Track 1 Menu

Track 1: Additional Data Collection and Analysis

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Overview

Previous awardees interested in expanding data collection and analysis from their initial projects should submit a Track 1 proposal. New research activities may include, but are not limited to:

  • expanding the population(s) of interest
  • expanding the geographic scope to allow for comparisons or replication within communities in a given territory, across the U.S. territories, and/or between the territories and the mainland
  • collecting new or more granular data using existing or new measures
  • conducting sensitivity analyses
  • increasing sample size to enhance statistical power for analyses
  • engaging in additional longitudinal data collection for follow-up to identify changes over time
  • developing community-based research instruments to gather new data

Track 1 proposals that include the following elements will be preferred:

  • Rapid: The project is short-term and focused on collecting perishable data rapidly or using existing data to generate answers to questions associated with recent or anticipated disasters. For more information on what qualifies as perishable data, please see this article.
  • Quantitative, Applied, or Evaluation Research: The project is methodologically rigorous, has a high possibility of contributing to public health practice, and uses quantitative, applied, and/or evaluation research methods that fill clear gaps in the evidence base.
  • Transparent: The proposal includes plans to publish data collection tools and protocols so that they can be used by other researchers or public health practitioners in the event of another major disaster.
  • Population-Specific, Geographic, and Cultural Knowledge and Connections: Research teams whose members have a strong history of working with the people and/or in the geographic and/or cultural context they plan to study will be given preference.
  • Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity: Projects that utilize a Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and/or Health Equity lens will be prioritized. Please review additional Public Health Guidance here.
  • Students and Early Career Researchers: While applications will not be limited to those that involve students or early career scholars, those research teams that include early-stage researchers will be prioritized for funding. Specifically, priority will be given to teams that engage one or more students or early career scholars—defined here as those who are three or fewer years post-degree.
  • Collaboration with Public Health Departments or Organizations: Proposals should include plans to collaborate with jurisdictional partners and stakeholders to execute the additional research.

Proposal Submission Process

  • Project Title: Limit 12 words. (Please use APA title case)

  • Investigator Name(s) and Affiliation(s)

  • Report Title and Link to the Completed Public Health Report this proposal will build on.

  • Full Abstract: Limit 500 words.

    • This detailed abstract should provide an overview of the project and a description of how it builds upon the prior research funded in Call 1 or Call 2. This abstract should also include clear research questions, the proposed research design, the gap this research intends to fill, and the expected public health implications of the proposed work.

  • Brief Abstract: Limit 100 words. To be posted on the Natural Hazards Center website. See examples of the format here.

  • 3-5 Keywords

  • Location(s) of Study: Proposals must focus on at least one inhabited U.S. territory and may expand data collections to other communities or regions. For example, proposals may offer comparisons across these regions or to other locations.

  • Disciplinary Focus: A 250-word statement describing the disciplinary composition of the team, including whether the team is single discipline, multi-disciplinary, interdisciplinary, or transdisciplinary in nature. For further guidance on these distinctions, please see this paper. Applicants must demonstrate how the project is advancing convergence-oriented research that is problem-focused and solutions-based.

  • Expansion of Previous Public Health Disaster Research Award: A 250-word statement clearly describing how your research project will expand data collection or analysis and build upon the evidence base established in the previously funded research project.

  • Proposal: The proposal should be uploaded as a PDF and use the headings for each section listed below. The body of the proposal should be a maximum of 8 single-spaced pages (with additional pages allowed for budget and reference appendices) and include the following content:

    • A brief statement on Intellectual Merit—describing the potential of the proposed research to advance knowledge—and Broader Public Health Implications—describing the potential of the proposed research and/or outreach activities to benefit public health practice through the achievement of specific, desired public health applications.
    • Research Question(s): Research questions should be clear, concise, specific, and answerable.
    • Literature Review: This should demonstrate the authors’ knowledge of the topical area of research being proposed as well as state the gaps that this study will fill.
    • Study Context: The proposal should clearly specify the study context including the hazard(s) and/or disaster(s) that the team plans to study, the location(s) where they plan to work, and the people(s) they plan to engage in the study. In this section of the proposal, researchers should also describe their relationships with local agencies or organizations in the project area and how these relationships will facilitate access to their research sites or populations.
    • Study Design: The proposal should clearly describe all elements of the research design, including data collection methods, sampling strategy, expected number of participants, and data analysis procedures. In this section of the proposal, researchers should also clearly identify whether the project involves the use of existing data, the collection of perishable data, and/or the creation or evaluation of existing tools or other resources. The connection to the prior study and the expansion of its study design should be clarified as well.
    • Contingency Plan (Optional): We understand that some of you may need to submit proposals with research or outreach plans that change as dynamics unfold on the ground. If this will be the case for you, please use this section to describe the challenges you are anticipating and develop contingency plans if events occur that make your original plans impractical or impossible to carry out. For example, you may want to outline Plan A: What we hope to achieve if everything goes as planned; Plan B: An alternative version of Plan A that includes optional research or engagement activities that can be implemented if access is limited or other expected challenges arise; and Plan C: A reduced version of Track 1 or Track 2 activities that will be accomplished under any circumstances, even including the local emergency situation.
    • Study Timeline: This section should include a clear description of the anticipated timeline for IRB approval, data collection, data analysis, and report writing, making sure to adhere to all due dates included in the Post-Award Requirements and Recommendations below.
    • Ethics Statement: This should describe how the investigator(s) will ensure the ethical conduct of research for the benefit of the communities where they work. All applicants are strongly encouraged to complete both the CONVERGE IRB Procedures for Extreme Events Research and the Broader Ethical Considerations for Hazards and Disaster Researchers Training Modules in preparation for writing this statement.
    • Dissemination Plan: A plan for returning data and/or results to locally-affected people, public health agencies, and/or communities no later than the project end date of Friday, August 4, 2023.

