Deadline:

Nov 13, 2008 - Closed

Program Area:

Building Human Capital, Vulnerable Populations

Purpose:

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) New Connections: Increasing Diversity of RWJF Programming aims to expand the diversity of perspectives that inform RWJF programming and introduce new researchers and scholars to the Foundation, while simultaneously helping to meet staff needs for data analysis. The program invites Junior Investigators—scholars from historically disadvantaged and underrepresented communities who have received their doctorate within the last seven years—to address specific questions posed by one of RWJF’s program areas using secondary data analysis. Eligible scholars include individuals from ethnic or racial minorities or low-income communities, first-generation college graduates, or others who historically have been underrepresented in research disciplines that RWJF supports.

In this funding round, RWJF asks applicants to address research questions from six program areas: Childhood Obesity, Coverage, Human Capital, Public Health, Quality/Equality and Vulnerable Populations. The six areas participating in this solicitation have each identified specific research questions they would like addressed in this funding cycle. Learn more in the call for proposals.

Program Information:

• Call for Proposals

Eligibility & Selection Criteria:

New Connections program applicants must:

• have completed a doctorate within the last seven years (obtained by June 1, 2002 or later);
• be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or its territories at the time of application; 
• be affiliated with or sponsored by a nonprofit university or an organization that is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is not a private Foundation as defined under Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code;
• be from a group that has historically been underrepresented in the research activities supported by RWJF, such as people from ethnic or racial minority groups, first-generation college graduates and people from low-income communities; 
• be a first time New Connections Junior Investigator; 
• provide evidence of research skills addressing various aspects of health and health care (research fellowship or equivalent training or experience); and 
• be committed to the goals and mission of New Connections, RWJF and its specific interest areas.

The following factors will be used in the selection process:

• Significance and relevance of the proposal to RWJF and team-specific questions.
• Uniqueness of the proposal. We seek proposals that will develop new evidence about the topic that provides a major contribution to the understanding of the problem. 
• How the proposed work complements existing literature on the topic. We prefer research that is likely to produce new information, rather than use different data to confirm prior research results. 
• How well the proposal incorporates secondary analysis in answering RWJF- and team-specific questions. 
• Soundness of the project’s conceptual framework and methodology. 
• Availability and appropriateness of datasets needed to answer the research question. 
• Clarity of deliverables described in the proposal.

An internal RWJF committee will review all proposals. RWJF does not provide individual critiques of proposals submitted.

Key Dates:

• October 22, 2008 (3 p.m.–4:30 p.m. ET)—Optional applicant Web conference call for Junior Investigator brief proposal applicants. To register, please visit www.rwjf–newconnections.org.
• November 13, 2008 (3:00 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of brief proposals (must be submitted online).
• January 29, 2009—Select applicants invited to submit full proposals.
• February 18, 2009 (3:00–4:30 p.m. ET)—Optional applicant Web conference call for full proposal applicants. To register, please visit www.rwjf–newconnections.org.
• March 12, 2009 (3:00 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of full proposals (must be submitted online).
• April 13–17, 2009—Finalist phone interviews.
• May 1, 2009—Notification of awards.
• June 15, 2009—Start of awards.

Total Award:

• RWJF will award up to 12 two-year grants of up to $75,000 each during this fourth funding round.
• New Connections grantees and alumni will also be eligible to receive a grant of up to $15,000 to support the publication and dissemination of the research they conduct under this grant. New Junior Investigators will be eligible for this additional grant during the last six months of their award.

Contact:

Hallene Williams, National Urban Fellow
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
rwjf-newconnections@rwjf.org
Fax: (609) 514-5970
Office: (609) 627-5770
http://www.rwjf-newconnections.org

Related Materials:

• View National Program Office


• View Program FAQs