What is the definition of an “early career investigator” engaged in a field of basic science related to neuroarts?
- For purposes of the Basic Research Fleming Awards, an early career investigator is a new investigator who has completed their terminal research degree or medical residency — whichever date is later — within the past 10 years.
- The 10-year rule applies whether or not the individual has received a major research award in the past.
Must an “individual working in an arts-based neuroarts discipline” also meet the criteria of an “early career investigator” as defined for the purposes of the Fleming Awards program?
- No, for purposes of the Basic Research Awards, an individual working in an arts-based neuroarts discipline need not fulfill the requirements of an early career investigator as defined for the purposes of the Fleming Awards program.
Who qualifies as a “PhD candidate”?
- A PhD candidate is an individual who has finished all the necessary coursework and passed their qualifying tests for the degree, but has not yet completed their dissertation (ABD).
Are post-docs eligible to apply for a Basic Research Award or only an Applied Research Award?
- Only an Applied Research Award. To be eligible to apply for a Basic Research Award, an individual must hold a full-time appointment at a US academic or research institution and be engaged in a field of basic science related to neuroarts. Post docs are not considered to have a full-time academic appointment.
May a DrPH candidate apply for an Applied Research Award?
- Yes, in addition to PhD candidates and post-docs, DrPH candidates may apply for an Applied Research Award. Doctoral students must have attained candidate status at the time an application is submitted.
Is an individual with adjunct status at a US academic or research institution eligible to apply for an award or is a full-time academic appointment required?
- For Basic Research Awards, an early investigator must hold a full-time appointment at a US academic or research institution and be engaged in a field of basic science related to neuroarts to be eligible to apply. Adjuncts are not considered to have a full-time academic appointment.
- For Applied Research Awards, an individual must be a post-doc or PhD candidate affiliated with a US academic or research institution. Adjuncts can be considered to be affiliated with such institutions.
Are medical students eligible to apply for an award?
- No, medical students may not apply for an award.
- Medical residents may apply for an award.
Are non-US citizens eligible to apply for an award?*
*Please note that the response to this question clarifies information provided during the Blueprint’s January 8th webinar regarding requirements related to US citizenship and applicant eligibility.
- No, although individuals who are permanent US residents or who hold a Green Card are eligible to apply for either a Basic Research or Applied Research Award.
- All principal investigators must be a US citizen or permanent resident or hold a Green Card.
- Non-US citizens may be members of a research team.
- US citizens or permanent residents or individuals with a Green Card and who have a full-time appointment at, or affiliation with, a non-US academic or research institution are not eligible to apply. Such individuals must have a full-time appointment or affiliation with a US-based academic or research institution.
May an individual unaffiliated with an academic or research institution apply for an award? Can an unaffiliated artist apply for an award?
- For Basic Research Awards, an early career investigator must have a full-time appointment with a US academic or research institution. However, an individual working in an arts-based neuroarts discipline need not have such an appointment or otherwise be affiliated with a US academic or research institution. But note that the Basic Research Award application generally requires both a scientist and an artist to apply as co-principal investigators.
- For Applied Research Awards, a principal investigator must be either a post-doc or PhD candidate affiliated with a US academic or research institution.
May two individuals apply for an applied research award as co- principal investigators?
- Yes, although both individuals must meet all the criteria for qualifying as a principal investigator. Both individuals must be:
- A US citizen, a US permanent resident, or hold a Green Card;
- Either a post-doc or PhD candidate affiliated with a US academic or research institution;
- Engaged in a field of basic science related to neuroarts or engaged in an arts-based neuroarts discipline; and
- Working under the guidance of a faculty member affiliated with a US academic or research institution and who has experience and expertise in the use of evidence-based neuroarts research and its application to individuals or groups of individuals
To whom does the requirement that individuals may submit only one application for only one type of award apply? Just principal investigators or others?
- Individuals applying in their capacity as a principal investigator may submit only one application for only one type of award.
- Individuals serving as a member of a research team may be included in more than one application, i.e., such persons can be listed as staff for separate applications with different principal investigators.
Who is eligible to qualify to apply for a basic research award as a single investigator rather than with a co-investigator?
- To qualify for the exception to the requirement that an application for a Basic Research Award include two principal investigators ((1) an early career investigator engaged in a field of basic science related to neuroarts; and (2) an individual working in an arts-based neuroarts discipline), an individual must have a full-time appointment at a US academic or research institution in both a field of basic science related to neuroarts and an arts-related neuroarts discipline. Each such appointment may be at a different such institution, but each must be a full-time appointment and otherwise meet the criteria for applying for a Basic Research Award.
- This exception is intended to be rare since one of the purposes of the Fleming Awards is to incentivize collaboration between those working in neuroarts sciences and those working in arts-based neuroarts disciplines.
To whom do the conflict of interest restrictions regarding applicant eligibility apply?
- Individuals affiliated with the NeuroArts Blueprint initiative, including members of its Advisory Board, as well as members of the Application Review Committee and staff of the Renée Fleming Foundation may neither apply for a Fleming Award nor participate in the development or execution of an application for such an award.
- The conflict of interest restrictions apply only to these specified individuals. A person with a professional affiliation with such an individual is not precluded from applying for a Fleming Award so long as that person works independently of that individual in the development and execution of their application. For example, in the case of a post doc who has a professional affiliation with a conflicted faculty member: the post doc would be considered to be working independently of that conflicted faculty member if they partner with a different faculty member in their academic or research institution or with a faculty member in a different such institution.
Are for-profit businesses eligible to apply for an award?
- No.
Is there greater interest in supporting either qualitative research or quantitative research?
- No, both types of research are encouraged and most welcome.
May an application include graphs or charts? Should an application include references? In either instance, is the material to be included within the specified word counts?
- Applications may include graphs and other such charts as well as references. None of these materials will be counted against the word counts specified in the application requirements.
What is the expectation for the size of “groups of individuals” in community-based settings that are the subject of an applied research award application?
- There is no expectation that “groups of individuals” must include a certain number of people. That figure should be the appropriate number to meet the standards for a well-designed research study whose results will help expand the evidence base of the emerging field of neuroarts.
For applications requiring documentation of approval of an institutional review board (or equivalent such committee), must that documentation be provided by the February 1 deadline for submitting an application?
- No, such an application must confirm that IRB (or equivalent) approval is required and that the process for securing such approval will move forward immediately if an award is made. Documentation of approval must be provided as soon as it is secured.
May award funds be used to support currently existing or soon-to-be launched programs?
- No, award funds may not be used to support programs that currently exist; programs that are about to be launched; or programs that otherwise have been approved and are expected to become operational regardless of the outcome of the application for a Fleming Award.
Does either award cover indirect costs?
- No, neither award covers indirect costs.
Does either award cover article process charges and/or travel expenses to present research findings at conferences?
- Both awards cover article process charges and/or travel expenses to present research findings at conferences and other appropriate venues – so long as such charges and expenses are related to research work supported by the Fleming Award.
Where to send completed applications?
- Please send those to [email protected]