| New Connections Grants |
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What are New Connections grants?
New Connections grants are for early career investigators from historically disadvantaged and underrepresented groups who have completed their doctorate or terminal degree within seven years prior to the award date for the grant (after November 1, 2002). These grants are for individuals who are in the early stages of an independent research career. The RWJF New Connections and Healthy Eating Research programs are separate RWJF programs that have partnered to offer these funding opportunities.
What is the RWJF New Connections program?
The New Connections program is an internally managed national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's (RWJF) Building Human Capital portfolio which works to develop and retain a diverse, well-trained leadership and workforce in health and healthcare to meet the needs of all Americans. Created in 2005, New Connections is designed to expand the diversity of perspectives that inform RWJF program strategy and introduce new researchers and scholars to the Foundation. New Connections seeks to increase the exposure of RWJF to researchers and experts that represent historically underrepresented research communities. For more information about other grant opportunities through this RWJF program, please visit the program website at www.rwjf-newconnections.org.
Is this the only New Connections funding opportunity?
No. The RWJF New Connections program offers New Connections grants in other content areas. The RWJF New Connections program also offers funding opportunities for mid- to senior-level investigators, in addition to early career investigators. For more information about other grant opportunities through this RWJF program, please visit the program website at www.rwjf-newconnections.org. In addition, the RWJF Active Living Research program offers New Connections grants in the area of physical activity. For more information please visit the program website at www.activelivingresearch.org.
How does Healthy Eating Research define "early career investigator"?
Early career investigators are individuals who are in the early stages of an independent research career. To be eligible for the Healthy Eating Research 2009 New Connections call for proposals (CFP), investigators must have completed their doctorate or terminal degree within seven years prior to the award date for the grant (after November 1, 2002).
How do you define "historically disadvantaged and underrepresented groups"?
RWJF defines this as individuals who are from a group that has been historically disadvantaged and underrepresented in research activities, including people from racial or ethnic minorities, first-generation college graduates and people from low-income communities.
Are women considered to be an underrepresented group?
No, women are not an underrepresented group in the research activities supported by RWJF's New Connections grant programs.
I'm not personally from a historically disadvantaged and underrepresented group, but I have experience and expertise with a relevant group. Am I eligible for a New Connections grant?
No. These grants are for individuals who are personally from a group that is historically disadvantaged and underrepresented in research activities. Investigators who do not meet these criteria are invited to apply for other Healthy Eating Research funding opportunities.
I received my doctorate less than seven years ago and represent a historically disadvantaged and underrepresented group. Is it recommended that I apply through the Healthy Eating Research 2009 New Connections CFP?
The choice is yours. You may apply for a Healthy Eating Research childhood obesity-related grant through the Healthy Eating Research 2009 New Connections CFP and/or the Healthy Eating Research Round 4 call for proposal. You may apply for a grant through both of these funding opportunities, but the proposals must be for distinct research study ideas.
I earned my doctorate or terminal degree more than seven years ago. Am I eligible for a New Connections grant through the Healthy Eating Research program?
No. New Connections grants through the Healthy Eating Research program are only for early career investigators who have earned their doctorate or terminal degree within the last seven years. Advanced career investigators from historically disadvantaged and underrepresented communities are not eligible for New Connections grants through the Healthy Eating Research program. They should apply through the Healthy Eating Research Round 4 CFP. Early career investigators eligible for this CFP are also eligible to apply for grants funded through the Healthy Eating Research Round 4 CFP.
Do I need a Ph.D. to be eligible for funding?
Early career investigators will need to have a doctorate or terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D., M.D., J.D.) to be eligible for funding.
Do I need to be in a faculty position to be eligible for funding?
Participation in this program is open to individuals who hold faculty or other research positions in university settings or equivalent positions in non-university settings, such as independent research organizations.
I am currently a postdoctoral fellow. Am I eligible for this funding opportunity?
Yes, postdoctoral fellows are eligible to apply as long as the postdoctoral position would allow a 25% time commitment for the New Connections grant. New Connections early career investigator grantees funded through the Healthy Eating Research program are required to commit a minimum of 25% FTE to the project. Postdoctoral fellows must also be in a post-doc position that will last the duration of the New Connections award.
Am I eligible for a New Connections grant through Healthy Eating Research if I have previously been funded by RWJF?
New Connections grants through Healthy Eating Research are available only to investigators who have not been previously funded by RWJF. If an investigator has received funding from RWJF as a principal investigator, he/she is not eligible for this funding opportunity. However, an applicant is still eligible to apply to this funding opportunity as a principal investigator if he/she has previously worked on a RWJF-funded research team in any capacity other than the principal investigator.
How does the Healthy Eating Research 2009 New Connections CFP compare to the Healthy Eating Research Round 4 Call for Proposals?
The Healthy Eating Research 2009 New Connections CFP is parallel to the Healthy Eating Research Round 4 CFP in terms of study topics targeted and proposal and review timeline.
The funding opportunities are similar in that both CFPs focus on studies of policy and environmental strategies in four targeted topic areas: food pricing and economic approaches; food and beverage marketing; improving access to healthy foods in low-income communities; and evaluations of promising food-related policy and environmental strategies.
Target populations include children and adolescents ages 3 to 18, especially in the low-income and racial/ethnic populations at highest risk for obesity.
There are some key differences between the Healthy Eating Research 2009 New Connections and the Healthy Eating Research Round 4 CFPs:
If I am selected to receive one of these grants, will I be a Healthy Eating Research grantee or a RWJF New Connections grantee?
