Professor of Sociology Appointed to
National Institutes of Health Grant-Review Board

By Anne-Marie Kent

What makes for a successful grant proposal? Just ask Susan Gore of UMass Boston's Sociology Department and Center for Survey Research. For the past twenty years, Professor Gore, who studies the mental health of adolescents and young adults, has served on grant-reviewing committees. Recently, she was reappointed to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Scientific Review's Social Psychology, Personality and Interpersonal Processes Study Section.

"Members are elected on the basis of their demonstrated competence and achievement in their scientific discipline as evidenced by the quality of research accomplishments, publications in scientific journals, and other significant scientific activities, achievements and honors," wrote Brent Stanfield, acting director of the Center for Scientific Review, in his announcement letter. "Service on a study section also requires mature judgment and objectivity as well as the ability to work effectively in a group, qualities we believe Dr. Gore will bring to this important task."

He explained that membership on a study section represents a major commitment of professional time, as well as an opportunity to contribute to the national research effort. Study sections review grant applications submitted to the NIH, make recommendations on these applications to the appropriate NIH national advisory council or board, and survey the status of research in their fields of science.

"It is a lot of work," acknowledged Gore, who noted that the committee meets three times a year, two days a week each time in Washington D.C. Days in advance, committee members prepare for these meetings by reading proposals. The work, says Gore, is well worth it.

"It's a wonderful experience because it offers exposure to cutting-edge research in the field," said Gore. "It's even better for a young person to do this work. It's very helpful to a researcher who receives grants to see what it takes for a proposal to receive a high-priority score from the committee."

So what does it take?

"First off," said Gore, "I think you have to say that the committees are constituted by social science researchers who are strongly influenced by the experimental methods associated with research in the natural sciences." Proposals, therefore, should "speak in the language of scientific methods." She added that research on easy-to-find populations, including college students and populations residing in more affluent communities, is not as desirable as research that explores the problems of diverse groups.

Dean Louise Smith noted that other UMass Boston faculty sitting on grant-review boards include Diane Paul, who serves on the Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Human Genetics I Study Section of the NIH. "Their selection to these committees recognizes their eminence as researchers in their respective fields and their knowledge of the state of the art," said Smith.

Image: Professor Susan Gore of the Sociology Department and Center for Survey Research, has served on grant-reviewing committees for 20 years. (Photo by Harry Brett)

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