Ellen Kent, MPH, Coordinator, Student Research Grants at ekent@health.usf.edu , 813-974-6622, or room 2150H at the COPH, and she will be happy to help you!

The Application and Review Process:

Step 1:  Students should submit their applications in MS Word format, as an email attachment to Ellen Kent at ekent@health.usf.edu and one hard copy to Ms. Kent in room 2150H of the COPH.  Submission details can be found later in this document.

Step 2:  Ellen Kent will forward copies of the applications to the COPH Student Research Scholarship Review Committee members so they can independently review the applications prior to a group meeting.

Step 3:  The committee will meet and discuss their decisions regarding which applications merit funding, based upon the following NIH criteria (Students should review these criteria very carefully):
(1)   Significance:  Does this study address an important public health problem?
(2)   Approach:  Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well-integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the project?
(3)   Innovation:  Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches or methods? Are the aims truly original and innovative?  
(4)   Investigator:  Is the investigator appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work?
(5)   Environment:  Does the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success?
(6)   Application:  Is the application well-prepared, neat and complete?  Is it easy for the reader to understand?

Step 4: Each student will be notified via e-mail by Ellen Kent regarding the committee’s decision to fund or not fund his/her SRS application.   Applicants who receive notification of the Research Scholarship Award must provide written documentation that their IRB, Vertebrate, or Biohazard applications have  indeed been granted by the university, prior to receiving their actual monetary student research scholarship award. The research scholarship awards will be issued as checks from the University of South Florida Office of Financial Aid, payable to the individual students, at the address listed on the student's OASIS account. If awardees are financial aid recipients, cash awards can only be distributed based upon their "unmet needs." As the award is distributed through the University’s financial system, if there are any pending charges on an individual’s student account, the award will first be used to cover those charges, with any remaining funds distributed to the student as allowed by their unmet need.

Step 5: Reporting:
Students will be expected to submit:
(1) A progress report by Sept. 30th (analogous to an annual report for a federal, state, or privately funded grant).
(2) A final, typed research report upon completion of the research project and prior to graduation.   Students may also include 1-2 sentences regarding their impressions of the Student Research Scholarship and offer constructive suggestions for enhancing the application process.   
 Note:  If the project is completed and the final report submitted by, or prior to, the due date of the Sept. 30 progress report, no further reporting will be required.

Application Guidelines:
This application form is modeled after both the PHS 398 grant application, which is used for many federal public health grants. The COPH Student Research Committee has substantially shortened and adapted it as a means of introducing students to the process of completing a formal grant application. Students should complete all items within the application and follow the directions carefully. Students may contact Ellen Kent, MPH, at (813) 974-6622, or their advisor, if they have questions. Please carefully read the entire application before asking questions.  Below are:

• The Application Form in a downloadable Word Document
• Instructions for submission and delivery of the application  
• A Helpful Checklist
• FAQs or "Frequently Asked Questions"

Click here to download the application form. It is designed to allow you to type in your responses.  

Delivery of the Application:

• Deliver one hard copy with appendices to the attention of - Ellen Kent, MPH, Coordinator, Student Research Grants, in room 2150H at the COPH.  Place your application and all appendices into a manila clasp envelope and label: SRS application for "Your Name." If you need to mail it, please send it to: Ellen Kent, MPH, USF College of Public Health  13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 56  Tampa, FL 33612   

• Email a copy of the application to ekent@health.usf.edu. Name your file as follows: Yourlastname-SRS. If possible, please try to combine all information into one file.  Students can expect an email acknowledgement from Ellen Kent within about 2-3 day's time.

Checklist:

Following is a checklist which the review committee will use in reviewing each application. You do not have to submit this with the application; it is to assist you in submitting a complete application packet.

• Application submission instructions were correctly followed
• Cover page complete
• All signatures are in place
• Project summary, abstract, anticipated benefits and key words are completed
• Budget page
• Biosketch, according to the NIH guidelines; see  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/biosketchsample.doc
• Research plan
• The student has completed all required final reports for prior SRS and SHARP awards which he/she has received from the COPH.

Frequently Asked Questions:

(1) I am working as a graduate assistant at the College of Public Health for a professor, and my special project is related to my research under the guidance of this professor.  I can make phone calls, copies, etc., conduct research under the professor's grant. Can I still apply for this special research scholarship?
NO - because the basic costs of your research, for which this research scholarship is designated, are already covered under your professor's grant budget.  This scholarship is intended for those students who lack other sources of funding for their research. Student Research Scholarship Funds - may  NOT be used to cover expenses for a faculty member's grant-supported project.

(2) Who actually receives the funds for this research scholarship award?
THE STUDENT - This award is given to the student applicant, only. The research scholarship award is intended for that student to use only for his or her specific research expenditures.

(3) What if I received this research scholarship last year? May I apply again this year for a new research scholarship award if I am still working on the same research project from last year?
NO- Each research scholarship award is intended for students to complete a specific research project. The funds for each research scholarship that are awarded to a student are to be designated towards one specific research project, even if the project extends over two academic years.  If the student is still working on the same project, additional funds would not be warranted.

(4) If I have completed the project and submitted a report for a Student Research Scholarship Award which I received as a COPH student while earning my MPH or MSPH degree (e.g. in the past 2-3 years), am I eligible to apply for the Student Research Scholarship again as a doctoral student in 2009-2010?
YES, providing that:
(1) You have submitted a complete report of your first research project;
(2) Your research project for 2009-2010 is different from your previous project, and you clearly justify these differences in the "Specific Aims" and the "Research Design and Methods" section of your current application.

In Conclusion:

If students still have additional questions after carefully reviewing these guidelines and the downloadable application form  they are welcome to contact Ellen Kent, MPH (Coordinator, Student Research Grants), by email: ekent@health.usf.edu  or phone: 813-974-6622 or stop by her office in 2150H!