The Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA) “Scholars in Sexuality Research Grants Program” offers young investigators who are interested in sexuality research the opportunity to obtain funding to support their research while engaged in qualifying research in sexuality.
It is the purpose of the SMSNA to increase public awareness of healthy sexuality and sexual problems, to foster the finest care for individuals suffering from sexual debility, and to encourage scholarship and research in human sexuality. It is our hope that this program will encourage young people to become interested in sexuality research and make it a focal point of their careers.
Funding is available for graduate or medical students, residents in graduate medical education training programs, and post-doctoral/post-residency fellows. Because sexual medicine is a multi-disciplinary field and sex impacts almost every aspect of human endeavor in some way, we encourage applications from aspiring researchers representing diverse backgrounds including but not limited to urology, psychology, psychiatry, gynecology, internal medicine, geriatrics, public health, physiology, genetics, molecular biology, social work, and law. Research projects must be carried out within North America to qualify for funding.
The size of awards will be commensurate with the experience of the scholar, the proposed duration of funding, and the scope and quality of the proposed research project. Maximum award amounts are:
$5,000 for Undergraduate/Medical/Graduate School Students $7,500 for Resident or Post-Doctoral/Fellows. The primary purpose of the grant is to support research related expenses. Grant funding is not intended to be the primary source of funding for travel, lodging, meals, or other costs associated with attending SMSNA meetings, but may supplement those expenses. The grant may supplement the grantee’s salary if not already fully funded. Proof of grant expenditure is required upon request.
Applicants are required to submit:
- A completed application form by the specified deadline
- A detailed description of the research question divided into the following sections:
- Specific Aims and Hypothesis, which should address the aims of the research and scope of grant
- Background of the problem being addressed
- Preliminary data
- Experimental Design, with an outline of the proposed investigation including potential alternatives and problems that may be encountered
- A proposal: Undergraduate, medical school and/or graduate level students should submit a 4-page proposal; residents or post-doctoral fellows should submit a 6-page proposal
- A letter of support from a faculty mentor, who must be an SMSNA member*
- A one-page career development plan to address how this grant will influence future endeavors in sexual medicine
- Two additional letters of recommendation, with one required to be from an SMSNA member.
- Documentation regarding other funding (if any) supporting the proposed project, verified by signature of the mentor
- An estimated time to complete the proposed study
- A budget (cannot include overhead or indirect costs)
*Research under a suitable mentor outside of the society may be acceptable in some extraordinary circumstances for appropriate projects. If a proposed mentor is not a member of the SMSNA, we strongly encourage that s/he join the SMSNA prior to inception of the research project.
Final decisions on approval for funding will be made by the SMSNA Research and Awards Committee based primarily on the merit of the proposed study, as well as applicant and mentor credentials, and the feasibility of the proposed study. All funded applicants will receive membership in the SMSNA at no charge for 2 years.
Awards will be disbursed in two payments, with the first paid in early June, and the second paid in early January following receipt of a progress report and approval of the Research and Awards Committee. The award term is from June 1 through May 31. Customized disbursement of funds for projects that do not conform to this timeline can be arranged at the request of the applicant/mentor and at the discretion of the SMSNA Research and Awards Committee. Awards will be paid to the sponsoring institution (medical school, hospital, university). Awards can’t be paid directly to the successful applicant or mentor.
Awardees will be required to submit a progress report to the SMSNA Research and Awards Committee for continuation of funding. At a minimum, a 2-page report at the midpoint of the research time frame will be required, with additional follow-up points required for some projects at the discretion of the Research and Award Committee. The SMSNA will be credited as a sponsor in any presentations and publications that result from the research project. Grant recipients will be required to submit an abstract based on their research to the SMSNA Annual Fall Scientific Meeting. Recipients are further encouraged to publish their results in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Completed applications should be sent to info@smsna.org.
For more information, please visit: http://www.smsna.org/V1/grants/2018-smsna-research-grants