Grant Writing Awards

Overview

The Puentes Consortium is a binational consortium of universities from the U.S. and Mexico that includes the Universidad de las Américas, the University of Monterrey, Rice University and the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey.

Since its inception in 2008, the Puentes Consortium has facilitated research on issues related to the U.S. and Mexico, providing a distinctive voice to a binational community of scholars. The projects conducted by the researchers are generally multidisciplinary in nature and address relevant topics for the two countries with a special emphasis on research impacting public policy issues.

Purpose

The Puentes Consortium created the Grant Writing Awards Program to encourage and incentivize scholars in the social and natural sciences to pursue external funding for collaborative research projects. The intent of this program is to facilitate grant-writing efforts for both public and private funding sources.

The ultimate goal for this funding is to help researchers involved in developing a proposal to address the specific needs of a call for proposals (CFP), finalize grant proposal details, devleop project timelines, etc.

Use of the Award

Scholars may use this award for research proposal development and submittal, including the costs of preparatory meetings, tools and platforms to facilitate team communication, travel for joint work, and other expenses directly related to proposal writing and submission. This award may not be used for research itself. Principal investigators (PIs) should be members of at least two universities of the consortium, although collaboration with Co-PIs from different universities and research centers outside the consortium is permitted and encouraged. Funds will be granted to the PI. If awarded, applicants must provide proof of their grant proposal submission to the Puentes Consortium Administration.

Award Amount

The Puentes Consortium Grant Writing Awards Program will fund expenses up to $3,500. The program awards no more than 2 grants a year, and grants are awarded on a competitive basis depending on the availability of funds.

Awards will be funded as follows:

Eligibility

• This funding is available to researchers, academics, and Ph.D students from all member institutions of the Puentes Consortium.

Application Process

• Applications for Grant Writing Awards are open in the fall each year.
• Applications should be written in English or Spanish.
• Applications will be evaluated by an evaluation committee.
• Applicants will be notified of the results approximately one month after application.
• Applicants must complete the Grant Writing Award Application Form, which is available by clicking “Apply Now” at the bottom of this page. The form requires applicants to provide detailed information (listed below) about their grant proposal application.
• Applicants must also attach the call for proposals for the funding organization from which they intend to solicit funds. Incomplete applications without the CFP will not be considere.
• The Puentes Consortium Operating Committee may request additional information or conduct further vetting of the grant submission.

Application Materials

1. Grant Writing Award Application Form. The form requires applicants to provide the following information:
   • Name, address, affiliation, and contact information (phone number and email address) of all investigators.
   • Grant agency information.
2. A proposed research project description that describes the objectives, scope, and outcomes of the project (max. 3 pages).
3. Description of previously awarded funding.
4. Statement of the relevance of the project to policy or knowledge transfer (max. 2 paragraphs).
5. The call for proposals from the funding organization to which they intend to solicit funds.

Evaluation Criteria

A clear and succient proposal description is encouraged for all applications. Proposals will further be assessed against the following criteria:

• The originality and contribution to their fields of research.
• The relevance to Mexico-U.S. Policy
• International and interinstitutional research teams will be given priority, as well as applications aiming for transdisciplinary research actions.

COVID 19 Updates

With the ever-changing events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants must be aware that the Puentes Consortium reserves the right to cancel, postpone and/or modify any activity, event or funding action due to any related outbreaks or restrictions derived from the risk of spreading the virus.
All applicants that receive a Puentes grant and decide to travel to any of our member universities must comply at all times with the COVID -19 protocols proper to their host institution.

Do know, that in most cases visiting scholars will require to be fully vaccinated and wear masks to participate actively in university life and hence to visit academic departments and public areas within our campuses. However, please contact the program administrator if there is any personal concern or restriction regarding vaccination and masking requirements.

Important Notice

• Opening of call for proposals: October 1 2022
• Application deadline: December 16, 2022
• Communication of results: February, 2023