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Capacity Building and Research and Intervention Programs Focused on Social Issues

Funding Supported by the King Family Impact Endowment

 

The College of Education invites proposals for one-year projects (renewable) aimed at advancing research and intervention programs that focus on social issues related to elementary and secondary students. Funded by the King Family Impact Endowment, priority will be given to K-12 school intervention programs focused on remediating bullying. 

Proposals will be accepted for the following two categories. We anticipate funding multiple projects. 

  • Capacity Building Studies: Proposals that support the development of interventions that lead to a proposal for Research and Intervention Programs (internal or external). The product will identify key factors and their relationships supporting the development of a model of change: Funding up to $12,000. 

  • Research and Intervention Programs: Proposals to advance research and intervention programs. Funding up to $30,000. 

Both the Capacity Building Studies and Research and Intervention Programs should be designed to secure sustainable funding for interventions in K-12, including the procurement of external grants. 

ELIGIBILITY

All full-time faculty members in the College of Education are invited to apply.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Successful applications must clearly explain how the proposed research will address social issues for elementary and secondary students. Applicants are welcome to contact Associate Dean Karen Murphy ([email protected]) for proposal consultation. 

 

Capacity Building Proposals

I.  Title & Project Summary Page (1 page)

The following information should be included in the project summary:

  • Name of individual (or unit), and academic rank
  • ORCID
  • Date of submission
  • Department
  • Title of project/request
  • Amount requested
  • Date range for the proposed project
  • Abstract (limited to 200 words)

II.  Proposal Narrative (2500 words, including tables and figures) 

The narrative should provide a specific plan for identifying key relationships that inform an intervention study related to social issues, including anti-bullying. The narrative will propose intervention strategies that will lead to a proposal for Research and Intervention Programs (internal or external). 

 The narrative must include: 

  1. Rationale for the choice of topic and its relationship to social issues. The rationale should be grounded in relevant literature and support a proposed intervention.
  2. Brief description of the proposed intervention plan and the expected outcomes. You should include a logic model that organizes the planned strategies for the proposed intervention.
  3. Expected next steps and identified external funding.
  4. References for proposal narrative (not included in the narrative word count). 
     

III.  Project Plan

Include proposed dates for project plans and research (1-page maximum). 
 

IV.  Budget

Projects should be one year or less in duration, and the project budget may not exceed $12,000. A detailed budget with a written justification should be developed through the Grants and Contracts Office. ([email protected]).  Expected expenditures include summer salary, graduate assistant summer stipends, measures, and graduate student hours. Printing and miscellaneous supplies should be covered by departments. Because this is internal funding, the budget does not include indirect costs. Standard fringe rates do apply. 

V.  Investigator(s) Bio Sketch

Include at maximum a three-page SciENcv bio-sketch for each investigator.
 

Research and Intervention Programs

I.  Title & Project Summary Page (1 page)

The following information should be included in the project summary:

  • Name of individual (or unit), and academic rank
  • ORCID
  • Date of submission
  • Department
  • Title of project/request
  • Amount requested
  • Date range for the proposed project
  • Abstract (limited to 200 words)


II.  Proposal Narrative (2500 words, including tables and figures) 

The narrative should be attentive to intervention research, including anti-bullying, and situate the project within a program of research that clearly outlines the potential for impact.

The narrative must include: 

  1. Objectives of the intervention and research.
  2. Review of relevant literature and description of the conceptual framework.
  3. Brief description of the intervention.
  4. Brief description of the research design, methodology, and data analysis procedures.
  5. Summary of the expected outcomes.
  6. Expected next steps and identified external funding.
  7. References for proposal narrative (not included in the narrative word count). 

III.  Project Plan

Include proposed dates for project plans and research (1-page maximum). 

IV.  Budget

Projects should be one year or less in duration, and the project budget may not exceed $30,000. A detailed budget with a written justification should be developed through the College of Education Grants and Contracts Office. Because this is internal funding, the budget does not include indirect costs. Standard fringe rates do apply. 

V.  Investigator(s) Bio Sketch

Include, at maximum, a three-page SciENcv bio-sketch for each investigator.

 

EVALUATION

Proposals for both Capacity Building and Research and Intervention Programs will be evaluated based on intellectual merit and potential to make lasting impacts, including potential for external funding, with a particular interest in anti-bullying programs. Funding decisions will be made by the Research Advisory Committee under the direction of the Associate Dean for Research.

DEADLINES AND FUNDING DATES

Proposals must be submitted electronically as a single PDF file through the InfoReady system. This can be done by logging into the InfoReady system (https://psu.infoready4.com) and filtering the funding opportunities as “Penn State Seed Grants.” Proposals are due March 30. Award notices will be made by May 15, and projects may begin on July 1. 

REPORTING
  1. A three-page written report summarizing the project is due 30 days after the funding cycle ends (e.g., by July 31).
  2. If the Investigator(s) seek renewed funding, the three-page written report should be submitted as an update along with the proposal requesting an additional year of funding.
  3. All awardees must attend and present the findings of this research at the College of Education Research Conference.