HIP Graduate Student Award Key Information
The HIP Graduate Student Award encourages graduate students from communities underserved and underrepresented in hematology in the United States and Canada to pursue a career in academic hematology. The award is available for students conducting research on hematology-focused projects and is open to doctoral students in their first, second, or third year of graduate school at the time of application.
The award provides an annual stipend for a two-year period that can be used for tuition/salary/stipend (no more than 70%), research, training-related expenses (including health insurance), and travel to the ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition.
Program Benefits
The HIP Graduate Award supports graduate students in the U.S. and Canada aiming for a career in academic hematology with a $40,000 stipend over two years for a tuition/salary/stipend of up to 70% of the award's value, research, training expenses, and ASH annual meeting travel. This award is available to doctoral students in their first, second, or third year, and includes complimentary ASH membership throughout graduate school.
Eligibility Requirements
At the time of application, the applicant must:
- Be planning and committed to conduct the relevant research project in the contiguous United States or Canada.
- Be enrolled in a graduate-level course of study at a school or institution in the U.S. or Canada leading to a PhD degree. Applicants must plan to pursue an investigative career in hematology research and be within the first three years of their PhD program. Applicants may submit a formal exception request for the time-based eligibility requirement to [email protected]. Please include the expected graduation date and a justification for the exception in the request.
- Have clear and documented support of an established ASH member mentor in good standing for the award term.
- Provide a document from an institutional leader who has the authority to ensure that at least 65-75 percent (approximately 2704 – 3120 hours (about 4 and a half months) of protected time devoted to research over the two-year period) of the applicant's full-time professional efforts will be devoted to research during the funded period.
Eligible applicants may not hold other ASH awards during the HIP Graduate Award term. Students pursuing a master's as their terminal degree are not eligible.
Supported Research
Applicants must submit proposals to conduct research in hematology. Proposals that fall within any of the below categories are encouraged:
- Basic Research
- Translational Research
- Patient-Oriented Clinical Research
- Outcomes-Based Research
For additional details on eligible research categories, please consult the Research Definitions page.
Application Process and Required Materials
The HIP Graduate Award application, as well as all supporting documents outlined below, must be submitted through the ASH online awards system.
All applications must include the following:
- Applicant NIH Biographical Sketch
- Research Mentor NIH Biographical Sketch
- Applicant Career Development Plan (text field in application)
- Personal Statement (text field in application)
- Project Proposal (text field in application)
- Mentor Letter of Support
- Institutional Commitment Letter from Department Chair
Evaluation, Selection, and Notification
Applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed by the HIP Study Section and be evaluated on the following criteria:
- A focus on hematology research.
- The applicant’s qualifications and experiences; factors to be considered include, but are not limited to, the potential for future independent investigation and commitment to a career in hematology research.
- Quality of the mentor and the plan for mentor-applicant interaction and career development.
- The significance, feasibility, and originality of the proposed hypothesis, research, and methodology.
- Availability of institutional resources to support the proposed project.
While not an excluding factor, consideration will be given to ensuring a balance between PhD and MD/PhD programs. There is no limit to the number of applications that an institution and its affiliates may submit. However, no more than one award will be granted for any given institution. For this purpose, ASH’s definition of “medical school” encompasses all affiliate institutions (e.g., University of Washington would include the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Children's Hospital, etc.).
Terms and Conditions
All awards will be activated on July 1 and will conclude on June 30 of the final year. Payment will be made to the appropriate financial officer for the institution as indicated on the proposed budget form.
As a condition of acceptance of the HIP Graduate Student Award, it is required that:
- All funds be used for the research project specified in the application submitted to ASH in strict compliance with the budget included with the application or any subsequent budget approved by the Society. Indirect costs (e.g., facilities and administration costs) are not allowed.
- Recipients cite support from the American Society of Hematology in any publication describing research conducted during the period of the award.
- Recipients dedicate at least 65-75 percent (approximately 2704 – 3120 hours (about 4 and a half months) of protected time devoted to research over the two-year period) of his/her full-time professional efforts to research during the funded period.
- Recipients complete program surveys during and after the award period, which ASH will use to measure the program's effectiveness.
Transfer, Reallocation, Mentor Changes
Students may request a reallocation of funds from one expense category to another. This written request must specify the dollar amount, which categories are impacted, and a justification as to why this change is necessary. Mentor changes and transfers are allowed and must be submitted to ASH staff for approval prior to change.
Progress and Final Reports
Students must submit an evaluation form at the end of their award's first year. Failure to submit the progress/evaluation report, after the first year, will render the student ineligible for the second year of funding. A final written and financial report (not to exceed four pages) is expected within 60 days of the end of the award period.