DNA Day 2009 April 25, 2009 National DNA Day commemorates the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003 and the discovery of the double helix of DNA in 1953. Each year ASHG and its partners organize a variety of events that help K-12 students, teachers, and the public learn more about how genetics and genomics affect their lives. 4th Annual National DNA Day Essay Contest Deadline: March 16, 2009 The contest aims to challenge students to examine, question, and reflect on the important concepts of genetics. Essays are expected to contain substantive, well-reasoned arguments indicative of a depth of understanding of the concepts related to the essay questions. Only 9th - 12th grade students are eligible this year. All essays must be received by March 16, 2009 by 5:00 pm EST. All submissions must be electronic. Please review the rules before submitting the essays. 2009 Essay Questions Some traits come in two varieties (for example, Mendel’s round and wrinkled peas with the green and yellow colors). Do all traits for all species come in only two varieties? Justify your answer by explaining the relationship between genes and traits. What is (are) the cause(s) of human health and disease? Explain your answer using one or more specific examples. Essays will be read and scored by at least two independent judges. A 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner will be chosen for each question. 1st Place Winner: $400 + teacher receives a $2,000 grant for laboratory genetics equipment. 2nd Place Winner: $250 3rd Place Winner: $150 The American Society of Human Genetics 9650 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20814 1-866-HUM-GENE | 301-634-7300 society@ashg.org
Deafness Research Foundation Centurion Clinical Research Award Grant
Open to those holding MD, PhD, or equivalent degrees and a faculty or post-doctoral appointment in the U.S to support clinical research projects in hearing and balance science including diagnosis, epidemiology, clinical pathophysiology, and treatment. One year, non-renewable. $50,000 maximum. One available annually.
The purpose of this award is to support clinical research projects in hearing and balance scienceClinical research involves human participants and may be directed toward diagnosis, epidemiology,genetics, clinical pathophysiology, and treatment.ELIGIBILITYCandidates for this award should hold the M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degrees as well as a faculty or postdoctoralappointment and demonstrate experience and strong research training as well as sufficientinstitutional support (facilities, time, and mentorship) to carry out the proposed work. Ideal candidateshould be is in their first 5 years after completion of formal training. A faculty mentor should be identifiedand a letter of support and availability should be included in the application. Previous DRF or AAO-HNSFoundation research grant recipients are eligible to compete for this grant. However, candidates whohave successfully obtained funding from a private or federal funding agency for the same research areineligible. Candidates who have applied for support of the same research from other funding sources, andwho are notified of an award from both another agency and from AHRF must choose only one of theawards.CONDITIONSResearch supported by this award should be specifically directed toward the clinical identification,diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of diseases, disorders, or conditions of the ear. While not specificallyrequired, proposals which aim to introduce new knowledge and methodology from other disciplines toresearch in otology or neurotology, or which demonstrate collaborative effort with members of otherrelated disciplines are encouraged. Projects must be designed to yield useful information within the periodof award, but priority will be given to projects that are also innovative with promise to develop into newlong-range or expanded research programs capable of attracting funding from other sources.The grant application must be accompanied by letters of support from the Chair of the candidate’sacademic department. These letters are to indicate a general level of support of the applicant, and todemonstrate the fact that the department will make time, space, and other resources accessible forcompletion of the project. Applicants must obtain letters of support/understanding from all key personnelon the project.TERMS1. Amount: $50,000 maximum2. Period: 12 months, non-renewable
All applicants must submit a Letter of Intent online no later than midnight Eastern Standard TimeDecember 15. The letter of intent includes the title of the project, the principal investigator, and anabstract of the work. This will facilitate planning review requirements.
