2008 Advancing Academic-Research Careers (AARC) Award
Advancing your career, advancing your future
ASHA is pleased to announce the 2008 AARC Award as part of the Association's Strategic Objective to Increase Research Commitment. This award is given to new faculty in higher education to support their academic and research endeavors in the field of communication sciences and disorders (CSD). Up to five awards of $5,000 each will be granted to support activities such as:
- Improving teaching skills
- Mentoring graduate students
- Participating in research activities
- Preparing a grant application
- Preparing a manuscript or publication
- Presenting at a professional meeting (e.g., the ASHA Convention).
Award payments will be made in full at the beginning of the funding period (i.e., academic year).
In order to be eligible to apply, candidates must possess:
- A research doctoral degree (PhD, ScD, CScD, or equivalent, e.g., EdD), which must be conferred by August 1, 2008
- A full-time faculty appointment (postdoctoral fellows are not eligible)
- Primary responsibilities of teaching and conducting research
- Less than six years of teaching/research experience or are below the level of associate professor
- A tenure or non-tenure track appointment
Access the 2008 AARC Application Form [PDF].
Eligible candidates must submit the following:
- Completed application form [PDF]
- Academic-Research Career Mentoring Plan
- 500-word essay in response to the following question: How will this award facilitate the advancement of your career in higher education as an academic-researcher?
- Letter of recommendation from primary mentor of proposed project
- Letter of support from CSD program director or department chair
- Proposed budget for 18-month funding period with accompanying justification
- Current vita
All applications must be received by May 16, 2008. The award notification date is approximately August 1, 2008.
Questions? Please see the FAQs [PDF] on the AARC Award.
Still have questions? Contact Jessica Bowen Nunez at jbowen@asha.org.
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Minority Student Leadership Program (MSLP)
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) will sponsor its 10th annual Minority Student Leadership Program: Class of 2008 at the ASHA Convention in Chicago, Illinois, November 20-22, 2008.
Thirty undergraduate seniors and graduate students enrolled in communication sciences and disorders programs and 10 eligible candidates enrolled in a research doctoral degree program will be selected to participate in the Minority Student Leadership Program: Class of 2008. Each Minority Student Leadership Program award includes (1) complimentary ASHA 2008 convention registration, (2) up to five nights lodging, (3) meal stipend, and (4) program materials. This award has an approximate value of $1,000. Program participants are responsible for transportation expenses to and from the convention city and personal incidentals.
For additional information on the MSLP, including how to apply, visit MSLP FAQ's or contact Melanie Johnson, Membership Program Manager, at mjohnson@asha.org or 301-296-8681.
Access the 2008 MSLP Application Form [PDF]. All applications are due by May 16, 2008.
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2008 Student Research Travel Award
ASHA is offering student research travel awards for the 2008 ASHA Convention in order to highlight the research activities of "budding" scientists and encourage careers in science and research. The 2008 ASHA Convention will be held from November 20-22, 2008, in Chicago, Illinois.
Approximately 40 student research travel awards of $500 each are available for undergraduate, Master's, and doctoral students who are first authors on a paper (all session types are acceptable: technical, poster, one hour seminar, two hour seminar, or short course). Identification of prospective awardees will be based on the recommendation of Convention co-chairs and topic coordinators.
Awardees will:
- receive a $500 travel award
- have their exceptional paper highlighted in the Convention program
- be recognized at the Researcher-Academic Town Meeting and other designated events
Each award recipient will be required to:
- register for the Convention at their own expense
- present his or her paper at the assigned time (as noted in the Convention program booklet)
- secure a mentor to "shadow" throughout the Convention
- attend selected research-related sessions during the Convention
In order to apply, students must:
- submit an abstract summarizing their research through the normal Call for Papers process
- check the appropriate box (when prompted) indicating that their paper is "student-authored"
- check the appropriate box (when prompted) indicating that they desire to have this abstract considered for the Student Research Travel Award
Call-for-papers deadline is March 31, 2008.
Papers must be submitted online by March 31, 2008 as a student-authored paper (in any session format). Following the review and selection process (conducted by the Program Committee), students will be notified by ASHA's Science and Research Unit of the status of their submission (by approximately mid-late summer). For additional information about requirements and selection criteria, please contact either Jessica Bowen Nunez or Sharon Moss by e-mail (jbowen@asha.org; smoss@asha.org) or through the ASHA Action Center at 800-498-2071.
