Futures Grant Program
The Future Grant Program is a program by the Vice President for Research aiming at mobilizing potential for interdisciplinary action that is embedded within the University of Minnesota. It seems a perfect answer to one of the initial questions posted in our "2008-Minnesota Aging Retreat" and in in the First 2008-SAR Meeting, "how to obtain funding so that we can move forward basic aging and gerontological research in Minnesota?"
If you can spare a few minutes, have a look at the link below. This program consists of two phases: (1) Organization of an Interdisciplinary Symposium, (2) Interdisciplinary Research Proposals that originate from the Symposium. They give three award in each phase ($25,000 and $250,000 each, respectively). The deadline is 23 May. The opportunities for the SAR Group are IMMENSE if we focus and take the challenge of putting up an application together.
See http://www.research.umn.edu/opportunities/intramural/MNFutures.html
Looking forward to your input in our blog!
Comments
Here are some ideas for “initiatives that benefit graduate students”:
- initiate a poster day so that grad students can display and share their research (perhaps extend one of the monthly SAR meetings to accommodate this)
- provide opportunities for the more senior grad students to give lectures or seminars (examples: a “background” lecture in the Biology of Aging class or a “research” seminar in a department outside of the student’s home department)
- facilitate communication between grad students by organizing a luncheon for them every couple of months (and stipulate that they NOT sit a table with other grad students from their own lab!)
- perhaps in combination with the luncheons, have students organize lab tours; I think grad students like to see other labs and this could be a great opportunity for them to get out to the VA
Posted by: Dawn Lowe | May 9, 2008 05:04 PM