The Science and Health Communication Research Group funds small awards for collaborative research projects focusing on science or health communication. The purpose of this funding mechanism is to encourage development of multidisciplinary research projects at the University of South Carolina that will attract funding by external sources and promote scholarly activities in the field.

Proposal Submission Process

These small grants are considered "seed" funding that will 1) enhance a future submission for external funding or 2) aid in the development or enhancement of collaborative research activity at the University of South Carolina. Typically, the Group does not award funding in excess of $3000. Submissions will be accepted on an ongoing basis until yearly funding is depleted. All proposals are blind reviewed by an interdisciplinary panel of science and health communication researchers. Applicants who are awarded funding are required, upon completion of their research, to present study findings at a Science and Health Communication Research Group meeting. Proposal narratives and any questions about the submission process should be sent via email to Dr. Andrea Tanner at atanner@sc.edu.

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, the proposed project must be a collaborative science and health communication endeavor. Specifically, the project must include at least two investigators, who must be from different schools or colleges at the University of South Carolina (e.g. a project proposed by two journalism and mass communications faculty would not be eligible for funding but a joint project proposed by a public heath and a journalism and mass communications faculty would be eligible).Eligible applicants include all full-time faculty, tenured, tenure-track, full-time clinical track and research track faculty at the University of South Carolina. Master and doctoral students are also eligible for funding, however, students must identify a faculty mentor who will oversee the project. Visiting faculty may be eligible only under exceptional circumstances, and with the expectations that their relationship with USC is ongoing.

Application Procedure

1. Develop a three page proposal narrative that provides:
   • A brief discussion of the project objectives, timeline and background and significance of the proposed research, including the collaborative nature of the project and its relation to the present state of knowledge in the field.
   • The research task and expected accomplishments during the course of the project should be discussed, as well as the specific outcome of the project, and, if applicable, a discussion of potential external funding sources. Applicants should also state how study findings will be disseminated (i.e. professional conferences such as ICA, APHA or AEJMC ad/or academic research journals).
2. Attach the following supporting documentation to the end of the proposal narrative:
• References (these will not be counted in the narrative page limitation).
• Biographical sketch/ curriculum vitae (should list the most current information and use NIH, NSF or other standard agency formats if applicable, otherwise a maximum of two pages.
• A budget and budget justification for total costs.