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2008 Students Preparing for Academic & Research Careers (SPARC) Award
A stepping stone to your future in higher education and research...
ASHA is pleased to announce the 2008 SPARC Award as part of ASHA's strategic objective to increase research commitment. The award is designed to provide opportunities for:
- Enhanced educational mentorship experiences that prepare students for successful PhD education and academic careers
- Travel to enhance teaching and/or research exposure
- Teaching and/or research experience under a mentor
The goal of SPARC is to foster students' interest in the pursuit of PhD education and careers in academia in order to fill faculty/researcher vacancies in communication sciences and disorders (CSD).
Students will identify a primary faculty mentor and propose a one-year CSD Career Mentoring Plan. As many as ten students will be awarded up to $1,500 each to be used for teaching and research enhancement activities, such as travel to a research, pedagogy conference, or meeting; travel for a visit to an off-campus site that provides learning opportunities in a research lab and/or a college classroom setting; or course registration to support the mentoring plans outlined in the application.
Award Eligibility
- Eligible applicants include junior or senior undergraduates, 1st year master's students, and 1st and 2nd year entry-level clinical doctoral (e.g., AuD) students enrolled part-time or full-time in a CSD program in the United States during the academic year 2007–2008.
- At the time of the award, eligible recipients' education status for the academic year 2008-2009 must be undergraduate senior, 1st or 2nd year master's, or 1st, 2nd or 3rd year entry-level clinical doctoral (i.e., AuD) in a full-time or part-time CSD program in the United States.
- Master's degree and entry-level clinical doctoral students must be in a program accredited by the Council for Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA).
Access the 2008 SPARC Application Form [PDF].
Eligible candidates must submit the following:
- Completed application form [PDF]
- CSD Career Mentoring Plan to include a Teaching Plan and a Research Plan
- Essay Question: What are your goals for teaching and research in higher education; and how would this award help you achieve these goals? (500-word response)
- Letter of recommendation from the primary mentor
- Commitment statement [PDF] from the primary mentor
- Budget proposal for the 12-month funding period with accompanying justification
All applications must be received by May 16, 2008.
Questions? Please see the FAQs on the SPARC Award.
Still have questions? Please contact Academic Affairs at academicaffairs@asha.org.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the SPARC Award
What is SPARC?
- Students Preparing for Academic & Research Careers (SPARC) Award
- The goal of SPARC is to foster students' interest in the pursuit of PhD education and careers in academia in order to fill faculty/researcher vacancies in communication sciences and disorders (CSD).
Who Sponsors the Award?
ASHA sponsors this award in support of ASHA's strategic objective to increase research commitment.
How Much is Awarded?
Students will be awarded up to $1,500 to implement a one-year CSD Career Mentoring Plan.
How Can SPARC Award Funds Be Used?
Examples of appropriate uses of funds include:
- Purchasing necessary supplies, e.g., books, software
- Attending the ASHA Convention and/or other relevant conventions, meetings, or conferences
- Traveling for a visit to an off-campus site that provides learning opportunities in a research lab and/or a college classroom setting
- Course registration to support the mentoring plan outlined in the application
Am I Eligible?
You are eligible to apply if your current education status is:
- Junior or senior undergraduate
- 1st year master's student*
- 1st and 2nd year entry level clinical doctoral (i.e., AuD) student*
- Enrolled part-time or full-time in a CSD program in the United States during the academic year 2007-2008
You are eligible to receive the award if your academic year 2008-2009 education status in a CSD program in the United States will be:
- Senior undergraduate
- 1st or 2nd year master's*
- 1st , 2nd, or 3rd year entry-level clinical doctorate (AuD)*
* Master's degree and entry-level clinical doctoral students must be in a program accredited by the Council for Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA).
You are not eligible to apply if you already have a PhD degree or if you are enrolled in a PhD program (whether in CSD or any other discipline). The goal of the SPARC award is to foster students' interest in the pursuit of PhD education and careers in academia in order to fill faculty/researcher vacancies in CSD. The award is, therefore, limited to undergraduate, graduate students, and 1st and 2nd year entry level clinical doctoral students per eligibility criteria above.
How Can I Apply?
- Application Forms [PDF] are available on the ASHA and NSSLHA Web sites.
- Announcements/calls for applications are distributed to all academic programs.
What Are the Reviewers Looking for?
- Reviewers will evaluate your CSD Career Mentoring Plan which includes a plan to develop skills in teaching (teaching plan), and a plan to develop skills in research (research plan).
