Call for Applications for the Eighth Annual Society for Prevention Research Sloboda and Bukoski SPR Cup
Applications Will Be Accepted January 18 through January 31, 2013
Download PDF version of the SPR Sloboda and Bukoski 2013 Cup
Significant advances in prevention science are often due to a team of individuals working closely together across many years. In recognition of the importance of the collaborative process to the field, each year, the Society for Prevention Research (SPR) sponsors a friendly competition amongst teams of researchers. The winning team earns the honor of bringing home the Sloboda and Bukoski SPR Cup.
The Cup is named for two of the founders and long time active members of SPR, Dr. Zili Sloboda and Dr. William Bukoski. The competition is an opportunity for an unique experience: several independent teams of scientists, each working with the same data set, problem solve together for a brief period of time and then jointly present their ideas to each other and a larger group of experienced prevention scientists.
Competition
SPR Cup teams will receive a data set via email approximately two months prior to the annual meeting. Each team then will conduct a literature review, generate hypotheses, conduct analyses, and prepare a presentation for a 10-minute symposium talk on their results. Teams will present their results during an invited symposium at the SPR annual meeting. A panel of senior prevention scientist judges and the audience at the symposium will rate the quality of the research work and of the presentation. Both verbal and written feedback will be provided to teams about their work. The highest scoring team will be recognized and awarded the SPR Cup during the SPR Annual Awards Presentations.
Teams
Teams are limited to five members. Each team should include participants with knowledge and practical experience in research methodology, data analysis, and conference presentation. Each team must designate a team captain who will participate in two SPR Cup team captain conference calls during the spring of 2013. Each team must also designate a mid- to senior career level prevention science mentor who agrees to be available to the team for consultation on an as needed basis. Mentors will participate in one SPR Cup mentor conference call prior to the release of the data set.
Eligible Participants
Eligible participants for teams are individuals who are either (1) currently enrolled in a masters or doctoral training program, or (2) have received their terminal graduate degree within the last 5 years and have not yet been a principal investigator on a research grant from a federal agency or private foundation.
Data Set
A deidentified data set relevant to prevention science will be used. The identity of the data set will be released during a conference call of team captains on March 25, 2013.
Mentors
Besides the designated primary mentor for a team, teams may access other mentors as desired. Mentors may only advise; they are not allowed to do work for the team, such as running data analyses. All mentors must be acknowledged during the presentation.
Publications
All participating teams will be strongly encouraged to refine their analyses after the meeting and to generate publishable products. The highest scoring teams may be invited to submit a manuscript to be considered for publication in SPR’s flagship journal Prevention Science. However, all teams are welcome to submit manuscripts to Prevention Science or another journal of their choice. Submitted manuscripts from SPR Cup teams must go through the same peer review process as all submissions to Prevention Science.
Application Process
To apply, send an email to jmarke@uw.edu with the subject line “2013 SPR Cup Submission”. Within the email, for each team member, please include name, highest academic degree, current position, primary institutional affiliation, a brief summary of research skills and expertise, and contact information. Please confirm that each team member is eligible for the competition. Eligible participants for teams are individuals who are either (1) currently enrolled in a masters or doctoral training program, or (2) have received their terminal graduate degree within the last 5 years and have not yet been a principal investigator on a research grant from a federal agency or private foundation. In the email, please also list a team name and designate a team captain. A receipt of submission will be sent to the team captain.
Up to four teams will be accepted for the competition this year. Eligible teams will be accepted in the order of when applications are received. Applications will not be accepted before January 18 or after January 31, 2013. Accepted teams will be informed via email on or before February 8, 2009.
Further Information
Questions are welcome. Please contact:
J. Mark Eddy, Ph.D., and Charles R. Martinez, Jr., Ph.D.
Co-Chairs, 2013 Sloboda and Bukoski SPR Cup