C. Lamar Meek Memorial Scholarship

These grants provide seed money to researchers (graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and faculty) in building databases for the next level of research and/or to allow grantees to use data to encourage collaboration and leverage for further research.  Projects are generally completed within 1-2 years of funding. Special attention is given to projects that are developing solutions to an identified mosquito-borne disease and/or mosquito control problem or need in Louisiana. Preference will be given to projects that contribute directly to an improved public health climate in Louisiana.

Request for Proposals

Proposal Due Date: 01 November of each year.

Amount and number of awards: Up to $5,000 for graduate students and up to $10,000 for post-doctoral students, faculty researchers or fellows in mosquito-borne disease and/or mosquito biology/control research; total number awarded will be determined annually.

Goal: Focus will be on supporting graduate students, post-graduate and faculty researchers and/or fellows in mosquito-borne disease and/or mosquito biology/control research. These grants may provide seed money to researchers in building databases for the next level of research and/or to allow grantees to use data to encourage collaboration and leverage for further research.

Projects from a single award are generally completed within 1–2 years of funding.

Special attention is given to projects that are developing solutions to an identified vector-borne disease and/or mosquito control problem or need in Louisiana. Preference will be given to projects that contribute directly to an improved public health climate as well as have direct value to mosquito control operations in Louisiana.

Eligible Applicants: These grants are limited to Louisiana-based researchers. Applicants are limited to graduate, post-graduate and faculty researchers or fellows. Partnerships with government agencies, community-based organizations and universities are encouraged. Faculty members at both graduate and undergraduate institutions are eligible to apply.

The supporting university or organization must have the accounting mechanisms to manage the funds and accountability reports. An authorized signature from the supporting institution assuring support will be a requirement for eligibility.

LMCA would like to encourage less established researchers. Thus, preference will be given to proposals that are written and conducted by graduate or post-doctoral students.

The proposal will include the following:

Cover Pages. The proposal must include the two Cover Pages provided by LMCA to include: project title, amount of request, an abstract of 150 words or less, and an authorized approval signature from the sponsoring organization or institution.

The Narrative. The proposal narrative must have no more than five (5) typed pages -font size 12 cpi, margins (top, bottom, left and right) must be one inch, and text in Times New Roman must be double-spaced, and include:

1. Introduction and background.
2. Rationale and approach.
3. Methods including quality assurance and quality control where appropriate.
4. Expected outcomes and estimated completion date of research for this grant, and an estimated completion date of entire project if different than grant completion date.
5. Possible impact of findings and implications for Louisiana.
6. Dissemination of findings.

The Budget. The proposal must include a budget page that is no more than one (1) page in length - font size must be 12 cpi Times New Roman, margins (top, bottom, left and right) must be one inch.

Note: Any extra documentation sent other than the aforementioned requirements will not be included with the proposal for rating. This includes recommendations, references, other work, etc.

Final Report / Dissemination. Dissemination of findings will include a formal presentation on the research at a LMCA Annual Meeting.

Funding / Budget Requirements

• No part of the award may be used to pay indirect costs to the applicant’s university or affiliated organization.
• Part of the award may be used to pay student salary. However, the student salary must be directly related to the work of the project and specifically delineated in the proposal narrative and budget.
• All grant funds must be expended to support the proposed investigation.
• Reimbursement for travel related to field work is allowed.
• Supplies and equipment purchased shall become the property of the institution or organization.
• No part of the award may be used for travel to professional meetings. However, a provision to include meeting registration and mileage at the appropriate state rate, not to exceed $250, may be included within the proposal to present the project’s final report at the LMCA Annual Meeting.
• Award checks will go to the institution or organization sponsoring the applicant’s research.

The budget page will include the total estimated cost of the project, the amount requested from LMCA with specific budget categories for those funds, as well as sources of other funding, if applicable.

A written accountability report will be required for all funded grants to include findings and accounting of expenditures per the budget categories of the grant. Excess funds of over $100.00 are to be returned to the LMCA. Excess funds can be carried over as an extension of the grant period after an extension approval. More time may be allowed, but not more funds for the initial grant research.

Any recipient of a LMCA Operational Research Fund award will not be eligible for an additional award until a final written report has been provided to the LMCA Operational Research Committee. All recipients must agree to give a report on work accomplished at a LMCA Annual Meeting within two (2) years of receiving a research award.