Applicants will submit a pre-proposal for evaluation by the AQHF Equine Research Committee. A full grant proposal will be requested for advancing projects.

PRE-PROPOSAL FORMAT

1. Title Page: investigator will complete the online title page provided through the automated application system.

Include name of the applicant institution, institution’s taxpayer identification number, title of research project, amount requested, performance site, investigator category, principal investigator, faculty mentors (all faculty members involved in the direction of research), investigator contact information, and contact information for the appropriate institutional review office.

NOTE: the grant amount requested within the investigator's pre-proposal cannot be increased when submitting a full proposal.

2. Project Summary: no more than two pages (single or double spaced)

• Overview of items included within the Introduction and Research Plan (i.e., statement of problem, significance, preliminary results, hypothesis, objectives, justification, methods, and timeline)
• Indicate project’s benefit to the American Quarter Horse, AQHA and the broader horse industry.
• If proposal is a continuation of previously funded research, the investigator should include an overview of findings and/or update on completed work, including timeline of completion.
• If proposal is a re-submission of an earlier application, the investigator should include information at the beginning of this section and address changes made in response to the proposal feedback (should include a copy of the original critique provided to investigator).

FULL PROPOSAL FORMAT

Submitted grant proposals should include proposed research section (i.e., introduction, research plan, facilities description, glossary), literature review and references, curriculum vitae for key investigators and an itemized budget.

1. Proposed Research: should be no more than 10 pages (single or double spaced), with the following subheadings included:

   A. Introduction:

• Statement of Problem
• Background and Significance
• Preliminary Results
• Lead to Hypothesis
• Potential Impact of Findings

   B. Research Plan:

• Hypothesis: may include one or more hypothesis.
• Aims & Objectives: should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timebound.
• Justification: (no more than one page) how it relates to overall problem.
• Materials and Methods: planned data acquisition, evaluation, expected results.
• Timeline: may be submitted in narrative or graphical formats.
• Include population and sample size justification (i.e., power calculations)
• Include potential pitfalls or barriers considered and how they are accounted for.
• Roles and contributions of each investigator should be clearly defined.

   C. Facilities Description: describe the facilities and equipment available to conduct the proposed research.

   D. Glossary: include associated acronyms and lesser-known terminology relevant to the Research Plan.

2. Literature Review & References: include references specific to Background and Significance (i.e., literature review) provided within the Introduction section of Proposed Research.

• Cite: keep the primary focus on the literature pertinent to your research problem.
• Compare: the various arguments, theories, methodologies, and findings expressed in the literature – What do the authors agree on? Who applies similar approaches to analyzing the research problem?
• Contrast: the various arguments, themes, methodologies, approaches, and controversies expressed in the literature – What are the major areas of disagreement, controversy, or debate?
• Critique the literature: which arguments are more persuasive and why? Which approaches, findings, methodologies seem most reliable, valid, or appropriate and why? Pay attention to the verbs you use to describe what an author says/does (i.e., asserts, demonstrates, etc.)
• Connect: the literature to your own area of research and investigation – How does your own work draw upon, depart from, or synthesize what has been said in the literature?

3. Curriculum Vitae: biographical sketches provided for key personnel - i.e., principal investigator, co-investigator, etc. (limit 2 pages per person)

• Name
• Title
• Education: begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education.
• Institution and Location
• Degree
• Year Conferred
• Field of Study
• Research and/or Professional Experience: concluding with present position, list in chronological order of previous employment and experience.
• Publications: list titles and complete references to all publications during the past three years and representative earlier publications pertinent to the proposal, include grants received and books authored or co-authored.

4. Itemized Budget: complete online format to include the following information.

• Non-Faculty Personnel: Name, Title, Percent Effort, Salary.
• Fringe Benefits: include copy of benefits schedule.
• Animal Purchase
• Animal Care
• Expendable Supplies
• Qualifying Capital Equipment (lease or purchase)
• Travel Expenses: (i.e., graduate travel stipend qualifications)
• Publication Costs
• Other Expenses
• Current & Pending Support: include all federal, non-federal, and institutional grant and contract support. If none, state “None”. If any proposals/grants overlap, duplicate, or are being replaced or supplemented by the present proposal, delineate and justify the nature and extent of the budgetary overlaps.
• Other Comments

NOTE: reference Available Grant Funding and Research Program Guidelines for additional policies regarding research expectations, graduate student travel stipends, equipment leases, purchase of capital equipment, requirements for use of client-owned horses within the proposed research, etc.