New Century Scholars Research Grant

New Century Scholars Research Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: American Speech Language Hearing Foundation
Amount: US $25,000
Last Updated: March 05, 2026

Summary

The New Century Scholars Research Grant, offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation, provides up to four grants of $25,000 each to support innovative research in communication sciences and disorders. This funding opportunity encourages both experienced and new investigators to explore novel ideas and methodologies, including artificial intelligence applications. Researchers must demonstrate potential for independent research, with a focus on significant contributions to the field. Applications are due after completing an Intent to Submit Form by March 5.

Overview

Note : In preparation for the grant submission and review processes, the ASHFoundation requests that potential investigators complete an Intent to Submit Form by March 4. This step must be completed before proceeding to the proposal submission process. New Century Scholars Research Grant Supports innovative studies that foster new research ideas and directions for investigators, and that will advance knowledge, tools, and techniques in communication sciences and disorders. Background The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHFoundation) invites investigators to submit proposals in competition for up to four research grants of $25,000 each. The New Century Scholars Research Grant is designed to advance knowledge, tools, and techniques in communication sciences and disorders. While proposal type and content area are not restricted, this grant supports studies that are innovative, have a promise of major impact, or can meet research needs not yet addressed. The funding can be applied to a one- or two-year study. Who Should Apply Individuals who are committed to teacher-investigator careers in the university/college academic environment or in external research institutes or laboratories. Investigators who want to research ideas and directions new to them (and who are not currently funded in the proposed area of study). By contrast, the research grants are not intended to provide additional or extended support for an established and funded research effort. Both experienced and new investigators. Experienced investigators are welcome to submit proposals for pilot studies or similar studies in a demonstrably new area. New investigators submitting a proposal should have received some prior external funding post PhD, as a co-investigator or a principal investigator, but proposals must also meet the intent of new research ideas. Funding Opportunity for Artificial Intelligence Studies The ASHFoundation is requesting proposals for studies that include Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies for assessment, screening, diagnosis, and/or treatment in the communication sciences and disorders discipline. Some examples of possible application of AI methodologies include, but are not restricted to, supervised learning (classifiers - neural networks, decision trees, support vector machines, deep learning); unsupervised learning (dimensionality reductions, clustering, self-organizing maps); optimization (AI scheduling, prediction); natural language processing (NLP) models; large language models; chatbots; sentiment analyses; etc. While early-stage studies are welcome, there should be a connection to the clinical discipline clearly articulated in the proposal. For this year, of the proposals that meet funding criteria and will be funded in this competition, designated funding is available to support at least one study in AI. Funding Opportunity for Dysphagia Studies Of the proposals that meet funding criteria and will be funded in this competition, an endowed Swallowing Research Fund is available to support proposals for research topics in swallowing and swallowing disorders. The Swallowing Research Fund was established in 2009 by ASHA Special Interest Group 13 (then Division 13) to support the ASHFoundation's New Century Scholars Research Grant program, and our donor community is pleased that its multi-year growth enables funding.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Investigators must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the New Century Scholars Research Grant.The investigator must have received a PhD or equivalent research doctorate within the discipline of communication sciences and disorders.The investigator must demonstrate the potential for and commitment to conducting independent research. The research must have significance and direct application to communication sciences and disorders. The research setting must be an environment conducive to completing the investigation. Experienced investigators must provide an explanation of why the proposed work represents a new effort that is not fundable from existing research support or is not an extension of funding that is currently supporting the work. Further, a clear description of the potential impact of the research must be included. Regarding funding, experienced investigators are those whose current or recent professional funding history indicates "principal investigator" or "co-investigator" status on research funding costs exceeding $50,000 from agencies other than the investigator's host institution.The proposal submitted to the current New Century Scholars Research Grant competition cannot be submitted to other current ASHFoundation grant competitions. However, the investigator remains eligible to submit to other ASHFoundation grant competitions in the same year, if proposing to investigate a different topic.Funding will be disbursed in U.S. currency to investigators in the United States or Canada. There are no other restrictions, but the case must be clear on how the funds are essential to conduct the research.

Ineligibility

Due to availability of student research grant and scholarship funds through the ASHFoundation, students currently enrolled in a degree program or working on dissertation research are not eligible for this competition.Funding will not cover institutional overhead and indirect costs. In addition, funding may not be directed to travel costs for conventions or meetings.