Nursing Research Grant Opportunities

Contact information and a biographical sketch must be completed for each investigator. Limit biographical sketch information to past 10 years only as related to the project. Please note, when more than one investigator is listed, the first individual named will be the person with whom Sigma will communicate and the investigator who will assume responsibility for conducting the research.

New for 2020 - Biographical sketches will be uploaded to the application by the submitter. The following file types may be uploaded: PDF document (*.pdf), Word document (*.doc/.docx). To assist you gathering this information, please utilize the biographical sketch checklist.

Note: the application will not advance to the next step until all the investigator(s) biographical Sketch file(s) have been uploaded.

Select the specialty area(s) your research falls under (as many as applicable). You must select a minimum of one main specialty area, which are displayed in bold. Sub-specialty area selection(s) are not required. Please note, Sigma reviewers will be assigned to applications based on the specialty area(s) selected. Click here to view the Research Speciality list.

Include an abstract of your proposed research. Outline objectives and methods. Specify the subject population and describe the research design, instruments, and procedure to clearly reflect their importance in the study. The abstract should NOT exceed 200 words and contain NO pictures, charts, or tables are permitted.

The format of the abstract MUST contain four separate paragraphs labeled with these headings:
• Subject Population
• Research Design
• Instrument
• Procedure

The project text MUST be 6000 words or less. Please note, the online system will validate against this word count. We recommend that you first compose the proposal in your own word processor (i.e., Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect, etc.). Check both spelling, grammar and utilize the word count function, before you save and upload. If the formatting of the proposal text does not hold when you copy-and-paste or upload the file. Sigma Grant reviewers are aware that online formatting of the project text periodically will not hold its original formatting, and this does not affect the score of the proposal.

The project text can be copy-and-pasted in the online Rich Text Editor or may be uploaded as one of the following file types only: HTML document (*.htm), HTML document (*.html), or plain text document (*.txt). Uploading the proposal text as a Word document (.doc) file is NOT permitted.

Support:

1. Facilities/Resources:
   Describe the facilities and other physical resources available for this study (e.g., laboratories, clinical resources, office space, etc.)
2. Collaborative Arrangements:
   If the proposed research requires collaboration with other institutions, describe the nature of collaboration and provide evidence to the reviewers that those institutions are willing to cooperate.
3. Consultative Support:
   Include a description of availability of adequate consultation to assure refinement and completion of the project.

Letters of support must be provided from the following:

• At least one research advisor/committee chair, if the proposal is dissertation research;
• At least two colleagues who are knowledgeable about this research;
• Any collaborating institutions; and
• Any consultants.

Where applicable, please attach the following documents to your project proposal:

Expenditures:

Sigma does not fund indirect costs nor costs related to completing an education program (e.g. tuition). Please include your budget amounts for the following items:

• Personnel (Requests for Investigator salaries may be included. Include hourly rate for personnel in justification section.)
• Secretarial staff
• Typing costs (Must be those directly related to the research. Typing of dissertations will not be funded.)
• Research Assistants
• Consultants (Limit to $50 per hour)
• Supplies
• Equipment (Digital devices are not allowable expenses.)
• Computer costs (software only)
• Travel Expenses (data collection only)
• Other

Provide a justification for all expenditures listed.

Other Financial Support:

If you have applied for other sources of support, how will the conduct of this study be affected, if the other funding is not obtained?

Click here to see a sample budget form which indicates the fields contained in the online submission.

The following Research Agreement must be read and acknowledge via a digital signature:

If my proposal is approved for funding, I agree to the following:
• Assume any and all tax liability for research funds that are issued in my name
• Assume responsibility for the scientific conduct of this research
• Return the remaining funds to Sigma, if my research is not finished by the projected completion date, unless an extension has been granted by Sigma
• Notify Sigma if other requested support is received
• Email a copy of the completed report within 90 days after completing my research to Sigma headquarters.
• Publish or present the findings of my research, giving priority to Sigma publications
• Acknowledge Sigma's support in all presentations, publications, etc.
• That I will not accept duplicate funding
• Allow my final research report, in full or abstract form, to be published in Sigma publications and to be included as part of the research database(s)
• I understand Sigma will withhold $500.00 from my research grant until my final report is received and I have registered my research project and findings in the Registry of Nursing Research of the Virginia Henderson International Nursing Library within 90 days of completing my research.
• Unless otherwise noted on the individual Sigma grant information page, completion of the research is expected within one year of funding. I understand that it is my responsibility to notify Sigma in writing if I am unable to complete my research within one year of funding.
• Extension requests received after 1 March of the year the final reports are due will be considered on a case by case basis.
• I affirm that the material I have submitted to Sigma is my original work and that I did not copy or otherwise use materials developed by any third party without permission and subsequent disclosure to Sigma.
• I acknowledge and am aware that if any third party contests in writing the ownership or credibility of the material I have submitted, Sigma will remove the material from all sources until the parties involved resolve the conflict to Sigma's satisfaction.

I understand and agree to adhere to the above-mentioned items. I understand that failure to meet these conditions may result in administrative action including, but not limited to, my becoming ineligible to receive further grants or scholarship funds from Sigma.