- Reviewers consider how your proposed plan meets the goals of the SPARC Award to promote PhD career development.
- Examples of teaching plan activities:
- Meet with a member of your mentoring team to identify teaching objectives and learner outcomes for a CSD course.
- Observe your mentor teaching a series of lectures or labs to achieve the objectives, and engage in follow-up discussion with your mentor about this experience.
- Visit another higher education institution to observe and interact with a teacher-researcher in an area of interest to you.
- Participate in activities or courses that will develop teaching skills; assist a faculty member in the preparation of teaching materials/handouts; guest lecture under the direction of a faculty mentor; or attend a conference about teaching and learning styles pertinent to college level learning.
- Examples of research plan activities:
- Visit research facilities.
- Assist your mentoring team in their research projects.
- Prepare a manuscript.
- Present research at a conference.
- Prepare a grant application.
- Design and conduct your own research project.
- Particular emphasis will be given to those applications whose teaching and/or research plans have a focus in interdisciplinary collaboration and/or multiculturalism.
- Reviewers evaluate your response to the essay questions. When writing your essay, keep the goals of SPARC in mind. Be aware of organization, grammar, punctuation, clarity, and the strength of your argument or thesis.
- Reviewers look at the budget you submit, its details and justification.
When is the Application Due?
Applications must be received by May 16, 2008.
If I Have Been Selected, When Will I Be Notified?
Award recipients will be notified in August 2008.
If I Receive the Award, is it Taxable?
- Yes, this award is considered taxable income by the I.R.S.
- You may choose to apply for the award through your university's grants/awards office or apply directly as an individual. The award funding will be provided directly to you or to your university depending upon the method of application that you select. Seek information from your personal tax advisor about which option would be best for you.
- You or your university will be given a W-9 to complete before you receive your award.
- If you received the funds directly from ASHA, your award amount will be reported to the IRS on Form 1099, and a copy of the form will be sent to you. If ASHA disburses the award directly to your institution, you will need to find out what their tax reporting practices are.
- ASHA is not in the position to offer specific tax advice. However, to help you understand your obligations, more information may be found in I.R.S. Publication 970.
What If I Still Have Questions?
Contact Academic Affairs at academicaffairs@asha.org.
ASHA is pleased to announce the 2008 Research Mentoring-Pair Travel Award Program, given in conjunction with the 18th Annual Research Symposium: Neurobiological Determinants of Human Communication: Prematurity and Early Childhood, to be held November 21, 2008, in Chicago, Illinois.
This award is designed to foster the professional development of students, clinicians, and emerging scientists who have expressed an interest in research in communication sciences and disorders. Up to 10 travel awards of $1,000 each will be granted to eligible mentor mentee pairs (mentee= $750; mentor= $250) to help defray the cost of attending the symposium.
Special consideration will be given to individuals whose research or research interests are (a) relevant to the symposium topic, (b) interdisciplinary in nature, (c) translational in nature, or (d) related to issues of cultural or linguistic diversity.
Eligibility
Mentees must be (a) a current student at the bachelor's, master's, AuD, or PhD level, (b) a postdoctoral fellow, (c) a junior level faculty member (less than 6 years teaching/research experience in a tenure-track position or below the level of associate professor), or (d) a clinician.
Mentors must be a seasoned investigator in an academic or health care environment.
2008 Mentor Application Form
2008 Mentee Application Form
Application Packet Components
Mentee will submit the following:
- Completed application form
- Narrative biographical sketch detailing educational background, as well as research/clinical experience (1 page maximum)
- 1,000 word essay stating current research interests and activities, how attendance at this meeting could serve to enhance personal research career goals, and why this mentor mentee team is an appropriate match (can facilitate the goals of the mentee)
- Letter of support from selected mentor
Mentor will submit the following:
- Completed application form
- Plan outlining the mentoring relationship both during and after the Symposium
- Current curriculum vitae
Please complete and submit both the Mentor and Mentee Application Forms online by May 1, 2008.
Please forward all other application materials to Jessica Bowen Nunez via e-mail (jbowen@asha.org) no later than May 1, 2008.
Please note: If you intend to submit a proposal to the Convention Program, you must indicate that
you are NOT ABLE to present on Friday, November 21, 2008.
Questions? Please contact: Jessica Bowen Nunez, Research Program Manager, via e-mail: jbowen@asha.org.
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