Request for Proposals
ADVANCE Leadership Award Grants for Women Faculty
Proposals Due: Monday, March 30, 2009, 5 pm
Submit to: Audrey Thurlow (athurlow@montana.edu)
Office of Sponsored Projects, 309 Montana Hall
The NSF ADVANCE Leadership Award supports the development of mentoring relationships and a
mentoring network for women faculty at Montana State University. Activities are planned for women
faculty at all career stages, and in a variety of disciplines.
The project includes funds to support the research programs of early and mid-career women faculty. The
funds are intended to (1) enhance research productivity, (2) facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration or
entry into new research areas, and (3) support the development of effective mentoring relationships.
Funding requests will be reviewed by these criteria. The funds may be used for a variety of purposes
including course buy-outs, travel for research or collaboration, hiring graduate or undergraduate research
assistants, equipment purchases or any other use that advances the faculty member’s research program
and facilitates the development of collaborative relationships with other researchers.
Eligible faculty will (1) be in a tenured or tenure-track position, (2) have successfully completed her
retention review, and (3) be involved in collaborative and/or interdisciplinary research related to fields
currently funded by the NSF.
We are calling for proposals for support beginning July 1, 2009 and concluding June 30, 2010. All minigrant funds must be expended by June 30, 2010. We expect to make up to three awards this year. The
maximum research award will be $8,000. We will consider smaller travel awards to support the
proposer’s attendance at a conference or workshop, if such attendance would enhance the proposer’s
mentoring relationships or networks.
Recipients are expected to (1) develop and submit a grant application to a discipline-appropriate funding
agency by the end of the funded year, (2) participate in the ADVANCE Research Leadership
Development Workshop (annual 2-day conference in mid-May), and (3) submit a short progress report at
the end of the funded year.
The application must include the following:
1. A statement, no longer than three pages, of the research activities supported by the requested
funds, including an explanation of the interdisciplinary or collaborative nature of the work (if
relevant). If the request is for travel to attend a conference or workshop, an agenda should be
included or the focus of the conference/workshop described.
2. A statement of the specific uses for the requested funds (e.g., course buy-outs, travel for research
or collaboration, travel to attend a conference or workshop instrumental to future collaborations,
etc.) including a detailed budget. If funds for a course buy-out are requested, also include a
statement of support from the department head.
3. Curriculum vitae and statement of how the eligibility criteria are met
4. A short biographical sketch of any collaborators or mentors centrally involved in the project.
5. A signed Proposal Clearance Form (http://www.montana.edu/wwwvr/osp/index.html) (one copy
only)
Submit proposals electronically or hard copy (5 copies) to Audrey Thurlow (athurlow@montana.edu) in
the Office of Sponsored Programs by 5 pm on Monday, March 30, 2009. Funding decisions will be
announced by April 17, 2009. For additional information, please contact Anne Camper
(anne_c@biofilm.montana.edu) or Sue Monahan (smonahan@montana.edu).