Competitive Grant Awards

Junior Faculty Research Award (JFRA)

The purpose of this program is to support early career ASB regular members pursuing biomechanics research by offering a source of research funding. The grants are distributed on a competitive basis and are intended to offset the costs directly associated with conducting research. Funds may be used for small equipment items, materials and supplies, and animal or participant costs, and $1000 can be used to support graduate student stipends or hourly pay (as of 2018), but no indirect costs of research. ASB anticipates awarding one grant of $5000 for a one-year period beginning in July each year.

Complete information about this award can be found at this link. Applications should be submitted electronically as one pdf document to the Awards Chair via the linked Google Form.

The deadline for submission: March 4, 2025.

Graduate Student Research Grant

The purpose of this program is to support ASB student members in pursuing biomechanics research by offering a source of research funding. The grants are distributed on a competitive basis and are intended to offset the costs directly associated with conducting research. Funds may be used for small equipment items, materials and supplies, animal or participant costs (including participant travel), and statistical consulting services or other research services. Funds cannot be used to support researcher travel costs, salaries, or indirect costs of research. ASB anticipates the award of 3-5 grants of $2000, plus annual meeting registration waivers for each awardee, for a one-year period beginning in May each year.

Eligibility
To be eligible, students and their academic advisors must be members or student members of ASB. To meet the 2/15 deadline, it is recommended that membership applications and renewals are completed prior to 1/1. Active ASB member numbers are required in your grant application submission. Although students with the same academic advisor may apply, only one GIA per academic advisor will be granted each year.

Collaborative proposals (submitted by a team of graduate students) are allowable, however only $2,000 total can be requested, and each applicant must submit a biosketch (5 pages max). One letter of recommendation, commenting on the student team, should be submitted.

ASB Graduate Student Research Grants are not intended to support specific research needs which have already been financially supported through other funding mechanisms. Applicants are encouraged to describe current funding in their budget justification to make it clear that funding is still needed to support the project and does not duplicate funds that have already been allocated. At the time of award, applicants will confirm this and if budgeted items are no longer needed may be asked to alter their budget accordingly.

Application Requirements

A summary of the Graduate Student Research Grant requirements can be found below, please click here for detailed instructions. All applications must include the following:

• Title Page
• Research Proposal
  • Specific Aims and Hypotheses (1 page)
  • Research Strategy (3 pages)
  • Significance/Background
  • Innovation
  • Approach
  • Itemized budget with justification (1 page)
  • Current and relevant references with in-text citations
  • Applicant Biosketch (see template) (up to 5 pages)
  • Letter of Recommendation from academic advisor

Formatting Requirements

• Use standard letter paper (page) size (8 ½” x 11”) with standard 1-inch margins.
• Font size should be no less than 11 (9 point font and single-spacing is permitted for figure captions, tables and references).
• Page numbers should be placed in the bottom right corner. The title page, biosketch, and letter of recommendation should not be numbered.
• Remain within stated page limits.

Applications that do not adhere to formatting guidelines or are incomplete will not be considered.

Applications will be evaluated using this rubric.

Submission Requirements

All components of the application should be combined into a single PDF file (including recommendation letter). Please name the PDF file “GIA####_LastNameFM”, where #### is the current year and FM are the first and middle name initials.

Applications will be submitted using this link.

Expectations

It is expected that recipients will attend and present their research at the annual ASB meeting in the year following receipt of GIA funding. For example, awards received in May 2024 will submit an abstract for the 2025 meeting to present the awarded work in the summer of 2025.

Questions can be directed to the ASB Education Chair. An evaluation committee selected by the ASB Education Chair will review applications, with award decisions expected in April.

Deadline for submission: February 15.

Research Travel Grant

A Research Travel Grant is offered to foster collaborative research and interaction among scientists by helping to offset the cost of travel to a host institution. All ASB regular members are eligible to apply.  Travel and lodging costs are covered.  Budget requests may be up to $1000.  Matching funds from the candidate’s or host’s institution are desirable, but not required. This grant is not for travel to the annual ASB meeting.

