April 11, 2012

Welcome to Today’s Webinar

Focus of Today’s WebinarHighlight the RIDGE Center’s 2012

Competitive Grants Programs1. The Regular RIDGE Center Grant Program 2. The New Doctoral Dissertation Research

Program

We’ll briefly discuss each during today’s webinar and respond to questions you have on either of these two programs

The SRDC RIDGE Center: Purpose

To invest in innovative social sciences-based research that explores the food and nutrition assistance challenges facing residents and communities in rural America, including•Native Americans•Immigrants•Other racial/ethnic minorities•Single parents•Youth•The persistently poor•Other key populations

The Regular RIDGE Center Competitive

Grants Program

2012 Priority Areas 1. Child Nutrition Programs2. Food Security3. Household Economic Instability and Food

Assistance Participation 4. Food Choices: Socio-Economic Determinants

and Consequences5. Built Environment & Food/Nutrition Assistance

Program Use6. Place-Based Factors Affecting Food Access or

Choices7. Other Relevant Topics

Check out more detailed information on each of these topics at: http://srdc.msstate.edu/ridge/archive/files/ridge_12_grant_rfp.pdf

Items to Keep in MindFocus must be on the economic/social science

aspects of food assistance and nutrition issues

The geographic focus of this year’s RIDGE program is rural America

Comparative studies within the four major regions or across regions are appropriate, as are case studies in 1 or more sites.

Land-grant universities, non-LGUs, research centers or institutes are eligible to apply

Research MethodologySecondary Data Primary Data

http://ers.usda.gov/briefing/foodnutritionassistance/data/

Budget MattersLimited to $35,000

(including F&A)Indirect Cost (F&A) of 10%

is allowedPurchase of computer

equipment not allowedBudget must include

travel to take part in the ERS National RIDGE Workshop, Fall 2013 (in Washington, DC)

Project time period: July 2012 – Dec. 2013

SRDC will host meeting Summer 2013 (using our funds for your travel) to help prepare grantees for the DC meeting

No extension of the grant will be allowed

Review ProcessReviewed by members of the RIDGE Center for

Targeted Studies National Research Advisory BoardMulti-disciplinary board; drawn from all four regions

of the countryCriteria used to evaluate proposals are outlined in the

RFPReviews to be completed by late May; successful

grantees to be notified by early JuneFormal paperwork to be in place (hopefully) by July

Proposal Due Date!• Postmarked no later than May 4, 2012• Send completed proposal by overnight, two-day, or

regular mail• No email or fax copies of the proposal will be

accepted• ONE copy of the proposal is needed

The Doctoral Dissertation

Research Grant Program

Who’s Eligible• PhD students from accredited higher

education institutions in the U.S. • All formal coursework must be done; at the

ABD (All But Dissertation) stage.• Dissertation proposal must be already

approved by doctoral committee• Research must be conducted in the U.S. –

anywhere in rural America

The Key Research Topics• Same areas as those

listed in the regular RIDGE competitive grant program.

• Remember, the research must address the social sciences aspect of the topic you propose to address.

Other Grant DetailsLimited to $17,500 total (for the entire

duration of your doctoral research work)No indirect costs (F&A) allowedStudents with graduate assistantships are still

eligible to apply -- as long as RIDGE funds are used exclusively to support doctoral research activities

Dissertation must be completed by June 2014

Who Submits the Grant?The student’s supervising professor, department head/chair, or

center director must submit the grant application. But, funds must be dedicated to support the student’s doctoral research.

Why can’t the student submit the grant proposal? Most universities require that grants be submitted by a faculty or department/center administrator.

Carefully study the RFP to make sure all required documents are submitted (student cover sheet, supervising professor statement, recommendation letter from supervising professor, proposal, short CV)

Review GuidelinesThe RFP provides detailed information on the grant

application procedures. See:http://srdc.msstate.edu/ridge/archive/files/

ridge_doctoral_dissertation_research_program_2012_rfp.pdf

All reviews will be carried out by our RIDGE Center National Research Advisory Board

See the RFP for the criteria and points being used to evaluate proposals

Due Date for the Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant Proposal

Postmarked no later than May 18, 2011

Send completed proposal by overnight, two-day, or regular mail.

ONE copy of the proposal is needed

Awards will be announced by early July 2012

What Students are Requiredto Provide When PhD is Done

Electronic copy of the completed dissertationor publication ready manuscript(s)

250-word abstract and 8-12 double page research brief (non-technical language) for use by the RIDGE Center

If possible, presentation at the ERS conference

Note: Proprietary rights regarding the PhD research belong to the grantee

Who to Contact(for either grant programs)

Bo Beaulieu, Director and ProfessorRIDGE Center for Targeted Studies @ the SRDCljb@srdc.msstate.edu; 662-325-3207

Vicki Vaughn, Program ManagerSouthern Rural Development Centervickiv@srdc.msstate.edu; 662-325-3207

Special Thanks to:

Alex MajchrowiczDirector, RIDGE Program

Economic Research Service, USDA

Dr. Mary BohmanAdministrator

Economic Research Service

Now. . . Your Turn !