Pamela S. Douglas Research Scholar Award

Electronic submission: Applicants will submit their application electronically per the instructions below.

Application Requirements:

• Complete the online application form.
• Prepare the following application elements (Qualifications, Research Proposal, and Letters of Support) and email them to Andrea Van Hoever ([email protected]) by deadline TBD.

Qualifications

Note that applicants must have an active 2025 ASE membership to be considered. Your membership status will be verified upon receipt of your application. In addition, applicants must submit the following materials:

• Your current CV or NIH biosketch (maximum of 2 pages).
• A one (1) page personal statement which includes:
  • An overview of your current and future research goals, including how the current proposal will advance them;
  • Why you are an excellent candidate for this award (may include experience in echocardiographic research, specific areas of research interest);
  • All intended activities during the research year including how your time will be protected (if relevant);
  • How the mentor and institution in which you propose to work will support the proposed investigations.
  • The perceived impact this award will have on your future career path.
• Your research mentor’s current CV or NIH biosketch (maximum of 2 pages).

Research Proposal

Research proposals should include the following:

• Title of the proposed project.
• Summary of the proposal, not to exceed 500 words.
• Listing of all co-investigators with degrees, academic titles and affiliations. Include a description of each investigator’s contribution to the proposal.
• Research Strategy (limit 6 pages). Proposals should include the following components (with suggested page lengths). The full description of the project, including any figures, may not exceed the 6-page limit.
  • Specific Aims (1/2 page)
  • Background and Description of the Clinical Problem (1 page)
  • Scientific Methods (3-4 pages)
  • Significance (1/2 page)
  • Proposed Timeline for Completion, with Key Milestones (1/2 page)
• References cited. References will not count against the 6-page limit for the research strategy. References should be numerical in order of their appearance in text. JASE reference style is recommended.
• Budget. Budgets should be comprehensive and utilize the budget template provided. Indirect costs are optional and may not exceed 10% of total costs.
• Other funding applicable to the proposed project for the applicant and mentor, both pending and active:
  • Agency, Award ID number
  • Project title and name of principal investigator
  • Dates of funding
  • Award amount
  • Applicant’s role in the project funded by this other support
  • Amount directly available to the applicant
  • Relationship of the applicant’s ASE Foundation proposal to this other support
• Research with human subjects and animals: For investigations that include vertebrate animals, an NIH-style Vertebrate Animals Section is required, and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval will be necessary before release of funds. For clinical studies, proof of Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval will be necessary before release of funds.

Letters of Support

Applicants are required to provide two (2) letters of support: one (1) from their department chair/head, and one (1) from their research mentor. Up to two (2) additional letters beyond those required are welcome.

• Limit each letter to no more than two (2) pages.
• All letters must be on institutional letterhead and should be signed by the writer.
• Letters may be addressed to the ASE Foundation Board of Directors.
• Required letter from Department Chair/Head:
  • Letter of support should confirm that if funding is awarded, the applicant will be given protected time and appropriately excused from clinical and administrative duties as needed for the duration of their award period. A projection of at least 75% of the applicant’s time over a consecutive 12-month period is expected to be devoted to this funded research project.
  • Letter of support should confirm whether or not this scholarship will be the applicant’s sole source of salary support during the award period.
  • Letter of support should include personal assessment of the candidate’s unique qualifications that qualify them as an exceptional candidate for this scholarship and the perceived impact this award will have on their career trajectory.
• Required letter from Research Mentor:
  • Mentor must hold a valid faculty appointment at the institution where the applicant’s research will be conducted, and have a track record of high-quality clinical investigation.
  • Letter of support should comment on the originality and impact of the applicant’s research, as well as their potential for a future career in clinical or translational research.
  • Letter of support should include personal assessment of the candidate’s unique qualifications that qualify them as an exceptional candidate for this scholarship and the perceived impact this award will have on their career trajectory.

Format for application elements (font, page formatting, and figures): Conventional font types (Arial, Times New Roman, Helvetica, etc.) and a font size no smaller than 11-point should be used. Page margins should be no less than 0.5 inch. All files should be saved as .pdf files.