The PDF should also include the following appendices:

  • References: The list of references should be complete and consistently formatted in APA 7th edition style. There is no page limit for the reference list.

  • Budget and Budget Justification: The budget and budget justification should be no longer than 500 words in length and provide a breakdown of anticipated expenditures within the predetermined range (in this case, $10,000 to $25,000).

    • Proposals less than $10,000 will be accepted, but proposals over $25,000 will be returned without review.
    • Funding should be used for expenses associated with the proposed project. Funds may be dedicated to fieldwork expenses, the purchase of research equipment or datasets; payments to data collectors, methodologists, statisticians, translators, other collaborators, or team members; participant compensation; and/or dissemination activities including for conference travel or registration expenses. In terms of budget needs for field equipment, please consider exploring options available through NSF-supported RAPID facility before making requests.
    • Please carefully read the “Funding Agreement” statement, as it provides details for how many investigators can be included in the budget and clarifies how and when the award funds will be issued.
      • Overhead and indirect costs are not allowed.
      • Award recipients are responsible for all personal tax-related expenses associated with accepting award payments. These potential tax obligations cannot be included in the project budget.

  • Supporting Documents for Students: Master’s and PhD students are welcome to apply for this call for funding. If a student is listed as the lead investigator they will need to submit:

    • A statement explaining qualifications and ability to implement the proposed methods, a plan for managing a project team (if applicable), and a timeline for completing the proposed work during their degree program.
    • A brief one-paragraph statement from an academic advisor, indicating that they approve of the project and support the students’ application for funding.

  • Human Subjects Approval Letter: An official letter from the applicant’s human subjects committee approving the research, or waiving the need for approval, is required before an award is activated and funds are released. The proposal may be submitted before human subjects committee approval is obtained, but we recommend that human subjects approval be sought as early as possible given the five-month timeline for completing data collection, analysis, and submitting the final report. Please see this article for additional guidance on receiving Institutional Review Board pre-approval for disaster research. Data collection may not begin until a letter of approval or waiver from a university or other organization is submitted to the Natural Hazards Center.

  • Certificate of Completion: The lead investigator for each proposal must submit a certificate of completion for the CONVERGE Public Health Implications of Hazards and Disaster Research Training Module. Proposals missing this certificate will be returned without review.

The above information and associated documents must be submitted through the Natural Hazards Center online proposal submission form. Emailed proposals will be returned without review. Proposals are due no later than 5:00 p.m. MDT on Friday, November 4, 2022. To be fair to those who submit on time and as required, no exceptions will be made for late submissions. Award announcements will be made by Friday, December 2, 2022.

Post-Award Requirements and Recommendations

In addition to the above proposal requirements, all award recipients—including the lead investigator and any other investigators, student research assistants, or collaborators—are required to do the following:

  • Present your preliminary findings during an internal meeting on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. MT with representatives from the CDC and NHC and other award recipients to get feedback on the public health implications and other aspects of your report.

  • Submit a final 10-page, double-spaced report focused on key findings and the public health implications of the extended research and project activities. The first draft report is due by Friday, June 16, 2023.

  • Final reports must follow the Natural Hazards Center submission guidelines and formatting template. The Natural Hazards Center will provide one round of copy editing editing for each report. If successfully reviewed and accepted, the report will be included in an edited compilation to be published on the Natural Hazards Center website.

  • Submit the final report, with all editing recommendations integrated, no later than 5:00 p.m. MDT on Friday, July 14, 2023.

  • Participate in a final public webinar on Thursday, August 3, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. MDT where all award recipients will share key findings and lessons learned.

In addition to the above proposal and post-award requirements, it is recommended that all award recipients—including the lead investigator and any collaborators—do the following:

Return to the Continuation Award main page to learn more about how funding will be issued.

Questions?

Please contact Jennifer Tobin at haz.research.awards@colorado.edu.

Acknowledgements

The Public Health Disaster Research Award Program is based on work supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through supplemental funding to the National Science Foundation (NSF Award #1635593). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CDC, NSF, or Natural Hazards Center.