Library Resident Research FellowshipScopeThe American Philosophical Society Library offers short-term residential fellowships for conducting research in its collections. We are a leading international center for research in the history of American science and technology and its European roots, as well as early American history and culture.The Library houses over 8 million manuscript items, 250,000 volumes of printed materials, and thousands of maps and prints. Collections are renowned for their depth and interdisciplinary strengths in diverse fields, including Early American History and Culture to 1840 • Atlantic History • Intellectual History • Travel, Exploration and Expeditions • History of Science, Technology and Medicine • History of Biochemistry, Physiology and Biophysics including 20th-Century Medical Research • History of Eugenics and Genetics • History of Physics, especially Quantum Physics • History of Natural History in the 18th and 19th Centuries • Anthropology, particularly Native American History, Culture and Languages • Caribbean and Slavery Studies. The Library does not hold materials on philosophy in the modern sense.Comprehensive, searchable guides and finding aids to our collections are available online at www.amphilsoc.org/library (see the drop-downs under “Library” \ “Catalogs and Guides”)EligibilityThe fellowships, funded by generous benefactors, are open to both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals. Applicants may be: * Holders of the Ph.D. or its equivalent * Ph.D. candidates who have passed their preliminary examinations * Independent scholarsApplicants in any relevant field of scholarship may apply. Candidates who live 75 or more miles from Philadelphia receive some preference.AwardA stipend of $2,000 per month is awarded for a minimum of one month and a maximum of three months. The duration of award is requested by the candidate, but the final decision is made by the Fellowship Committee.Fellowships may be taken any time beginning 1 June 2009 and must be completed by 31 May 2010. Fellows are required to be in residence at the Library for four to twelve consecutive weeks, depending upon the length of the award.Awards are taxable income, but the Society is not required to report payments. It is understood that recipients will discuss their reporting obligations with their tax advisors.Deadline and NotificationApplications are due no later than 1 March 2009 (receipt deadline). This is a receipt deadline. Applicants will be informed whether all materials were received. Notifications are sent by letter via conventional mail usually in late April or early May.How to ApplyMaintain the specified page format. Type all information; use nothing smaller than 11pt. Respond to every section, and in the space provided. Completed applications include: 1. the cover sheet, 2. the project statement, 3. applicant's curriculum vitae, and 4. two letters of support ON OUR FORM, which may be submitted electronically or forwarded with the proposal in sealed envelopes. Alert your referees that letters MUST follow our format. If the applicant is a graduate student, one of the letters must be from the dissertation supervisor. Application and both letters must be received by the deadline.Completed applications may be submitted as e-mail attachments to: Libfellows@amphilsoc.org
Address Library Resident Research Fellowships American Philosophical Society Library 105 South Fifth Street Philadelphia, PA 19106-3386 Phone: (215) 440.3443 Fax: (215) 440.3423
The 2009 AFAR Research Grants The Program The major goal of this program is to assist in the development of the careers of junior investigators committed to pursuing careers in the field of aging research. AFAR supports research projects concerned with understanding the basic mechanisms of aging. Projects investigating age-related diseases are also supported, especially if approached from the point of view of how basic aging processes may lead to these outcomes. Projects concerning mechanisms underlying common geriatric functional disorders are also encouraged, as long as these include connections to fundamental problems in the biology of aging. Projects that deal strictly with clinical problems such as the diagnosis and treatment of disease, health outcomes, or the social context of aging are not eligible. Examples of promising areas of research include: Aging and immune function Genetic Control of longevity Neurobiology and neuropathology of aging* Invertebrate or vertebrate animal models Cardiovascular aging Aging and cellular stress resistance Metabolic and endocrine changes Age-related changes in cell proliferation Caloric restriction and aging DNA repair and control of gene expression Biology of the menopause Aging and apoptosis Biodemographic analysis of aging Comparative gerontology Evolutionary biological aspects of the biology of aging *Applicants proposing a project in Alzheimer's Disease research, should apply for the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation/AFAR New Investigator Awards in Alzheimer's Disease. (This program is currently under review for renewal in 2009.) It is anticipated that approximately 15 grants of up to $75,000 each will be awarded in 2009. Applicants may propose to use the award over the course of one or two years as justified by the proposed research. Funds may not be requested for overhead or indirect costs. Funding will begin July 1, 2009. Recipients of this award are expected to attend the AFAR Grantee Conference. The purpose of the meeting is to promote scientific and personal exchanges among recent AFAR grantees and experts in aging research. Eligibility The applicant must be an independent investigator with assigned independent space and must be within the first four years of a junior faculty appointment (instructor, assistant professor or equivalent) by July 1, 2009. The AFAR Research Grant Program does not provide support for: Postdoctoral fellows in the laboratory of a senior investigator Investigators who have already received major extramural funding for research on aging (such as an R01 grant) Senior faculty, i.e. at the rank of Associate Professor level or higher Former AFAR Research Grant recipients NIH Intramural program employees Applicants for the 2009 Glenn/AFAR Breakthrough in Gerontology (BIG) award Application Guidelines
Four criteria are used to determine the merit of an application: Qualifications of the applicant; Quality of the proposed research; Excellence of the research environment; Likelihood that the project will advance the applicant's career in aging research. If you are using animals in your research, please review Principles of Animal Use for Gerontological Research. Application Procedures All candidates must submit applications endorsed by their institution (only not-for-profit settings in the United States.) The deadline for receipt of all applications and supporting materials is December 16, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. EST. Please refer to the AFAR instruction sheet and application for complete application procedures. Incomplete applications cannot be considered. Applications are reviewed in two stages: The initial screening takes place in mid-April, after which candidates are advised of the status of their applications via email. A final decision about grant awards is made in early June. The award start date is July 1, 2009. AFAR can provide critiques only for those applications that are reviewed, at the second stage, by their Review Committee. Reporting Requirements Investigators will be required to submit a brief narrative report on the progress of their research five months after the start date of the award. Final narrative and financial reports are required within three months following the end date of the award. American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) | 55 West 39th Street, 16th Floor | New York, NY 10018 Phone: (212) 703-9977 | Toll-free: (888) 582-2327 | Fax: (212) 997-0330 E-mail: grants@afar.org or info@afar.org
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