Beta Sigma Kappa Research Fellowships
2012 Recipients Announced
The American Optometric Foundation (AOF) in collaboration with Beta Sigma Kappa is pleased to announce the receipients of the first AOF-BSK Grants. Recipients received $1,500 for their reseearch.
Patrick A. Scott, OD, PhD, FAAO
University of Louisville, School of Medicine
Morphological Characterization of Photoreceptor Degeneration in a Swine Model of Retinitis Pigmentosa
Daniel Powell, OD, MS
The Ohio State University, College of Optometry
Assessment of tear film and ocular surface alterations in cigarette smokers
2012 BSK Grant recipient Dan Powell with Elizabeth Hoppe and Ann Clark, members of the BSK Board of Regents.
Background
The Beta Sigma Kappa (BSK) Research Fellowship program administered by the American Optometric Foundation (AOF) supports new optometric faculty research and/or optometric resident research. The program’s funding is designed to benefit two young researchers each year whose academic curiosity leads them to seek answers to a vast variety of professionally-based questions covering a wide area of vision science, clinical practice, or eye related public health.
Eligibility
All optometry faculty within 3 years of faculty appointment and/or optometry residents at an accredited school or college of optometry, irrespective of membership in BSK, are eligible to apply for research fellowship award funding.
Application Procedures
Currently, there are two fellowships, each consisting of no less than $1,000, awarded annually. Fellowship requests may exceed $1,000, and each fellowship will consist of no less than $1,000. However, anything in excess of $1,000 will be at the discretion of the BSK Central World Council and may or may not be awarded.
Applications consisting of 5 pages or less, preferably in PDF format (International applicants with access limitations to a computer may submit in a typewritten format) as follow to:
a. Cover letter consisting of full contact information (including degree(s)), Institution, project title.
b. Research plan
• Statement of problem
• Experimental design
• Institution and other resources available
• Relevance of problem to clinical optometry, vision science, or eye related public health
• Plans for publication
• Time table
c. Budget explanation
• State amount of grant request
• Describe/Itemize costs
• Justification for equipment, supplies and other expenses
d. Helsinki declaration (required only if human subjects involved)
e. Letter of endorsement by faculty advisor (resident applicants), Dean or President/Director of the school/ college (optional).
Applications will receive a confirmation receipt by e-mail from the Foundation within 1-3 business days of the submission. If you do not receive a confirmation, contact the AOF office to ensure the application is received.
Deadline
The 2013 deadline for applications is August 16th.
Review Procedures
Applications will be reviewed by the BSK Board of Regents, the BSK Central World Council, both in collaboration with the AOF.
Award Conditions
Funds support research conducted for a period up to one year. The AOF is a non-profit organization; our policy is not to cover any indirect costs associated with research grants or any other of our programs. This policy applies uniformly to all award recipients.
Recipients must submit a final report of their research findings no later than one year post award. The preferred submission is an article in a form suitable for publication.
Recipients are encouraged to present at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry and to submit a manuscript to Optometry and Vision Science. Any manuscript or publication material produced must acknowledge the American Optometric Foundation and Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society.
Recognition of Awardees
The recipients will be recognized at the American Optometric Foundation Celebration Luncheon during the American Academy of Optometry's Annual Meeting. This year to be held October 24-27th in Phoenix, AZ.
The awardees will be listed in the AOF Annual Report and announcements will be placed in the Academy newsletter and in Eye-Mail Monthly. Press Releases will be sent to all schools and colleges of optometry, optometric organizations, and the optometric press.
Submission of a proposal constitutes permission for BSK and/or AOF to use the applicant’s name and image in online and print materials.
For additional information about this award and the American Optometric Foundation, contact Tracy Kitts, Foundation Coordinator, at AOF@aaoptom.org or 321-710-3936.