Applications must include:

• a cover letter
• current curriculum vitae
• letter from host indicating support for the travel
• a synopsis (2 pages maximum) describing the purpose of the travel and a detailed budget with justification

A short report (1 page maximum) explaining the significant outcomes of the travel must be submitted following the completion of the travel (to be published in the ASB newsletter).

Applications should be submitted electronically as one pdf document to the Awards Chair via the linked Google Form.

Deadline for submission: March 4, 2025.

Rubric

Applicants will be reviewed on the criteria:

• Proposed collaboration (e.g., the ability of proposed collaboration to foster a new research relationship)
• Proposed research (e.g., quality and impact of proposed research plans)
• Budget (e.g., appropriate use of funds with a detailed budget)
• Institutional support (e.g., quality of institutional support for proposed collaboration, including indicating of matching funds when appropriate)

Student Travel Awards

Student Travel Awards are offered to help students attend the ASB annual meeting. To be eligible, one must be an ASB student member and must have authored an abstract for presentation at the annual meeting.  If more than one application is received by students of the same advisor, only one will be funded.  The award consists of a complimentary registration to the Annual Meeting. 

Applications will be managed via the abstract submission form.  Students will have the opportunity to check a box indicating their desire to be considered for a Student Travel Award. No specific materials will be required.

Abstracts ultimately must be accepted for presentation (podium or poster) at the annual meeting for students to be eligible and funding is contingent upon attendance at the annual meeting.

ASB Diversity Travel Award

The American Society of Biomechanics (ASB) Diversity Travel Award is being offered again in 2024. The purpose of the Diversity Travel Award is to encourage access and equity at the Annual Meeting, August 5 –8, 2024, held in Madison, WI, by supporting the attendance of individuals from diverse backgrounds. ASB anticipates providing approximately 10 awards to assist with conference registration, travel, and lodging.

Questions and applications can be submitted electronically to the ASB Diversity Committee Chair. An evaluation committee selected by the ASB Diversity Committee Chair will review applications, with announcements of awards expected in June 2024.

Download further information on the awards, eligibility and application process HERE.

Deadline for submission: May 31, 2025, 5 PM EST.

Up and Comer Award

The new Up and Comer Award, sponsored by the Asian◆American Institute for Research and Education (ASIAM) along with the ASB Council of Fellows, is intended to foster mentoring and networking of post-doctoral trainees and early career faculty with ASB Fellows having similar research interests. To encourage diversity and inclusion in biomechanics, applicants should identify as being from an underrepresented group with preference given to applicants from institutions that are HBCU / minority serving.

For 2025, awardees will receive $1,000 to support travel to visit with their ASB Fellow mentor and free registration to ASB Annual Meeting, August 13 – 16, 2025, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Approximately three post-doctoral and three early career faculty awards are anticipated.

An evaluation committee selected by the ASB Council of Fellows will review applications, with announcements of awards expected by March 28, 2025.

Eligibility

To be eligible, an applicant must be a member of ASB and identify as being from any group that has been historically disadvantaged or under-represented in research disciplines. Eligibility is based on NIH guidelines as follows:

The goal of this award is to promote diversity in the Biomechanics research workforce. It is recognized that underrepresentation can vary by experience and from setting to setting and includes racial or ethnic groups, disability, disadvantaged backgrounds, or related hardships.

Submission Materials

• Full CV with educational history, research experience, and service accomplishments
• One-page (maximum) cover letter briefly describing:
  1. Current career stage and position (Post-doc or Early Career Faculty)
  2. Identify your eligibility as being from an underrepresented group (see below)
  3. Career goals in Biomechanics
  4. Barriers which support a need for mentorship
  5. Areas for mentorship and potential mentors (name 2-3 ASB Fellows), describing how the mentorship activities (name 1-2) will advance your career. Here are some sample activities:
     1. Regular meetings with the ASB Fellow mentor
     2. In-person visit with ASB Fellow (and laboratory team)
     3. Virtual visit(s) with ASB Fellow (and laboratory team)
     4. Joint laboratory meeting(s) with ASB Fellow (and laboratory team)

Applications should be submitted electronically as one pdf document to the Awards Chair via the linked Google Form.

Deadline for submission: March 4, 2025.