SSR Emerging Investigator Grant Submission Form

Format:
Proposals that do not follow submission guidelines will not be considered for funding.

The SSR plans to fund ~8 one-year grant awards of up to $10,000. Applications will be submitted electronically via this form. The proposals should be written in Arial 11-12 font, with 0.5-inch margins and follow this format:

1. Title Page with the following:

• Application for 2026 SSR Emerging Investigator Grant
• Project Director:
• Collaborating Personnel:
• Title of Project:
• Summary information (for SSR Notice of Award generation and payment of funds):
  • Institution:
  • PD/PI:
  • Collaborating personnel:
  • Proposal title:
  • Payment system identifier:
  • Employer Identification number:
  • Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS):
  • Recipient’s unique entity identifier:
  • Authorized institutional official information:

Note: Please provide sufficient information for the SSR to contact and process payment to your institution. Work with your grants office/officials to obtain as much information as is available.

2. Project Summary/Abstract (<500 words) that clearly articulates how this project aligns with the SSR Mission (Advance the Science of Reproduction, Fertility, and Development for the Benefit of Humans and Animals) and Vision (A Sustainable World Through the Science of Reproduction, Fertility, and Development).

3. Specific Aims (=1 page)

4. Research Strategy (<3 pages*) with the following titled subsections:

1. Background and Significance/Impact (think about what reviewers will need to know)
2. Innovation (bulleted list of conceptual and technical innovations)
3. Research Plan (clear description of methodology and statistical analyses, with expected outcomes)
4. How results will increase competitiveness for future extramural funding
5. Timeline (in Gantt chart format)
6. References/citations (*does not count towards the 3-page limit)

5. Curriculum vitae (CV, no specific format) of the PI/PD.  CVs for other personnel should not be included.

6. List of current funding and other support.  Please include the amounts and dates of all competitive and non-completive funding, in-kind support, faculty start-up funding, etc.

7. Brief budget plan that clearly specifies how funds will be used.

8. Signed letter from the department/divisional head or chair that verifies the PI/PD’s status as an independent researcher that will be solely responsible for overseeing the use of funding, research activities, publications, and future grant applications.  

Eligibility

• The SSR will fund early-stage investigators (within 5 years of the start of their first independent investigator position) and having not received significant competitive funding (more than $100,000 USD total direct cost; e.g., R00 and other significant research or training awards).
• Investigators should have a doctoral degree (MD, MD/PhD, PhD, DO, ScD or equivalent), be working to establish an independent research program, and have sufficient expertise, commitment of effort, organizational structure, and operational effectiveness to successfully implement the plan for the proposed research. Scientists who have received the terminal degree but are working as a trainee (e.g., clinical and research students, residents, fellows, and postdoctoral trainees) are not eligible as PI.
• Applicants must be SSR Regular Members at the time of application. Grantees must maintain an active membership for three years, and the results must be presented at the SSR annual meeting within three years of the award date.
• The proposed project must align with the SSR Mission (Advance the Science of Reproduction, Fertility, and Development for the Benefit of Humans and Animals) and Vision (“A Sustainable World Through the Science of Reproduction, Fertility, and Development”).

Details of the Grant Award

• Funds will be paid to the applicant’s institution.
• Funds awarded are final, do not include overheads, and are not subject to appeal.
• Funds are only awarded for direct costs and cannot be used to cover salaries.
• Eligible applicants may apply as PI for one grant per year (limit of 3 cycles with the same proposal), and a recipient will not be eligible if they have previously received this grant.

Selection Process

The SSR Membership Committee will review proposals and determine grant awards. The Emerging Investigator Grants will be given to scientists from diverse areas of interest, widespread regions of the world, and whose labs use various species of interest. Applications will be judged based on the following criteria:

• Quality of the proposed project based on clarity of the identified gap in knowledge, hypothesis, and research design.

• Scientific and clinical/practical relevance of the proposed project to SSR themes.

• Feasibility of the project to be completed within one year using available resources, personnel, and expertise.

• Additional considerations may be given to rare/niche research topics, etc.

• The main criteria will be the quality of the application; however, in an effort to align with the SSR strategic plan, the selection committee will also consider areas of interest, regions of the world, and species of interest in their selection.

To avoid a potential conflict of interest, members of the SSR Grant Committee will recuse themselves from review of any proposal that involves their institutions of employment or has a conflict of interest (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/peer/NIH_Conflict_of_Interest_Rules.pdf). Grant award notifications will be made at the Annual Meeting and funding will be dispersed shortly afterwards (August-September).

Post-Award Requirements

• Provide the SSR with a final summary report and conciliation of funds within 60 days of end-of-funding deadline.
• Present research findings (talk or poster) at an SSR Annual Meeting within 3 years of receiving the grant.
• Provide acknowledgement of support by the SSR in all publications, abstracts, manuscripts, and/or presentations at scientific conferences or meetings resulting from the funded research.