{"id":87,"date":"2026-07-22T01:13:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T05:13:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/busharp\/?page_id=87"},"modified":"2026-10-02T10:29:26","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T14:29:26","slug":"emerging-scholars-pilot-grants","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/busharp\/opportunities\/emerging-scholars-pilot-grants\/","title":{"rendered":"Emerging Scholars Pilot Grants"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Request For Applications 2027-28<\/h2>\n<p>Submit your LOI here: <a href=\"http:\/\/LOI Submission Form\">https:\/\/umn.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_bqLZA0clIhaup94<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Overview<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/busharp\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Boston University-Quantitative Population Science and Healthy Cognitive Aging Research Program (BU-SHARP)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> invites new and early-stage investigators (per <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/grants.nih.gov\/policy-and-compliance\/policy-topics\/early-stage-investigators\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NIH criteria<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) to apply for Emerging Scholars Pilot Grants. BU-SHARP is funded by the National Institute on Aging (P30AG097147).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The grants support small, innovative research projects that generate preliminary findings for larger research efforts on Alzheimer&#8217;s disease and Alzheimer&#8217;s disease-related dementias (AD\/ADRD). Awardees also receive structured mentorship to prepare an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/grants.nih.gov\/funding\/funding-categories\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NIH R-series or K-series application<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> within two years of the award. We anticipate funding two projects in this cycle.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr style=\"align: center; width: 150px; margin-top: 35px;\" \/>\n<h2>Research Themes<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Projects must address at least one of BU-SHARP&#8217;s research themes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>(A)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Between- and within-group patterning of AD\/ADRD onset, progression, and consequences across persons with disabilities, underserved rural populations, and other populations disproportionately affected by AD\/ADRD.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>(B)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Life course individual and interpersonal resources and mechanisms contributing to this patterning.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>(C)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Modifiable influences on AD\/ADRD onset, progression, and consequences in these populations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr style=\"align: center; width: 150px; margin-top: 35px;\" \/>\n<h2>Eligibility<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Applicants must meet both requirements below:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Career stage.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Applicants must qualify as a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/grants.nih.gov\/policy-and-compliance\/policy-topics\/early-stage-investigators\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Investigator or Early-Stage Investigator under NIH criteria.<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Institution.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Applicants must be currently enrolled as a doctoral student, or employed as a postdoctoral fellow or faculty member, at Boston University or at another U.S. based college or university that does not currently have an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/niadecc.org\/centers\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NIA-funded Demography and Economics of Aging (D&amp;E) Center.<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BU-SHARP will also consider established scholars who are new investigators and\/or new to the study of aging and cognitive health, and who help broaden representation in the population aging research workforce across disciplines, career stages, and institutions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Projects should fall within demography, economics, sociology, epidemiology, public health, gerontology, law, or a related population-based field. Applicants must disclose any prior D&amp;E Center pilot awards and any current applications to other D&amp;E Centers.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr style=\"align: center; width: 150px; margin-top: 35px;\" \/>\n<h2>Funding<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Awards provide up to <\/span><b>$20,000 in direct costs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, to be spent over the course of up to 12 months beginning April 1, 2027. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allowable expenses include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Salary and fringe benefits<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data collection<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research staff<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Travel<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supplies (e.g. computing software)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Awardees also receive separate funding for travel to the Population Association of America (PAA) annual meeting and one additional scientific conference of the grantee\u2019s choice.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr style=\"align: center; width: 150px; margin-top: 35px;\" \/>\n<h2>Awardee Support and Expectations<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each awardee receives:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mentorship.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A mentoring team made up of a primary mentor at Boston University, a secondary mentor of the scholar\u2019s choice (facilitated by BU-SHARP), and Pilot Core Director <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sociology\/profile\/deborah-carr\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Deborah Carr.<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Technical assistance.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Help with methods and data, via BU-SHARP workshops and one-on-one consultations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dissemination support.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Help sharing findings with research and non-research audiences.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Proposal review.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A funded \u2018mock review\u2019 of their NIH K or R proposal.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Awardees are expected to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Submit quarterly progress updates and an annual report.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintain regular contact with their mentoring team.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Present at a BU-SHARP Research Accelerator Meeting and at least one related workshop per year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Attend at least two professional development activities per year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Share code and replication materials with resulting publications.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acknowledge NIA support (P30AG097147).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Participation may be remote. Projects involving human subjects must obtain IRB approval or exemption within 30 days of the award notice.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr style=\"align: center; width: 150px; margin-top: 35px;\" \/>\n<h2>Application<\/h2>\n<p><b>Stage 1: Letter of Intent (due November 15, 2026).<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Complete the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/umn.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_bqLZA0clIhaup94\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">online form<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with your contact information, prior D&amp;E Center pilot awards, other D&amp;E Center applications, and project title. Upload a separate LOI document that includes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your name and project title.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A project abstract and anticipated outcome(s), such as an NIH grant proposal (500 words).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How the project and participation in BU-SHARP advances your career goals, including information on whether you plan to pursue a K, R or other grant mechanism and if so, which mechanism, e.g., K99, K01 etc (100 words).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A description of how the project aligns with BU-SHARP themes (250 words).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A preliminary budget request (500 words).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Stage 2: Full Application (by invitation, due March 1, 2027).<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The full application includes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A cover letter describing your interest in the program and your career goals, including plans for NIH funding.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An abstract.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specific aims.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A research strategy with four subsections: Significance, Innovation, Approach, and Anticipated Outcomes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A detailed budget and budget justification.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Project timeline.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An NIH biosketch or CV.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">References.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A dissemination plan.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We expect to provide critical feedback on LOIs and applications, even if not selected for funding, with the intention of supporting applicants\u2019 progress towards preparing a competitive K or R mechanism proposal. Detailed instructions will be provided to invited applicants.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each full application will be reviewed by three members of the BU-SHARP Executive Committee. Review criteria are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alignment with BU-SHARP themes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Innovation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Approach.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Potential impact.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The investigator&#8217;s scientific potential.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr style=\"align: center; width: 150px; margin-top: 35px;\" \/>\n<h2>Application Timeline<\/h2>\n<p>The annual call for applications will be announced each academic year. Applications for the second cohort of Emerging Scholars will open on\u00a0<strong>October 1, 2026.<\/strong> Anticipated application timeline below.<\/p>\n<p>LOI opens <strong>October 1, 2026<\/strong><br \/>\nLOI deadline <strong>November 15, 2026<\/strong><br \/>\nLOI notifications <strong>December 1, 2026<\/strong><br \/>\nFull application opens <strong>December 2, 2026<\/strong><br \/>\nFull application deadline <strong>March 1, 2027<\/strong><br \/>\nAward notifications <strong>March 15, 2027<\/strong><br \/>\nProject start <strong>April 1, 2027<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Request For Applications 2027-28 Submit your LOI here: https:\/\/umn.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_bqLZA0clIhaup94 Overview The Boston University-Quantitative Population Science and Healthy Cognitive Aging Research Program (BU-SHARP) invites new and early-stage investigators (per NIH criteria) to apply for Emerging Scholars Pilot Grants. BU-SHARP is funded by the National Institute on Aging (P30AG097147). The grants support small, innovative research projects that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23272,"featured_media":0,"parent":107,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/busharp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/87"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/busharp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/busharp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/busharp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23272"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/busharp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/busharp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/87\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":459,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/busharp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/87\/revisions\/459"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/busharp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/busharp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}