Who is eligible?
Residents and fellows with faculty mentors who are active members of the Cleveland Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Additionally, awardees must be able to present their research project at the annual CLESOG Research Day.
What is the award amount?
Up to $1,000. Annual requests for applications will be subject to availability of funds.
When is it awarded?
At the annual CLESOG Research Day.
How proposals are evaluated
Proposals are evaluated on five criteria:
- Significance — potential to contribute meaningfully to the body of knowledge in Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Innovation — the extent to which the project employs novel concepts, approaches, or methods; challenges or develops new paradigms; or considers an existing problem from a new perspective
- Investigator(s) — capacity to complete the proposed project, and an appropriate mentorship and/or collaboration plan
- Approach — clearly stated hypotheses and specific aims; methodology appropriate to assess them; a reasonable timeline
- Potential for future funding — priority given to pilot studies designed to provide preliminary data supporting subsequent extramural funding proposals, or that may open new avenues of research for the trainee
Each criterion is scored on a 1–9 scale: 9 Exceptional, 8 Outstanding, 7 Excellent, 6 Very good, 5 Good, 4 Satisfactory, 3 Fair, 2 Marginal, 1 Poor.
Grant proposals are reviewed by a committee appointed by the CLESOG Executive Board. The application with the highest score receives the funding; in the case of a tie, a referee committee of three additional CLESOG-appointed reviewers determines the awardee.
Application & deadline
Applications must be emailed to clesog@gmail.com prior to March 1st. Download the application (PDF) →
Proposal format
Proposals must be submitted electronically and include sections A–D. Minimum 11-point font, 0.5-inch margins.
A. Description of proposed research (6 pages max, including all figures and tables):
- Specific Aims and Hypotheses of the project
- Background and Significance
- Innovation
- Preliminary Results or Summary of Relevant Studies
- Research Design and Methods (including statistical analyses)
- A description of human subjects' protection and/or animal welfare, IRB, or other regulatory approvals obtained or planned
- Literature Cited: Author, Title, Journal, Volume, Pages, Year
- Projected Timeline — all IRB approvals are expected to be completed prior to the end of the first year, with project completion within two years
- Copies of relevant questionnaires, survey forms, or letters of collaboration
- A conflict-of-interest statement for all applicants and their mentors
B. Budget: A detailed line-item budget, with justification for each item. The total amount requested must not exceed $1,000. Appropriate requests include equipment, reagents, animals and animal care, data management, and statistical support. Clerical/secretarial support and travel expenses are not eligible for financial support.
C. Academic Development:
- A statement of how this project will promote the trainee's career development or plans to obtain future funding
- The faculty mentor's CV or Biosketch, along with a detailed description of the mentoring plan for the trainee during the project
D. The Annual Report: By accepting the award, the PI agrees to the terms of the award, which include complying with the budget, providing an Annual Progress Report, and completing the study within two years. The annual progress report should include:
- A brief one-page summary of progress
- A budget report (including expenditures to date)
- A list or summary of abstracts or manuscripts that have been submitted, presented, or published