ELSI Committee offers grants for researching genomics issues

The Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) Committee of the Cornell Genomics Initiative is offering funding for research by graduate students as well as small grants to undergraduates who are doing honors projects or independent research on ethical, legal and social issues raised by genomics and the "new biology."

Two kinds of awards are available to graduate students: small grants of $500 to $1,200 to help fund research expenses or provide travel to academic meetings and summer stipends of $2,500 to support graduate students who are working on relevant research projects. Both types of awards are open to graduate students at any stage in their training, although preference will be given to those who have completed their A exams.

For undergraduates, research grants of up to $250 are available to help fund research expenses. To be eligible, projects must be conducted under the supervision of a member of the Cornell faculty.

The ELSI Committee is a multidisciplinary group dedicated to building into the Cornell Genomics Initiative a significant effort to investigate the societal issues raised by genome research and technology. The rapid development of techniques for studying, manipulating and redesigning living things has produced important applications in medicine, agriculture and industry, generating massive commercial investment. At the same time, the new biology often calls into question familiar social arrangements and conceptual categories, confronting societies with new risks, unprecedented ethical dilemmas and novel opportunities for change.

For the awards, the ELSI Committee would consider supporting a variety of research projects by students in the humanities, social sciences or law that address the ethical challenges and societal choices connected to contemporary biology. The committee also is interested in projects that involve collaboration between students in the natural sciences and those in the humanities, social sciences or law.

For complete details on the grants and information on requirements, applications and how to apply, view the web site http://www.genomics.cornell.edu/Research/.

Applications for both the graduate student and undergraduate grants should be submitted to the ELSI Committee, 632 Clark Hall. Applications for graduate student small grants will be evaluated beginning March 1, continuing throughout the semester; applications received after April 27 will be considered next fall. Applications for graduate student stipends for summer 2001 (stipends for up to four students will be awarded) are due by March 23. There is no application deadline during the spring 2001 semester for the undergraduate grants, but students are encouraged to apply early while funds remain.