| SPARC: Support to Promote Advancement of Research and Creativity |
2012-2013 SPARC Request for Proposals
Application Due Date: January 30, 2013 by 5:00pm
Award Announcement Date: April 12, 2013 at Graduate Student Day
Overview
Sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research, the SPARC Graduate Fellowship is a merit-based award designed to ignite research and creative excellence across all disciplines at USC. The students are required to write a grant proposal. Those found meritorious will receive up to $5000 to fund innovative research and creative projects. The Fellowship may be used to support the student in a variety of ways, including salary, supplies, travel and other costs essential to promote research, creative and scholarly activity.
The overall objective of the SPARC Graduate Fellowship is to provide support and to encourage outstanding students to pursue new and exciting directions during their graduate career at the University of South Carolina. Importantly, the process of applying for a SPARC Graduate Fellowship will train students to write competitive research proposals, which will lead to more students with the skills and background necessary to seek national fellowship awards from the Federal Government and Private Foundations.
Eligibility
All Doctoral students are eligible to apply. International students are also eligible to apply. Master's students in terminal degree programs with a thesis requirement are also eligible to apply (those degree programs include the Master of Fine Arts and the Master of Arts in Public History). Applicants must be current students at the time of application and must be enrolled during the year the SPARC Graduate Fellowship is to be awarded. MFA and MA in Public History students may apply in their first year of graduate study at USC. Doctoral students may apply no earlier than their second year of graduate study at USC.
Funds Available
Applicants may request up to $5000 with a project period of up to one year. Applicants should provide a detailed justification for the requested funds and are encouraged to request less than the maximum amount.
Required Application Workshop
Prior to applying, students are REQUIRED to attend a short application workshop. Applications received from students who did not attend the workshop will be automatically rejected. Several SPARC workshops will be offered throughout the Fall Semester; dates, times and the location of workshops are posted here. Students who are unable to attend any of the workshops should contact Dr. Lauren Clark for alternatives.
Application Procedure
The SPARC Application Form will be available soon on this website. Once the Form is available, you may submit the form through the website. The proposal and supporting documentation will be submitted through USCeRA by the Faculty Advisor. Details regarding the submission process will be discussed at the Application Workshops.
Proposals should be single spaced with one-half inch margins on all sides. The font must be Arial, 11 point font size.
- Background and Significance (approximately half a page): Briefly discuss the proposed idea and its context relative to the current state of knowledge in the field. Project topic, question or hypothesis should be clearly defined. Why is this project novel and exciting?
- Project Description, Design and Approach (approximately 2 pages): Provide a detailed description of the project objectives, the proposed methods and activities and the specific anticipated outcomes. A timeline for expected accomplishments should be presented as a table or other clear graphic format.
- Significance of this funding to graduate experience (approximately half a page): Explain how this proposed research or creative activity will advance your graduate education and objectives, bridge your funding resources, or expand your research or creative direction.
Supporting Documentation (not counted in the narrative page limitation)
- Bibliography
- Biographical Sketch (include education, scholarly activities, awards, professional experience, etc.)
- Copy of most recent USC Transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
- Budget Form
- Current and Pending Support Form
- Letter of Support from Graduate Advisor or USC Faculty Member familiar with the student's work and abilities
*Approval for Vertebrate or Human Subject Research*
If the student's research involves Vertebrate Animals or Human Subjects, they can apply for IACUC or IRB approval after a SPARC Fellowship award notification is received. However, the student must produce IACUC or IRB approval prior to receiving any SPARC funds and before starting the proposed research project. If these protocols have been approved for the mentor, they can produce those documents after the award notification with a letter from the mentor indicating the previous approval of protocols.
Budget Information
General budget categories can be found in the budget form available online. Detailed justification is required for each line item. Although the review committee intends to fund projects as closely as possible to the requested amount, it reserves the right to recommend a reduction in the amount funded depending on the budget justification provided in the application. Departmental matching funds are encouraged, but not required.
Allowable Costs
- Tuition for Z Status students (no other tuition costs are allowed)
- Student salary and fringe benefits
- Project supplies and/or equipment
- Student travel essential to conduct the project
- Student travel to present research or creative work at National or International Professional Conference or Exhibition $500 maximum request for travel within US; $1000 maximum request for international travel
- Animal maintenance
- Recruiting human subjects for research
- Transcriptionists
- Other costs not specified
Unallowable Costs
- Compensation for faculty members
Application Review Process
All completed applications from eligible students that are submitted by the deadline will be reviewed. Applications submitted after the deadline will be rejected. All proposals will be scored based on a rubric. A copy of the review rubric can be found here. All proposals will be reviewed by 2-3 reviewers.
Dissemination of Results and Award Administration
SPARC Graduate Fellowship recipients are REQUIRED to present their work at Graduate Student Day the year after their award notification. Students are strongly encouraged to present their work at a national or international conference or exhibition. Students receiving awards will also be required to participate in yearly online surveys. These surveys will enable the Office of Research to track the student's progress and to document publications, presentations and awards which result from the SPARC Graduate Fellowship support. Any publications or presentations produced as a result of this Fellowship must contain an acknowledgement of USC's support such as: "This work was partially supported by a SPARC Graduate Fellowship from the Office of the Vice President for Research at the University of South Carolina."
For More Information
Please contact Dr. Lauren Clark, Research Program Coordinator, Office of the Vice President for Research via email or at (803) 777-3929.