Dissertation Grants
BIAA recognizes outstanding doctoral dissertations that contribute to our understanding of chronic brain injury and its causes, consequences, and methods of mitigation.
The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) recognizes outstanding doctoral dissertations that contribute to our understanding of chronic brain injury and its causes, consequences, and methods of mitigation. A comprehensive breakdown of our priorities can be found on the Overview page. Nominated dissertations may use quantitative or qualitative analytic methods and may be based on original data collection or secondary data analysis.
For the 2026 competition, BIAA is emphasizing its interest in both animal and human projects, and that secondary data analysis is welcome.
Eligibility
The applicant has been admitted for candidacy to their doctoral program, and the dissertation proposal has been approved. A dissertation grant will be awarded to the applicant’s U.S. institution, regardless of the applicant’s citizenship status.
Grant Amount
Dissertation grants provide up to $5,000 total for a period not to exceed two years. Two awards may be made annually. Grants are issued to the applicant or his/her institution. Travel expenses are not allowed unless for conferences at which the funded research is presented. The allowable indirect cost rate is limited to 10 percent. The total amount funded with direct and indirect costs combined shall not exceed $5,000.
Evaluation Criteria
Letters of Interest will be evaluated based on the proposed project’s relevance to BIAA’s research priorities. If invited, proposals will be evaluated using the National Institutes for Health (NIH) Criteria for Non-Clinical Trials.
Application Requirements
BIAA uses cloud-based grants management software for all aspects of the application process, including materials submission, reviews, and communication with applicants. There is a 2-stage process for Dissertation Grant applications:
Stage 1. Letter of Interest
Applicants submit contact information and upload a Letter of Interest not to exceed 2 single-spaced pages (not including references) in PDF format. Letters of Interest should include a concise description of research ambitions that explains how the proposal addresses BIAA priorities. In addition, Dissertation Grant applicants must submit contact information, CV, and a letter of recommendation from their dissertation advisors.
Letters of Interest are reviewed to determine if the applicant should be invited to submit a full proposal.
Stage 2. Full Proposal
Invited applicants upload a proposal that describes the problem, how it relates to BIAA’s priorities, scientific method, key personnel, and the environment where the research will be conducted.
Dissertation grant applicants are required to submit the following information through the online portal:
- Candidate contact information and CV
- Dissertation title and abstract
- Complete dissertation proposal
- Contact information and CV for dissertation supervisor/advisor
- A recommendation letter written by the student’s advisor supporting the application and confirming that the applicant is a doctoral candidate in good standing.
Application Format for Invited Proposals
The maximum length of the narrative is 6 pages, not including references, biosketch(s), budget, and letters of support from advisors or mentors. Biosketches or CVs should be limited to a maximum of 5 pages. Proposals must follow these guidelines for page restrictions:
- Font size: Must be 11 points or larger. Smaller text in figures, graphs, diagrams, and charts is acceptable, as long as it is legible when the page is viewed at 100%.
- Type density: Must be no more than 15 characters per linear inch (including characters and spaces).
- Line spacing: Must be no more than six lines per vertical inch.
- Text color: No restriction.
- Use paper size no larger than standard letter paper size (8 ½” x 11”).
- Provide at least one-half inch margins (½”) – top, bottom, left, and right – for all pages. No applicant-supplied information can appear in the margins.
Deadlines
May 18 – Submission Portal Open for Letters of Interest
July 1 – Last day to submit Letters of Interest
August 5 – Full Proposals Invited
September 16 – Invited Proposals Due
November 27 – Reviews Completed; Recommendations Submitted to BIAA Board for Approval
January 11 (2027)– Applicants Notified; Award Letters & Grant Agreements Sent
Reporting Requirements
Grantees are required to submit interim reports every six months comparing actual progress to the proposed work plan and a plan of action to correct significant deficiencies, if any exist. A final report is due at the completion of the study.
Publications resulting in whole or in part from a BIAA Dissertation Grant must acknowledge the Association and the special donor fund, if applicable. For example: “This research was supported in part by the Brain Injury Association of America/Smith Family Fund.”
Questions & Answers
BIAA is unable to answer individual inquiries concerning its dissertation award program. Interested candidates may submit questions through the online portal. As appropriate, responses will appear here.