The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHFoundation) invites investigators to submit proposals in competition for up to four research grants of $25,000 each. The New Century Scholars Research Grant is designed to advance knowledge, tools, and techniques in communication sciences and disorders.
While proposal type and content area are not restricted, this grant supports studies that are innovative, have a promise of major impact, or can meet research needs not yet addressed. The funding can be applied to a one- or two-year study.
Note for 2024: In preparation for the grant submission and review processes, the ASHFoundation requests that potential investigators complete an Intent to Submit Form by March 1 to provide information regarding their proposed studies. When investigators log in to the online submission system, they will be prompted to complete the Intent to Submit Form. This step must be completed before proceeding to the proposal submission process.
Application Deadline: Apr. 17, 2024
Funding Opportunity for Artificial Intelligence Studies
The ASHFoundation is requesting proposals for studies that include Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies for assessment, screening, diagnosis, and/or treatment in the communication sciences and disorders discipline. Some examples of possible application of AI methodologies include, but are not restricted to, supervised learning (classifiers - neural networks, decision trees, support vector machines, deep learning); unsupervised learning (dimensionality reductions, clustering, self-organizing maps); optimization (AI scheduling, prediction); natural language processing (NLP) models; large language models; chatbots; sentiment analyses; etc. While early-stage studies are welcome, there should be a connection to the clinical discipline clearly articulated in the proposal. For 2024, of the proposals that meet funding criteria and will be funded in this competition, designated funding is available to support at least one study in AI.
Funding Opportunity for Dysphagia Studies
Of the proposals that meet funding criteria and will be funded in this competition, an endowed Swallowing Research Fund is available to support proposals for research topics in swallowing and swallowing disorders. The Swallowing Research Fund was established in 2009 by ASHA Special Interest Group 13 (then Division 13) to support the ASHFoundation's New Century Scholars Research Grant program, and our donor community is pleased that its multi-year growth enables funding.
Investigators must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the New Century Scholars Research Grant.
- The investigator must have received a PhD or equivalent research doctorate within the discipline of communication sciences and disorders.
Note: Due to availability of student research grant and scholarship funds through the ASHFoundation, students currently enrolled in a degree program or working on dissertation research are not eligible for this competition.
- The investigator must demonstrate the potential for and commitment to conducting independent research.
- The research must have significance and direct application to communication sciences and disorders.
- The research setting must be an environment conducive to completing the investigation.
- Experienced investigators must provide an explanation of why the proposed work represents a new effort that is not fundable from existing research support or is not an extension of funding that is currently supporting the work. Further, a clear description of the potential impact of the research must be included. (Regarding funding, experienced investigators are those whose current or recent professional funding history indicates "principal investigator" or "co-investigator" status on research funding costs exceeding $50,000 from agencies other than the investigator's host institution.)
- Preference for funding consideration will be given to ASHA members.
- The proposal submitted to the 2024 New Century Scholars Research Grant competition cannot be submitted to other 2024 ASHFoundation grant competitions. However, the investigator remains eligible to submit to other ASHFoundation grant competitions in the same year, if proposing to investigate a different topic.