CRITERIA & PROCEDURES FOR
THE EARLY CAREER AWARD IN EXPOSURE ANALYSIS

Directions
1. All sections of the application form provided must be completed, including the signature of the applicant and the signature of a representative of the applicant’s institution. Note: use only allotted spaces and a font of 12 points.
2. Submit a research project proposal to describe the specific investigative goals and approaches for the proposed research in sufficient detail to support a competitive review and selection process. Include percent of research effort of all personnel. This section of the proposal must be completed in 10 pages or less; budgetary documentation should be 5 pages or less (single-spaced, 12 point type). If the proposed research is linked to current or reasonably anticipated research projects, the relationships should be described. Any collaboration with outside institutions should be documented with letters of collaboration. 3. Include the curriculum vitae of the applicant and of any project collaborators.
4. Provide up to 3 publications that demonstrate relevant research accomplishment.
5. Prepare a budget for each year of the proposed project and a summary, using the Budget Sheet provided. The total budget will be no more than $100,000; since this an award rather than a grant, 8% of the award is the maximum allowed for indirect costs to the institution. Funds should be allocated for presentation of a paper based on this research at a professional meeting annually. At least two, preferably the first and the final report, should be presented at the ISEA annual meeting. A final report and publication plans have to be delivered to the ISEA at the end of the award period. Funds will be provided as a single payment or apportioned annually over the life of the project depending on the duration of project.
6. Provide a letter from an appropriate institutional representative to document institutional support for applicant and to acknowledge the award’s 8% limit for indirect costs.
7. All application materials along with 9 copies of the complete application must be received at ISEA Office.

Application Review Criteria
The strength of applications will be determined by:
• Relationship of proposed work to the specific research needs in the area of exposure analysis. In particular, the proposed research needs to advance the scientific basis for exposure analysis and decision making with respect to human exposures to environmental chemicals, and enhance the quantity, quality and relevance of currently available exposure measurement methods, data and models that support personal or population exposure assessments. Proposals in other directly related areas of exposure analysis will also be considered.
• Relevance to the ISEA’s goals and objectives, including addressing critical gaps in exposure research with innovative basic and applied science, and focus on exposures to single or multiple chemicals, including mixtures, from routes and pathways of concern.
• Use of rigorous scientific principles and QA/QC at all times.
• Importance of exposure questions identified in the proposal.
• Innovation in approaches chosen to answer questions.
• Feasibility of accomplishing stated objectives.
• Potential of this research to help the candidate establish a successful independent research career and contribute to the body of scientific peer-reviewed publications.
• Quality of proposed collaborations with current academic, government, and industrial research programs. Review Process A Technical Review Committee comprised of six senior members from the ISEA will review applications. This review will follow the National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines for peer review and managing issues related to bias and conflict of interest. This Technical Review Committee will identify and rank the top three proposals for review and final decision by the ISEA Awards Committee with concurrence by the Executive Committee of the ISEA. The Award recipient will be announced August 1, 2002 and funds will be available at that time. However, if human subjects research is involved, Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, following NIH guidelines (as defined in 45CRFR Part 46), is necessary. If an IRB approval is not available on the date of the award, the proposal should explicitly discuss what funds would be needed prior to IRB approval as well as a statement that no human subjects research will begin prior to IRB approval. Upon receipt of IRB approval remaining funds can be disbursed.

Award Requirements
• The successful applicant will acknowledge the support of the American Chemistry Council and the International Society of Exposure analysis in all publications.
• If not currently a member, the recipient will apply for ISEA membership.
• Progress and financial reports will be due annually.

Description of Sponsors
The International Society of Exposure Analysis ( http://www.iseaweb.org/ ) was established in 1989 to foster and advance the science of exposure analysis related to environmental contaminants, both for human populations and ecosystems. The membership promotes communication among all disciplines involved in exposure analysis, recommends exposure analysis approaches to address substantive or methodological concerns, and works to strengthen the impact of exposure assessment on environmental policy.

The American Chemistry Council ( http://www.americanchemistry.com/ ) represents the chemical industry on public policy issues, coordinates the industry's research and testing programs, and administers the industry's environmental, health, and safety performance improvement initiative, known as Responsible Care®. In January 1999, the Council committed to a $25 million/year program to health and environmental research related to chemical use. This Long-Range Research Initiative (www.uslri.org) supports this Award, as well as independent research conducted by the CIIT Centers for Health Research and other independent organizations through a competitive, peer-reviewed research process in response to requests for proposals.