Please note- the deadline for the Margaret J. Barr Research Award has been EXTENDED to January 31st, 2009.  Thank you.

The Network, an organization sponsored by the United States Department of Education, is committed to addressing issues related to the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs and the prevention of violence in institutions of higher education. As part of that effort, The Network is pleased to announce the inaugural competition for a Student Research Award. Both undergraduate and graduate students at Network member institutions are eligible to compete for this award, which will not exceed $5,000. The goal of The Network in sponsoring this award is to encourage relevant prevention inquiry by student researchers and to promote the development of student learning teams within our member institutions. We encourage students at member institutions to develop original research proposals consistent with The Network’s organizational mission that have the potential to inform the field and increase the effectiveness of prevention efforts on college campuses throughout the nation.

[ Program Scope ]

Begun in 1987 under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Education, The Network is a membership organization of institutions of higher education that make a commitment to work towards standards of prevention in addressing alcohol, other drugs, and violence on campus.

This research award is intended to identify and support one promising research project that addresses some aspect of alcohol, other drug, and/or violence prevention in higher education.

If a student has plans to undertake a larger research project (e.g., thesis or dissertation) that cannot be realistically completed within the time period of this award, students can choose to identify and submit one limited aspect of the larger research project for funding assistance in this award process.

Some examples of research projects include, but are not limited to:

• exploring the role of minority status (e.g., ethnic, sexual orientation, etc.) on addiction and prevention;
• identifying current trends in alcohol and other drug use/abuse;
• researching the influence of the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act on campus life;
• conducting an ethnographic investigation of the effects of natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina on substance use/abuse and violence;
• evaluating the effectiveness of peer education programs; and
• understanding the link between substance use/abuse and violence.

[ Eligibility ]

Students
All research proposals must have the support of a faculty or staff research advisor at the member institution and, if applicable, meet the institution’s requirements for human subjects research approval. This competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students at any member institution of The Network. If you do not know your institution’s membership status, would like to establish membership, or want more information about The Network, please visit our web-site at www.thenetwork.ws. Students must be currently enrolled at their institution of higher education both at the time of application submission and the award commencement in March 2009. However, students can graduate from their program prior to the end of the award period as long as they fulfill any remaining obligations of this award.

Research Advisor(s)
The designated research advisor can be either a faculty or staff member at the member institution and can be drawn from either an academic or student affairs department within the institution. A letter of commitment from each advisor or his/her supervisor (if applicable) must accompany the student proposal. That letter of commitment to the project should specify agreement to conduct the research and support for the faculty/staff member’s participation as an advisor, including travel to The U.S. Department of Education’s Annual National Meeting to present the research findings.

[ Awards ]

One award will be announced in 2009. The award will provide up to $5,000 to an undergraduate or graduate student in their pursuit of an original research project. This amount must be used toward research-related costs and is not intended as a stipend. In addition to itemizing anticipated research costs in the budget proposal, students must also include estimated costs related to registration for and travel to the National Meeting 2010 (www.edc.org/hec/natl). Although the dates and location of this meeting are yet to be determined, students should use the destination of Washington, D.C. to estimate travel costs and anticipate the meeting being held in October or November of 2010. The student and the research advisor(s) will be asked to attend the National Meeting in order to present the research findings. An additional $500 will be awarded to the host institution in order to defray some of the expenses associated with research advisor(s) travel. It is anticipated that some publication opportunities may also arise as a result of this award.

Click here for information about the 2006 award winner!

[ Application Forms/Information ]

Application forms can be found here. Completed applications must be received on or before 5:00 PM (ET) on January 31, 2009. They must be submitted by e-mail to studentresearch@thenetwork.ws. Any applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted under any circumstance. Only complete applications will be considered. The complete application must include: the application form, proof of intention to seek IRB approval (if applicable), two recommendation letters, commitment statements from the research advisor(s) and/or their supervisor(s), and commitment statements from any other University entities that will be collaborating on the proposed project. Applications must be sent in one of three acceptable formats: .doc, .rtf, or .pdf, and supporting documents must be sent in one of two acceptable formats: .jpg or .pdf. Applications and attachments submitted in any other formats will not be accepted. Awards are to be announced by March 1, 2009, and the funding period will run from March 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010.

For more information about the Margaret J. Barr Student Research Award, contact:

Joan Masters
Partners in Prevention
34 Brady Commons
Columbia, Missouri 65211
573-884-7551