Home > Teaching Initiative Grants

The ABLE Scholarship Committee has up to $2000 to fund development of investigative laboratory activities. The purpose of these grants is to encourage, support, and acknowledge developments in biology laboratory teaching at the university and college level.

To be eligible, applicants must be affiliated with a 2- or 4-year post-secondary institution as faculty, staff, or graduate student, be currently teaching (including demonstrating labs) an undergraduate-level life science course, and be able to attend an ABLE conference within the next two years to present the project as an ABLE workshop. In addition, grant recipients must submit a summary of the project with preliminary progress report for publication in the next issue of Labstracts. Applicants need not be current ABLE members.

Examples of activities that are "fundable" include, but are not limited to: designing new labs, improving existing labs, developing pedagogical techniques for teaching in a laboratory setting, or developing multi-media tools (including computer aided instruction). Highest priority will be given to proposals that are innovative and adaptable to being taught at other institutions. Budget items can include equipment and supplies necessary to complete the project. Standard laboratory equipment and supplies, salaries, and indirect costs are not funded.

Be explicit about what aspects of the lab will be developed and tested with the funds. Projects must be original work. If you plan to adapt existing material, clearly cite your source and describe how your project differs. In addition, be sure that your project clearly reflects current safety standards and animal use protocols.

The grants are not for supporting normal laboratory activities of an instructor, such as revising a lab manual, reviewing literature, or repairing equipment; or for one-time only activities such as field trips, guest speakers, or multi-media rentals. The grants are intended to develop lab teaching material to benefit the home institution as well as the ABLE membership.

Deadlines and Details

Proposals are to be submitted no later than the first Monday in May, and recipients will be selected and notified by mid-July. Applicants should complete the Laboratory Teaching Initiative Grants submission form below, including all required documents.

Alternatively, applicants may submit this completed pdf or MS Word form along with a proposal containing a detailed outline of the proposed project, a budget with justification, your current CV, and a letter of support from your department chair. Electronic copies of these documents (.pdf or .doc format) should be sent directly to the chair of the Grants-in-Aid committee. For questions or further information, contact the chair of the Grants-in-Aid committee.

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