WRITING YOUR PROPOSAL

Laura E. Mitchell, PhDAssociate Dean for Research

RESOURCES

https://sph.uth.edu/research/student-research/

RESEARCH OFFICE

• Rebecca Novak–x9055, W210

• Peggy Weinshilboum–x9310, W212

Basic writing skills

Scientific writing skills

Electronic and library resources

Generate and catalog ideas

PREPARE

COMMITTEES• Membership• Timing• Roles

–Student–Faculty

• Meeting schedules

• Proposal format– Length, content, reference/bibliography style

• Writing schedule

• Proposal feedback and revisions

PLAN

THE PROPOSAL

• Background/Introduction

• Public Health Significance

• Specific Aims/Hypotheses/Objectives

• Methods

• References/Bibliography

• Optional Sections Preliminary data Mock-up of results

• https://sph.uth.tmc.edu/content/uploads/2012/02/CulminatingExperienceGuide_V2_Oct11.pdf

• https://sph.uth.tmc.edu/content/uploads/2012/02/Doctoral-Dissertaton-and-MS-Thesis-Guide_V1-FEB2012.pdf

Background

Public Health Significance

Aims/Objectives

Methods

(Preliminary Data)

(Results)

WRITE

• BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION

–Review relevant literature

–State problem/need/gap

–Argue importance

• PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNFICANCE–Of your project

• SPECIFIC AIMS–Questions that will be answered–Needs that will be met–Gaps that will be filled

• METHODS

–All proposals require methods

–All aims require methods

METHODS• Describe what you will do and how

you will do it

• Clearly distinguish what has been done from what will be done

• Contract with committee

PRELIMINARY DATA

• Projects that are largely complete or that have been completed prior to writing your proposal, including work that has been submitted for publication or previously published, may not be used for your dissertation. However, if you have done work in preparation for writing your proposal, for example as part of your practicum or as a graduate research assistant, you should include a summary of the work that has already been done, in past tense.

RESULTS

• If you include this section, it should provide an outline of how your results will be presented and mock-ups of the tables and/or figures that will be used to present your data.

FORMAT

LENGTH

WHAT ELSE?• Committee approval

• UTSPH forms complete

• Enroll for > 3 credits – semester in which the proposal is submitted and

all subsequent semesters until project is completed

– does not have to be thesis/dissertation credits

AND…• Submit to UTSPH Office of Research and IRB

and/or other committees

• Institutional approvals

• ADR approval– UTSPH turn-around < 2 weeks from submission of

COMPLETE packet

IRB• Human subject research

– If in doubt, check!

• MUST have UTHSC CPHS approval– Others approvals may also be required

• Approval– Student protocol– Student added to UT faculty protocol

PROPOSAL DEADLINES

• Spring 2014 Graduation– Submission: March 21– Approval: April 4

• Summer 2014– Submission: June 30– Approval: July 16

Doctoral Dissertation Awards

• 5/year– Fall and Spring calls for proposals

• Spring 2014, application submission deadline: 4/18

• < $2000 / research related expenditures

• Requirements:– Passed preliminary/qualifying exam– Approved proposal