BRACHMAN HOFFMAN SMALL GRANTS

For Research At Wellesley College

Brachman Hoffman Small Grants are available for researchers whose teaching obligations are in the Wellesley College Science Center, including Whitin Observatory, or to faculty conducting research on the discipline of science, or on scientists themselves. The purpose of the grant is to facilitate research "on site" and to support research expenses for which external grants are not readily available, but which are necessary for the scientist's progress. Like the Brachman Hoffman Fellowship, the Small Grant Program is primarily to make possible the development of a researcher's idea. It is expected that the small grants will provide short-term aid for the research project.

Support Provided:

Brachman Hoffman Small Grants will provide maximum aid of $4,000 to an individual during any given calendar year. (If the grant is requested to support a summer research student for a 10 week period, the maximum grant may be $4,800, to maintain parity with other summer grants. If necessary, up to an additional $800 may be requested, normally for consumable supplies to be used by the student). The grant may be used for items of direct expense essential to the plan of the researcher and which are not available otherwise. Examples of appropriate requests include: research and clerical assistance, including wages for student assistants; expendable supplies; minor equipment needs; page costs; travel for the purpose of data collection or collaborative work; costs for use of off-campus facilities; conference calls. Students should be paid an hourly wage in accordance with College policy. Computer purchases are allowed provided that the applicant gives a detailed justification, explaining in what way the item is integral to the research project (e.g., it interfaces with a piece of experimental apparatus, is essential for data collection, or is needed to perform calculations or simulations for which exisisting computing capacity is insufficient). Ordinarily, the purchase of a laptop computer for the sole purpose of travel or convenience is not permitted.

Support from the Small Grant Program is not available for released time opportunities, summer salary supplements, convention travel and expenses, service and repair of equipment. In addition, the grant may not be used to support curriculum development or the writing of textbooks.

Granting Period:

January 1 - December 31, 2008 (Application due December 4, 2007)

June 1, 2008 - May 31, 2009 (Application due April 7, 2008)

Please Note: All awards are to be expended within the granting period and requests may only be made for items to be used within that period.

Eligibility:

Tenured and tenure-track faculty working on projects as described above, full-time and regular part-time, are eligible, as are faculty emeriti and non-tenure-track faculty on multi-year contracts. Faculty outside the Science Center are eligible if they are conducting research on the discipline of science, or on scientists themselves. Faculty members on paid leaves may use Small Grants to support research on-site. Ordinarily, in a given academic year, a faculty member is eligible to apply for only a Brachman Hoffman or a Staley Small Grant, but not both.

Application Procedures:

Applicants must submit the following information to Mary Hogan in the Science Center Office:

Cover Sheet:

1. Name, Rank and Department

2. Title of Project

3. Current sources and amount of support for the project

4. Other sources and amount of support for other current projects and pending projects

5. Statement by the researcher that the requested items are not currently supported elsewhere

6. Prior Brachman Hoffman support. (Verify that reports have been filed.)

Project Description: A three to four page description. If the project has been previously funded by any source, the applicant should describe what specific progress has been made. In addition, if the project has been supported by previous Brachman Hoffman Small Grants, the applicant should indicate how the award was spent, providing an explanation for any underspending.

The project description should be clearly written, with its salient features understandable by a general scientific audience. The quality and clarity of the written proposal will be an important consideration in the selection process.

Budget: One or two pages specifying the requested budget items and their relationship to the project. The budget should be itemized and as specific as possible. Estimates for student stipends and salaries may be obtained from Mary Hogan.

The selection committee may contact the applicant if additional information is needed.

Recipient's Responsibilities:

• A full written report must be submitted to the Faculty Director of the Science Center within thirty days following the completion of the granting period. The report should include a summary of the work accomplished and a budget accounting. Filing this report is a pre-condition of applying for future small grants.

• It is expected that the award will be used for the expenses submitted, and that the aid will be relinquished if funding for the items is received from other sources. In addition, any use of funds for purposes which are not included in the original proposal must be approved in advance by the Faculty Director of the Science Center.

• The recipient assumes personal financial responsibility for any expenses which exceed the amount of the award.

• The recipient should be aware that all money unexpended at the conclusion of the granting period will revert to the Brachman Hoffman Small Grant Program.

Selection Procedures:

The awards will be made by the Brachman Hoffman Committee chaired by the Faculty Director of the Science Center. Other members of the Committee include the Dean of the College, the Director of Sponsored Research, and five faculty members from the Science Center. These latter members are elected by the Science Center faculty, one each from the departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry; one from among Psychology, Mathematics and Computer Science; and two from departments in the Science Center not already represented by elected faculty members on the committee. At least one member is non-tenured.

The number of awards in each granting period will vary depending upon the expendable income available. Partial awards may be made.

Back to Grants and Fellowships