Paula M. Meek Dissertation Grant

DESCRIPTION:

The purpose of WIN's 2027 Paula M. Meek dissertation grant ($6,000) is to foster doctoral student research used to evaluate symptoms across both chronic and acute phases of illness to help guide patient-centered self-management decisions. The grant was named in honor of Dr. Paula Meek in recognition of her commitment to mentoring doctoral students and for her many contributions to nursing research and to WIN. This one-time award is in honor of the 60th Anniversary of WIN’s annual conference.

Dr. Paula Meek, PhD, RN, ATSF, FAAN (1955-2026) was a beloved leader, mentor, colleague, and champion of WIN. Her leadership and service to the organization spanned decades. Dr. Meek served on the WIN Board of Governors as Secretary-Treasurer from 2005 to 2008 and as Governor Representative of Nursing Research from 2019 to 2025. She was inducted into the Western Academy of Nurses (WAN) in 2009 and was named WIN’s Distinguished Research Lecturer in 2019. She also served on WIN’s Program Committee from 2017 to 2025, WIN’s Research Committee from 2019 to 2025, and on the NEXus Executive Committee from 2014 to 2025. In 2025, Dr. Meek was named the recipient of WIN’s Anna Shannon Mentorship Award for supporting and promoting the professional growth of nurses in the West. Dr. Meek touched many lives through her contributions to WIN, and the organization is stronger because of her leadership. She is greatly missed and fondly remembered.

To continue her legacy and in recognition of her research excellence in longitudinal measurement and the psychometric properties of instruments, the award is focused on research used to evaluate symptoms across both chronic and acute phases of illness to help guide patient-centered self-management decisions. For the purposes of this dissertation grant award, research focused on patient-centered symptom monitoring, appraisal, treatment, or management will be considered. 


STUDENT ELIGIBILITY:
  • Registered Nurse;
  • PhD student enrolled in a nursing PhD program within a WIN member organization;
  • WIN student member;
  • Proposed rigorous patient-centered symptom science study with high impact and substantial direct research costs;
  • Dissertation proposal approved by doctoral committee; and
  • Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval/determination. 

HOW TO APPLY:

Submit an Eligibility Form verifying that you meet the eligibility requirements. 

Submit a single pdf of the proposal, which must include:

  1. Cover page with title of proposal, student’s name, student’s program and dissertation chair’s name.
  2. Proposal (maximum 5 pages single spaced) to include:

• Purpose/Specific Aims: Patient-centered symptom monitoring, appraisal, treatment, or management variables of interest clear

• Significance & Innovation: Background/theoretical/conceptual rationale clear

• Approach: Methods including Design, Measures, Data Analysis Plan

• Keywords for topics applicable to study

APPENDICES:

The following appendices MUST be included in the pdf, but do not count in the page limit. Add appendices in the following order – do NOT include any other supplementary material:

  1. Budget itemizing dissertation project costs with justification (one page). Allowable expenditures include, but are not limited to, research supplies, animal maintenance, software, equipment, training related to research methodology to administer tests or run assays, and reimbursement of subjects. Non-allowable expenses include membership dues, payments to self, office furniture, computers, foreign travel, and travel to present the study.
  2. Letter of support from dissertation chair acknowledging support of the application and approval of the dissertation proposal by the applicant’s dissertation committee. The letter should provide information about: a) accomplishments and research potential of the applicant; and b) institutional commitment to the applicant, including mentorship, resources, and environment.
  3. Reference List (References should be cited using numbers to save space.)
  4. Timeline for study (no more than one page).
  5. Use the Biographical Sketch Format Page for non-fellowship. (Click here to access form.)
  6. Copies of measures and instruments NOT already published. Key information should be included in the body of the application.
  7. Consent Form

FORMAT OF THE PROPOSAL:

Use at least one-half inch margins (top, bottom, left, and right) for all pages. Use Times New Roman or Arial typeface and a font size of 11 points or larger. (A Symbol font may be used to insert Greek letters or special characters; the font size requirement still applies.)

For Figures, Graphs, Diagrams, Charts, Tables, and Figure Legends, you may use a smaller type size but it must be in a black font color, readily legible, and follow the font typeface requirement. Color can be used in figures; however, all text must be in a black font color, clear and legible.
 

REVIEW PROCESS AND CRITERIA:

Each application will be reviewed and scored by two members of WIN's Research Committee and one external reviewer. The Committee will use this Scientific Review Form to review and score applications. The Research Committee will select the grant recipient. 


FUNDING:
  • Grant funds will be released to the school/college of nursing in which the applicant is matriculated.
  • A copy of IRB or IACUC approval/determination is required. If pending, please designate that on the application. Funding is contingent on approval.
  • The project should be completed within one year, but an extension for one year is permissible if contingencies arise.
  • Funding will begin on April 1, 2027
     
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The recipient will acknowledge funding from WIN's Paula M. Meek Dissertation Grant.
 

REPORTING:

The awardee will submit quarterly and final progress reports. The awardee will be expected to submit an abstract and compete successfully to present the study findings at WIN’s annual Communicating Nursing Research Conference within two (2) years of study completion.
 

TIMELINE:

November 1, 2026 – Application deadline
March 1, 2027 – Funding decisions are announced
April 1, 2027 – March 31, 2028 – Funding year
 

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION:

Bo Perry at perrybo@ohsu.edu