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Call for Proposals

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Call for Proposals

Submission Deadlines:

Department Chair:  October 15, 2009
Family Studies Center:  October 22, 2009

Funds Available:  January 5, 2010 to December 7, 2010
The Family Studies Center at BYU will fund research and outreach projects during the year 2010. The Center provides support to scholars across campus involved in theory and research efforts (both qualitative and quantitative) that are related to marriage, parenting, child, human, and family development and well-being, family public policy, and other related family issues.

Research Proposals should include the following:

1. One paragraph statement about the issue being studied and why it is important–this statement will be used for outreach and media personnel, the administration, and it will also be posted on our web site to describe your project if it is approved.
2. Description of the conceptual model or theory guiding the research and the specific hypotheses or ideas to be examined. What kind of theoretical model will be used? Specify which one and state how it will be tested.
3. Summary of methods of data collection and analysis.
4. Statement describing the importance of this research for application, theory building, and/or policy about family related issues.
5. Budget and justification. Include a separate page with itemized budget (not narrative.) Include your estimate of funding needed for RA wages, supplies and travel (if applicable.)
6. How will this project lead to future external funding?
7. Include your references on a separate reference page.
8. Include a current vitae for the principal investigator, including phone number, address, and e-mail.

Proposals should not exceed 5 pages, not counting the vitae. Please submit 7 complete copies of all materials and also send an electronic version of your proposal, to yevon_romney@byu.edu.

General Information applicable to both Research and Outreach Proposals:

Short-term projects are focused on more specific issues and the primary development and implementation can be accomplished within one year. Longer term projects may require that the funding be carried over to two years. If this is your intent, please include it in your proposal.

We try to support expenses that are “above and beyond” what departments normally fund. The Center does not fund released time for faculty or expenses such as conference posters, etc. However, we will consider funding graduate research assistants up to 1/4 time. We will also consider up to $1000 for faculty travel to professional meetings if the faculty member will be presenting research findings. We will not fund travel for graduate students to attend conferences.

The ratio of funding allocated usually does not exceed $10,000 per faculty member per year. If more than one faculty member will be working on the project, more funding may be requested.

Also, to help us coordinate more effectively with other potential funding sources for your project, please identify any other sources from whom you are seeking funding for your current project.

All research associates who have received funding from the FSC must submit an activity report at the end of the year due December 7, 2010. These reports should focus on the substantive importance of the project and tell what was accomplished. The report will be used for our media outreach efforts and for reports to the university and our executive committee. If you do not submit a complete update and activity report, your funding will be suspended until the report is posted.

Will undergraduate mentored students be involved in your project? If so, how many will be involved and what will their responsibilities and contributions be?

Proposals will be evaluated by a committee of scholars representing different disciplines with interests in family well-being. Proposals will be reviewed on the basis of conceptual clarity, appropriate methodology, and potential for improving the quality of family life.

The submission deadline for all proposals is October 15, 2009 to department chairs and October 22, 2009 to the Family Studies Center. If you have questions about the suitability of your proposal for long versus short term funding, etc., please contact Randy Day (2-6415; day@byu.edu).

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Please include the following information on a cover sheet attached to your proposal:

Project Title

Principal Investigator (list other team members as well)

Budget Requested (and justification—please specify briefly what the various amounts are to be used for i.e. RA wages, project supplies and necessary travel associated with the project.)

After you have completed the proposal, please have your department chair or director read and sign off on the project. We are assuming that your administrator is interested in this process and may want to attach a brief memo about the projects importance. Administrators commenting on the value of the project is not a requirement—nor will the applicant be penalized in any way if you choose not to. However, if you feel there is anything our review committee should know about this effort, please make comments on the cover sheet. Your signature indicates that you have read and endorse the effort represented by the proposal.

After your department chair signs the cover sheet, please forward all information to Yevon Romney at the Family Studies Center, 1041 JFSB by October 22, 2009.