You will be considered a grantee of both of these RWJF programs. New Connections grantees funded through Healthy Eating Research will be part of both the broader network of New Connections as well as Healthy Eating Research grantees. Grantees who receive Healthy Eating Research New Connections grants will be invited to participate in networking symposia and training opportunities organized by RWJF, which will include New Connections grantees from previous years as well as from other study topic areas, and also will participate in the annual Healthy Eating Research grantee meeting.
Can I submit the same proposal to both Healthy Eating Research 2009 New Connections and Healthy Eating Research Round 4 Call for Proposals?
You cannot submit the same proposal to both the Healthy Eating Research 2009 New Connections and the Healthy Eating Research Round 4 call for proposals. However, you could submit two or more unique proposals. Each would be reviewed independently. It is unlikely that the same investigator will be funded for more than one proposal.
How many New Connections junior investigator grants will Healthy Eating Research award through this CFP?
Healthy Eating Research will award up to a total of three New Connections awards with the Healthy Eating Research 2009 New Connections CFP.
Are these grants limited to secondary data analysis?
No. Projects may involve secondary data analysis, but this CFP will also fund measurement development, epidemiologic, observational, correlational or experimental studies; cost-benefit studies; or evaluation of environmental and policy changes. Please refer to the Healthy Eating Research 2009 New Connections Call for Proposals for more information about the types of studies that are eligible for funding. Studies may be conducted as supplements to existing studies funded by RWJF, other foundations or government agencies.
What types of grants are available through this Healthy Eating Research 2009 New Connections CFP?
There are two types of grants available:
What are some examples of studies that would be funded under this CFP?
For types of studies and sample topics that would be funded by the Healthy Eating Research Special 2009 New Connections CFP, please see Sample Topics.
Can I apply for funding under this program to supplement an existing grant?
Yes, studies may be conducted as supplements to existing studies. Co-funding is welcome, with sources and amounts fully described in the application.
How will the mentoring program work for New Connections grantees funded through the Healthy Eating Research program?
The Healthy Eating Research program will provide New Connections grantees with structured and formal mentoring opportunities to help enhance their research skills and development as successful, competitive independent investigators. New Connections grantees will receive assistance in developing an individually tailored formal mentoring program, including access to consultants for technical assistance. The mentor and grantee initially will meet during a grantee/mentor training workshop prior to the Healthy Eating Research Annual Grantee Meeting and will develop goals, an organized plan, and project timeline.
I already have a mentor. If I am selected to receive a New Connections award through Healthy Eating Research, will it be possible to be matched with my current mentor?
New Connections grant recipients will select their primary program mentor in conjunction with the Healthy Eating Research national program office based on expertise appropriate to the grantee's specific research project and broader career development needs. This may include a mentor with whom the investigator is already working.
How will proposals be reviewed?
All proposals will be assessed by a committee composed of RWJF staff, Healthy Eating Research national program office staff at the University of Minnesota, a senior program advisory panel and other expert reviewers. All funding decisions are made by RWJF.
Will you provide evaluation criteria to be used by the program in making these awards, with weights?
The evaluation criteria to be used in making funding decisions are outlined in the "Selection Criteria" section of the Healthy Eating Research 2009 New Connections Call for Proposals. These criteria are not weighted.
How does the grant proposal process work?
Proposals must be made through the RWJF Grantmaking Online system. The proposal process has two stages.
The first stage is the brief proposal stage, which includes submission of a proposal narrative of no more than three pages using 12-point Arial font and 1.5 line spacing and biosketches for key personnel.
In the second stage, select applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal for further consideration. The full proposal will include a proposal narrative of no more than 20 pages using 12-point Arial font and 1.5 line spacing, biosketches for key personnel, a budget worksheet, and a detailed budget narrative. Limited appendices (e.g., proposed survey instruments) and letters of support also may be submitted as part of the full proposal stage. All materials must be submitted electronically through the RWJF Grantmaking Online system. The Grantmaking Online application site contains specific instructions regarding application materials.
Can I fax or email a proposal?
No faxes, emails or mailed proposals will be accepted. The proposal narrative and additional required documents must be submitted online through the RWJF Grantmaking Online system.
Do I need to submit a budget with my brief proposal?
No. For brief proposals, applicants will not need to submit a budget. They will need to indicate the total amount of RWJF funding requested. Applicants invited to submit full proposals will need to complete a detailed budget worksheet and budget narrative documents. For additional budget information, please refer to the "Budget and Co-Funding" section of the FAQs.
When will grants be awarded? When will I be notified if I have been awarded a grant or not?
After the brief proposals are reviewed, selected applicants will be contacted early-May 2009 by the Healthy Eating Research national program office to invite them to submit a full proposal for further consideration. Full proposals will be submitted through a separate Grantmaking Online proposal application site and will be due June 12, 2009. Applicants who submit full proposals will be notified in mid-August 2009 if they have been selected as finalists, at which time final proposal documents must be submitted and a detailed budget review will begin. Grants funded under the Healthy Eating Research 2009 New Connections CFP must begin on November 1, 2009.
How can I check on the status of my proposal?
Upon successful submission of your proposal, you will receive a confirmation e-mail from the Grantmaking Online proposal application site. Please ensure that you have received confirmation. We expect to receive many proposals, all of which must go through the same review process. If you have a question about a specific proposal, please send an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call us at (800) 578-8636. Please be sure to include the name of the applicant institution, the principal investigator and contact information in your communication.
How can I get more information about New Connections grants through the Healthy Eating Research program?
You may contact Laura Klein, research coordinator in the Healthy Eating Research national program office, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 800-578-8636. |