Mission
To support the mission of the NSCA Foundation through a fair, rigorous, and transparent review process that identifies high-quality research proposals for funding consideration.

Authority
The Research Grant Committee is responsible for reviewing and scoring eligible research grant applications and recommending a slate of recipients and award amounts to the Board. The Board retains final authority to approve research grant awards.

Purpose
The Committee administers an impartial and academically rigorous review of research grant applications and recommends proposals that advance the practical application of strength and conditioning.

Responsibilities
• Review eligible research grant applications.
• Score applications using the approved rubric.
• Evaluate scientific merit, methodology, feasibility, relevance, and potential impact.
• Apply approved eligibility criteria consistently.
• Manage application-specific conflicts of interest and recusals.
• Recommend recipients and award amounts to the Board.
• Review and approve scoring rubrics and operational review procedures.
• Recommend changes to eligibility criteria and award amounts to the Board.
• Support evaluation and continuous improvement of the research grant program.
• Complete other research grant responsibilities assigned by the Board.

Qualifications
Regular members must maintain current NSCA membership, possess relevant research expertise, be able to evaluate research applications objectively, comply with confidentiality and conflict-of-interest requirements.

Collectively, the Committee should represent a balanced range of research methodologies, scientific disciplines, statistical and analytical expertise, academic perspectives, and strength and conditioning practitioner perspectives.

Leadership
The Committee has a Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary. 

Meetings and Voting
There are no in person meetings, all meetings are held virtually. Committee votes require approval by a majority of Committee members voting when quorum exists.

Application Review and Deliberation
Research Grant Committee members serve as the application reviewers. Each reviewer must review assigned applications, apply the approved scoring criteria, submit scores and required comments by established deadlines, disclose actual or potential conflicts before accessing an affected application, and refrain from attempting to influence another reviewer outside the approved review process.

Research grant review involves scientific and professional judgment. Members independently review and initially score assigned applications. The Committee may discuss applications, scoring differences, research methodology, feasibility, scientific merit, and funding considerations. Following discussion, members may revise their evaluations or scores when warranted. The Committee uses the completed reviews and deliberations to recommend recipients and award amounts to the Board.

Eligibility Restrictions
Current Foundation Board members and Research Grant Committee members may not serve as a primary applicant or principal investigator, co-principal investigator, international collaborator, unpaid key personnel, faculty co-investigator on a nonstudent grant, paid consultant, or contractor.

A Board or Committee member may serve as a faculty co-investigator on an eligible student research grant only when permitted by the applicable grant guidelines. The individual must not access the application through their volunteer role, review or score the application, participate in discussion or deliberation, recommend or vote on the application, or attempt to influence another reviewer or decision-maker.

Click Here to submit your application