George H. Hitchings New Investigator Award in Health Research

Administering Organization: Triangle Community Foundation

Purpose

The George H. Hitchings New Investigator Award in Health Research will support pre-doctoral research in the health sciences with awards of $5,000 annually to students working toward a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University. The award will provide flexible support for young researchers currently in their second year of graduate school. Students who expect to follow a career path in academic teaching and research are encouraged to apply.

Amount & Use of Funds

$5,000

The award should be spent for the academic enrichment of the student. No indirect costs may be charged against the grant. Budget may include student stipend support but may not include university tuition or “general reagents” for the laboratory in which the student works. Specialty reagents that will be purchased to make the student’s project possible may be allowed. This is a one-time payment.

Criteria

In order to be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:

• Minimum GPA: None
• Residency Requirements: None
• High School Restrictions: None
• Plan of Study Restrictions: NC State University
• This award is restricted to students in the second year of the Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine program at NC State University.

Application Deadline

March 6, 2024

How To Apply

Application packets must be submitted using the Foundation’s online application portal. Once students enter the portal, they should type the access code “Hitchings” into the upper right hand box and hit ‘enter code’ to access the application.

Applications must be typed (single-spaced using 12-point font) on standard 8.5 by 11 inch paper with one inch or larger margins on all sides.  Pages must be numbered.  Collate all sections of the application.  Do not provide a cover letter.

Applications must be organized as follows:

1. Sponsor’s statement of nomination

Present the institution’s reasons for nominating the candidate. Verify that the candidate meets the award’s eligibility requirements and describe the expected impact of the award on the candidate’s research or training. Describe all program and institutional support that will be provided for the candidate, including such things as mentoring for career development. Briefly describe the laboratory space, equipment, and other resources for research and training that will be available to the awardee.

2. Candidate’s curriculum vitae (no more than two pages)

Include name, address, telephone and fax numbers, email address, education and training, experience in research, and a list of current and pending grants and awards – if any – with any presentation or publications.

3. Research Plan (no more than three typed pages)

Rather than the standard Introduction/Specific Aims/Methods style of most scientific proposals, this application must address two points in plain English:

• What do you propose to do? This section should lay out the rationale for your scientific work; explain why it is important, what it will mean if it works, what you will learn if it doesn’t, and where you see it leading scientifically. Though this section is to be written in plain English, it is also expected to be written with appropriate scientific rigor.
• What is driving you, personally, to take on this particular project?  This award is meant to support work that may deepen a student’s interest in research: having extensive prior research experience is not a pre-requisite. We expect to see this program fund those relatively new to research as well as those who entered College with a research destination in mind. If the candidate is already associated with a laboratory and has received support from other sources – for example, from an advisor’s federal research grant – please explain how the opportunities supported by the Hitchings New Investigator Award will differ from or enhance those supported by other sources (on a separate page). No indirect costs may be charged against this grant.

4. Budget

Explain in general terms how the award will be spent. The award should be spent for the academic enrichment of the student. No indirect costs may be charged against the grant. Budget may include student stipend support but may not include university tuition or “general reagents” for the laboratory in which the student works. Specialty reagents that will be purchased to make the student’s project possible may be allowed. Some examples of how the award might be spent include attending outside short courses (for example, Cold Spring Harbor and Woods Hole Summer Courses), travel to scholarly meetings, purchase of a computer for the personal use of the student, or books for the personal use of the student.

5. Letter of recommendation

Provide a letter from the individual who is the primary mentor on the research project. The mentor should speak to the qualifications of the applicant as well as the support that will be provided to the student. In addition, the mentor needs to verify that he/she intends to be available to guide the student for the duration of the grant and the student’s research project.

Questions?
Contact our Scholarships Staff!
Email: scholarships@trianglecf.org
Phone: 919.474.8370