New Connections: Increasing Diversity of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Programming (Junior Investigators Program)2008 Call for Proposals Round 4 Deadline: Nov 13, 2008Program Area: Building Human CapitalPurpose:The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) New Connections: Increasing Diversity of RWJF Programming aims to expand the diversity of perspectives that inform RWJF programming and introduce new researchers and scholars to the Foundation, while simultaneously helping to meet staff needs for data analysis. The program invites Junior Investigators—scholars from historically disadvantaged and underrepresented communities who have received their doctorate within the last seven years—to address specific questions posed by one of RWJF’s program areas using secondary data analysis. Eligible scholars include individuals from ethnic or racial minorities or low-income communities, first-generation college graduates, or others who historically have been underrepresented in research disciplines that RWJF supports.In this funding round, RWJF asks applicants to address research questions from six program areas: Childhood Obesity, Coverage, Human Capital, Public Health, Quality/Equality and Vulnerable Populations. The six areas participating in this solicitation have each identified specific research questions they would like addressed in this funding cycle. Learn more in the call for proposals.Program Information:Eligibility & Selection Criteria:New Connections program applicants must: * have completed a doctorate within the last seven years (obtained by June 1, 2002 or later); * be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or its territories at the time of application; * be affiliated with or sponsored by a nonprofit university or an organization that is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is not a private Foundation as defined under Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code; * be from a group that has historically been underrepresented in the research activities supported by RWJF, such as people from ethnic or racial minority groups, first-generation college graduates and people from low-income communities; * be a first time New Connections Junior Investigator; * provide evidence of research skills addressing various aspects of health and health care (research fellowship or equivalent training or experience); and * be committed to the goals and mission of New Connections, RWJF and its specific interest areas.The following factors will be used in the selection process: * Significance and relevance of the proposal to RWJF and team-specific questions. * Uniqueness of the proposal. We seek proposals that will develop new evidence about the topic that provides a major contribution to the understanding of the problem. * How the proposed work complements existing literature on the topic. We prefer research that is likely to produce new information, rather than use different data to confirm prior research results. * How well the proposal incorporates secondary analysis in answering RWJF- and team-specific questions. * Soundness of the project’s conceptual framework and methodology. * Availability and appropriateness of datasets needed to answer the research question. * Clarity of deliverables described in the proposal.An internal RWJF committee will review all proposals. RWJF does not provide individual critiques of proposals submitted.
Key Dates: * October 22, 2008 (3 p.m.–4:30 p.m. ET)—Optional applicant Web conference call for Junior Investigator brief proposal applicants. To register, please visit www.rwjf–newconnections.org. * November 13, 2008 (3:00 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of brief proposals (must be submitted online). * January 29, 2009—Select applicants invited to submit full proposals. * February 18, 2009 (3:00–4:30 p.m. ET)—Optional applicant Web conference call for full proposal applicants. To register, please visit www.rwjf–newconnections.org. * March 12, 2009 (3:00 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of full proposals (must be submitted online). * April 13–17, 2009—Finalist phone interviews. * May 1, 2009—Notification of awards. * June 15, 2009—Start of awards.Total Award: * RWJF will award up to 12 two-year grants of up to $75,000 each during this fourth funding round. * New Connections grantees and alumni will also be eligible to receive a grant of up to $15,000 to support the publication and dissemination of the research they conduct under this grant. New Junior Investigators will be eligible for this additional grant during the last six months of their award.Contact:Hallene Williams, National Urban FellowRobert Wood Johnson Foundationrwjf-newconnections@rwjf.orgFax: (609) 514-5970Office: (609) 627-5770http://www.rwjf-newconnections.org
2009 Nizar N. Oweida, MD, FACS, Scholarship
The Board of Governors of the American College of Surgeons announces the availability of a scholarship for young rural surgeons, the Nizar N. Oweida, MD, FACS, Scholarship of the American College of Surgeons. Purpose The Oweida Scholarship provides an award of $5,000 to subsidize the participation of a young rural-based Fellow or Associate Fellow in attendance at the annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons. Basic Requirements The Oweida Scholarship is available to a member of the American College of Surgeons in any of the surgical specialties who meets the following requirements: Serves a rural community in the U.S. or Canada Is a Fellow or Associate Fellow in good standing Is under 45 years of age on the date the application is filed Activities The Oweida Scholar will attend the annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons, which will be held in Chicago, IL, October 11–15, 2009. He or she will also attend the annual scholarship luncheon on Sunday, October 11, 2009, to meet the members of the Scholarships Committee and awardees from other programs. The Oweida Scholar will also attend the rural surgeons meeting on Tuesday, October 13, 2009, to meet with rural colleagues and to receive his or her check. Financial Support The successful applicant will receive the sum of $5,000 U.S. This amount is to be used to help defray travel expenses for the Clinical Congress, postgraduate course fees, hotel costs, and per diem expenses during the Clinical Congress. Preferential housing in a thrifty hotel near the Congress site will be made available to the scholar. The scholar will make his or her own travel arrangements. The Executive Committee of the Board of Governors will select the scholar after review and evaluation of the applications. Applicants for the Oweida Scholarship should submit the following items: One copy of the applicant’s current curriculum vitae One copy of a one-page essay, discussing the following specific items: Why the applicant wishes to receive the Oweida Scholarship Why the applicant believes he or she is qualified to receive the scholarship Why the applicant characterizes his or her practice as rural The closing date for receipt of completed applications is December 15, 2008. Please send applications for this scholarship to: Scholarships Section, American College of Surgeons, 633 N. Saint Clair St., Chicago, IL 60611-3211. A scholar and an alternate will be selected, and all applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection process by March 31, 2009. The Oweida Scholar must attend the full week of the Clinical Congress in the year for which it is designated; the award cannot be postponed. The Oweida Scholar will provide a brief report on his or her experiences at the Clinical Congress for possible future publication in the Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons. A simple accounting for the award is also required. These items are due by December 1, 2009. Questions may be directed to the ACS Scholarships Administrator, 312-202-5281.
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