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[lohai0]

I got "faculty nominated" for an award. This means my chair is having three of us fill out his faculty nomination applications and will send in the best one or two. (The department will send out 4 total, but at least one must be an undergrad and a master's student). I have to write an abstract now, and possibly a poster later. I have three projects that could work, but I am having trouble deciding which one to send in:

1. My dissertation study. Pro: I have an abstract. Con: It is a massive qualitative study (n~100) and I have no idea how much data analysis will done in time

2. A case study on a student metacognition in mathematics after a traumatic brain injury. Pro: The data is collected, and will be much quicker to analyze. Con: No abstract, and I haven't even really looked at the literature

3. A grounded theory that I have been taking to conferences this year. Pro: abstract done, and the next round of analysis will be done in another few weeks. Con: I am co-authoring this with another nominee and it feels a little weird to use it for an individual award, even though I am first author.

I have a week to send back the form, which is mostly an abstract. Which project would be best?

[hegemony]

I think you'll need to tell us more about the award, what are the requirements, and what the award is intended to do (e.g. reward you for work already done, provide resources to finish a project, etc.).

[lohai0]

I think you'll need to tell us more about the award, what are the requirements, and what the award is intended to do (e.g. reward you for work already done, provide resources to finish a project, etc.).

This is the annual university research excellence banquet. There is a small cash prize, a plaque and a rubber chicken dinner for everyone who gets into the banquet. There is also larger cash prizes for professional development for the best awardee in each category (undergrad, masters, doctorate). The best person overall gets a computer. The nominating faculty also get some sort of recognition. I believe the main purpose of this is for bigwigs to make boring speeches, but I could use the money.  I also go on the job market next cycle, and I would like to buff up my CV a little if I can; plus I would love the cash for some resources on my wish list.

[pgher]

My two cents: I would probably do #2.  I would use this kind of thing to jump start something new, rather than continue an existing path (your dissertation).  I agree about feeling weird getting an individual award for a collaborative project.  The only question on #3 is, how "first author" are you?  That is, are you enough the leader that you can pull your portion out and just present it alone?

For example, I'm working on a project that is collaborative.  My portion is basically applying existing techniques in a new area, and the other guy is doing fundamental science in that new area.  So it makes sense for him to propose his portion alone, but it doesn't make any sense for me to propose my portion alone.

[lohai0]

My two cents: I would probably do #2.  I would use this kind of thing to jump start something new, rather than continue an existing path (your dissertation).  I agree about feeling weird getting an individual award for a collaborative project.  The only question on #3 is, how "first author" are you?  That is, are you enough the leader that you can pull your portion out and just present it alone?

For example, I'm working on a project that is collaborative.  My portion is basically applying existing techniques in a new area, and the other guy is doing fundamental science in that new area.  So it makes sense for him to propose his portion alone, but it doesn't make any sense for me to propose my portion alone.

For #3 I did all the lit review and most of the development of the model. But for the past two passes we have been splitting the coding.

[pgher]

Yeah, that sounds too intertwined to separate your work out.  I would go with #2.